What kind of school do you want to teach in?

There is no such thing as a standard school. Location, size and the gender mix are important factors; a small rural primary school will face different challenges to a large city academy in a deprived area or a single-sex grammar school. The way a school is funded and managed will have a big impact on the working lives of its teachers, so it’s worth giving some thought to the type of environment that will suit you best.

Maintained schools

Maintained schools educate 90 % of children in England and Wales. These schools are funded by the state, follow the national curriculum and are inspected by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted). Educational budgets in England and Wales are largely in the hands of local authorities (LAs).

• Community schools were formerly known as county schools. LAs are responsible for employing staff and for admission arrangements.
• Foundation schools have more decision-making powers than community schools. Their land and buildings are owned by the governing body or a charitable foundation.
• Voluntary schools are run by the LA together with a charitable foundation (usually religious). Depending on the set-up, recruitment and admissions can be run by the governing body or the LA.
• Grammar schools select all or most of their pupils according to academic ability.
• Comprehensive schools are open to children of all abilities.
• Faith schools incorporate more religious and spiritual elements into the schooling of their children.

Most schools do not select pupils based on ability, though some will restrict intake to their catchment area if they are oversubscribed.

Glide through education terminology with our helpful jargon buster

Other types of state school

• Academies have links with business sponsors and voluntary groups and can take a flexible approach to following the national curriculum in order to meet the needs of their pupils.
• City technology colleges focus on science, mathematics and technology and offer a wide range of vocational qualifications alongside A levels and equivalents.
• Specialist schools teach the whole curriculum but focus on a particular subject area.
• Pupil referral units provide teaching and learning for children of compulsory school age who may otherwise not receive suitable education, focusing on getting them back into a mainstream school.
• Special schools in the state and independent sectors provide education for pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities that are too severe for them to integrate within a mainstream school.

Independent schools

Around 10 % of children in England and Wales is educated in the independent sector, which is funded through fees, usually set by the individual school, and includes public schools and most boarding schools. Independent schools are not required to teach the national curriculum and are not inspected by Ofsted, though associations of schools belonging to the Independent Schools Council (ISC) are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. The ISC represents around 1,300 independent schools.

Working as a supply teacher

As a newly qualified teacher it is possible to complete your induction period working as a supply teacher, and supply posts frequently lead to offers of permanent positions. This means you can try a variety of different schools, before looking for a permanent post at the type of school you are best suited to.

Find out more about what's involved in the world of supply teaching

Making the decision

Each individual school will have its own ethos and atmosphere, shaped by the leadership and vision of its head teacher. The best way to assess this is to visit in person, having done your research and read the latest Ofsted report online beforehand.

There are also some less obvious differences in the working environment that you should consider. For example, at an urban school there are likely to be more children who speak English as a second language. All this should be borne in mind when you make your decision.