Teaching remains one of the most popular and rewarding careers in the UK. The Government says that more than 20,000 people have signed up to train to become teachers in 2016 alone. But while it’s a common and worthy goal for many talented people and an in-demand profession in which good jobs are available, it might be tough to know where to start.
There are a number of paths that lead to a job in the teaching profession. It’s important to understand what they all are to be able to work out which works best for you.
In some respects, this breaks down into three possible routes: through university, on-the-job training or directly at a free school.
Firstly, before you even think about becoming a teacher you need to check out a reliable DBS renewal service for all of the security checks you will need along the way.
Go to university and get yourself qualified
The most popular – and common – way to get into the classroom is by studying for a degree at university (or other further education establishment). This is not one strict path though and there are opportunities to tailor a university path to your tastes too.
If you know that education is your thing, then you can undertake a three or four-year undergraduate degree in the subject. This will combine the academic theory of education and teaching techniques as well as practical experience in the classroom, balancing textbooks and school supplies evenly for a rounded view of education as a discipline.
Yet, if you’d rather specialise in a separate academic field, say if you’ve got a passion for history or languages, then you can also pursue a separate undergraduate degree in your chosen discipline and study for a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). This is a fairly common path through university and the PGCE forms a one-year intensive course with two-thirds of the time based in the classroom.
Whether it’s an outright education degree or a PGCE, you’ll need to ensure that your course enables you to earn Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which is essential.
Go straight for the classroom
Already got a degree and in no mood to return to the lecture theatre? Want to retrain as a teacher after years in another industry and would rather roll your sleeves up and get on with it? Worried about being able to afford a career break to go off and study? Those in this position can earn while training through School Direct.
Like the degree route, this too contains different options for the jobseekers. Schools can take someone on as a trainee with a view to filling a specific vacancy in the future. Alternatively, this can be done without a salary if someone doesn’t want to be tied into a position down the line.
Schools team up with a further education provider to deliver the training required to supplement the practical lessons from the classroom.
Free schools offer flexibility
State funded free schools offer candidates a third route into the teaching profession. These operate in a more independent manner with greater freedom over how they are run. Their powers include the ability to recruit people with no teaching experience or qualifications if they feel they have the talents and skills needed. These schools could lack the pay and progression that you might expect to find in other establishments, but are ideal for someone who feels they have the right aptitude for teaching but not the qualifications.
Funding might be key
Many of the options outlined above require training and that, in turn, means money. Specialists in maths (particularly at primary level), science and languages are in particular demand and ought to look into the bursaries and scholarships that are open to them. These can be worth up to £30,000 if a candidate meets the right entry requirements and might dictate the route you take.
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