How to Become a Teacher in the UK

How to become a Teacher in the UK. Want to become a Teacher in the UK? Read our free guide here!

Job Description of a Teacher

Teachers are persons who are responsible for helping people learn a particular subject.  Teachers are generally expected to be reasonable, fair, Level -headed and Inspiring.  The hours are usually term time, 7am-5pm. Being a Teacher is a good job for many people, but the key traits to have are a sociable personality, helpful, intuitive, a good sense of humour and calm under pressure. You must be able to listen, speak clearly and not be prejudiced towards anyone.

Entry Requirements

To become a Teacher you have to attain the PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) from university. Entry requirements vary from provider to provider but always you must have a minimum of Grade C or above in English and Mathematics at GCSE level. Once you gain this you will be subject to a CRB check to ensure that you have no serious convictions. You will be expected to complete a period of ITT (Initial Teacher Training) followed by an induction year as a teacher.

Responsibilities and Duties

Standard duties vary dependent on the type of Teacher you are. You will generally be expected to decide if you wish to work with adults or children before commencement of your career. In Primary school education you will usually be responsible for a classroom of children according to age, and you will be expected to teach them the relevant parts of the curriculum. This is the same in secondary education although you will often only be responsible for the pastoral needs of ‘your’ children, and will be set to teaching one or two core subjects over a range of children, and you will be responsible for checking all work daily and interacting with children to ensure that they understand what you have taught them. In a college or university environment you may be expected to do more verbal teaching than verification teaching (marking). You may also choose to be a self-employed teacher, and therefore can expect to have to set you own lesson plans and mark your own work.

Working Hours

These may vary depending on the duties and job you are doing.  Many Teacher Jobs can be 9-5, whilst just as many can be out of hours. Usual shift length is 12 hours. Not many Teachers are expected to work weekends and evenings. Cover teacher may have to work at very short notice and their hours can be sporadic and differing.

Skills and Training Development

Teachers can expect to progress through their careers with improving skills and knowledge as well as time served. You may find if you gain additional skills such as communications, counselling or management that you may quickly become a mentor, head of department, head of house or headmaster. Holding afterschool clubs or sporting activities may make you a more suitable candidate for promotion as it shows dedication to your pupils.

Average Salary

The average salary for a Trainee Teacher is £19,000 PA.
The average salary for a qualified Teacher is £26,000 PA.

photo by: departmentofedu