What is the work like?
Primary school teachers work with children aged between five and
eleven, in state or independent schools.
As a primary teacher, you would be responsible for a class and
teach them all areas covered by the
National
Curriculum. You would also have a specialist subject, which you
may coordinate throughout the school.
As well as teaching, you would:
- prepare lessons and teaching materials
- mark and assess children's work
- put up displays in the classroom
- work with other professionals, such as educational
psychologists and social workers
- discuss children's progress and other relevant issues
with parents and carers (both informally and at parents'
evenings)
- attend meetings and in-service training
- organise outings, social activities and sporting events.
You may have the help of a teaching assistant.
Some areas of England and Wales have middle schools that take
children from ages eight or nine to twelve or thirteen. As a
teacher in a middle school you would teach the primary or secondary
curriculum, depending on the age of children in your class.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To be a primary or middle school teacher in a state school, you
must gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by doing Initial Teacher
Training (ITT). There are four types of ITT:
- undergraduate
- postgraduate
- School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)
- work-based.
See below for further details of each of these routes.
The one you choose will depend on whether you already have
higher education qualifications, but for all four types the basic
requirements are:
- GCSEs (A-C) English, maths and a science subject or
equivalent qualifications – you should check
with course providers which qualifications they will
accept, or if there are any equivalency tests you can
take
- to pass
tests in
numeracy, literacy and ITC (information and communications
technology)
-
CRB (Criminal
Records Bureau) clearance.
It would also be an advantage if you have experience of working
with children (either paid or voluntary) in the relevant age group.
For example, you could volunteer at a local school or holiday play
scheme.
Undergraduate route
If you do not already have a degree you can get QTS at the
same time as completing a degree, by doing one of the following
types of course:
- BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons) with QTS
- Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree course (at a few
universities).
The courses last for three or four years full-time. As well as
the basic requirements listed above, you would usually need at
least two A levels (one of which should be in a
National
Curriculum subject) and at least five GCSEs (A-C). Universities
may accept other qualifications, such as an Access to Higher
Education course. Check with course providers for their exact
requirements.
To search for degree courses visit the
Universities and
Colleges Admissions Service website.
The
National
Languages Strategy will introduce an entitlement to foreign
language learning for every child in key stage 2 (ages 7 to 11) by
2010. If you are interested in teaching modern languages visit the
TDA
website to find out more.
Postgraduate routes
If you have a degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to
the primary
National
Curriculum, you can get QTS by doing a Postgraduate Certificate
of Education (PGCE) course. Courses can be one year full-time, two
years part-time or flexible by distance learning.
You can search for PGCE courses and apply on-line on the
Graduate Teacher
Training Registry (GTTR) website.
School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)
SCITT is classroom-based postgraduate training which takes
one year. You would need to have a degree.
Employment-based routes
You can gain QTS whilst working in a school on a trainee
salary on one of the following programmes:
- Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) – you must already
have a degree
- Registered Teacher Programme (RTP) – you must have
completed two years of higher education (for example, a BTEC HND,
foundation degree or two years of a degree)
- Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP) – you must
have an overseas teaching qualification that is equivalent to a
UK degree.
The number of places on employment-based programmes is limited
and competition is strong.
Visit the
Training and
Development Agency for Schools website for full details of
all entry routes and funding for training.
Northern Ireland
For details of routes into teaching in Northern
Ireland see the
Department
of Education Northern Ireland website.
What further training and development can I do?
After your ITT course, you would need to successfully complete
three terms in a teaching job before you are considered fully
qualified. During this time you would be supported by a mentor.
Throughout your teaching career you would need to keep up to
date with new methods and ideas in education by doing in-service
training. You could do this by attending training days in school or
at local authority training centres.
Visit the
TDA website to
find out about the Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL), a
Government-funded, classroom-based qualification to help teachers
extend their teaching skills and abilities.
The
National
College Leadership of Schools and Children's Services
website has details of programmes for:
- teachers who are taking on leadership and management
responsibilities, including heads of subject or area and subject
co-ordinators
- deputies, assistant heads and others looking to move up to
their first headship
- newly appointed, first-time headteachers.
Transferring to another age group
You do not need to do further training to transfer
to another age group. However, schools recommend that you get some
experience of the age group you are intending to teach. This could
be done on a voluntary basis.
Some LEAs and teacher training institutions may offer short
conversion or refresher courses. You can get details of some of
these from the Training and Development Agency for Schools
website.
Returning to teaching
If you are a qualified teacher wanting to return to
teaching after a career break you can find information (including
details of returners' courses and other available support) on
the
TDA
website.
Where can I go for more information?
Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 3LZ
Tel: 0871 4680 469
http://www.gttr.ac.uk
Rathael House
Balloo Road
Bangor
BT19 7PR
Tel: 028 9127 9279
http://www.deni.gov.uk
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk
151 Buckingham Palace Road
London
SW1W 9SZ
Teaching Information Line: 0845 6000 991
http://www.tda.gov.uk
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning
adviser, call
0800 100 900 or
use our online
enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at:
www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
The main salary range is from £21,102 to £30,842 a
year (£26,000 to £35,568 in inner London).
Teachers who reach the top of the main scale may apply to be
assessed to progress to the upper pay scale. This ranges from
£33,412 to £35,929 (£40,288 to £43,692 in inner
London).
Salary scales are reviewed each year. See details of the
full
pay scales on the TDA website.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would teach 39 weeks a year. Teaching hours vary between
schools, but are usually 9am to 3.30pm or 4pm.
You would also spend a lot of time outside these hours preparing
lessons, marking and assessing work, and taking part in other
activities such as outings, parents' evenings and in-service
training.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- enthusiasm for the subjects you teach
- the ability to make good relationships with pupils,
parents/carers and colleagues
- commitment to equal opportunities
- the ability to work in a team but also to use your own
initiative
- organisational and time-management skills
- the ability to manage classes and deal with challenging
behaviour
- excellent communication skills
- patience and a good sense of humour.
What opportunities are there?
Most teaching jobs are in state schools, but you could also work
in independent schools, pupil referral units, hospitals and schools
run by the armed forces. Part-time and supply teaching are
possible.
As an experienced teacher you may become an Advanced Skills
Teacher (AST), supporting other teachers as well as teaching your
own class. See the
Teachernet
website for details.
In most schools you could progress to curriculum leader, deputy
headteacher and headteacher. You could also choose to specialise in
teaching pupils with special educational needs or move into private
tuition.
As a newly qualified, current, former or retired teacher you can
register as a tutor on the One to One Tuition Programme. This is a
new Government-funded initiative to help children who need to gain
more confidence and understanding in English and maths. You would
receive training and be paid an hourly rate. Visit the
TDA
website for details.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and
general reading (links open in new window):
Education Guardian
Local
council websites
eteach.com
Times Educational
Supplement
Teachernet
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external
sites.
