Developing your graduate career as a teacher

One of the great things about a career in teaching is that you can tailor your career to suit your talents and preferences - and the further you go, the more atractive the financial rewards. The speed at which you progress will depend on factors such as the size of the school, your route into teaching and how willing you are to take on extra responsibilities. The two main career options are management and specialist teaching routes.

Management routes

Most management jobs are carried out in combination with classroom teaching responsibilities. However, as your level of managerial duties increases the amount of time you spend in the classroom will decrease proportionately. The main options include:

• Head of department: requires an in-depth knowledge of your subject area. You will spend time managing other staff in the department, resources, the curriculum and the department’s finances.
• Head of year: this role involves responsibility for the pastoral care of your pupils. You will work closely with form tutors and help resolve problems resulting from behavioural issues or underperformance.
• Head teacher: head teachers manage a whole school. To prepare for this responsibility new head teachers need to gain the government’s National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) via a two-day residential course at the National College for School Leadership (NCSL).

Because of their size, secondary schools tend to offer a more extensive management structure than primary schools, for example offering a number of assistant or deputy roles.

Specialist routes

School co-ordinators work in primary and secondary schools. They play an important role within the school in improving standards, devising new ways of working, keeping colleagues up to date with changes and providing support. In smaller schools teachers may take on a coordinator role soon after completion of their induction year, whereas in larger schools there can be more competition for these jobs. Roles available include numeracy, literacy, key stage, information and communications technology (ICT) and special educational needs (SEN) co-ordinator posts.

Advanced skills teachers develop their expertise in teaching whether in relation to their subject or to teaching practice. They spend most of their time in the classroom, but spend a day a week providing outreach assistance to teachers in other local schools, including observing lessons, demonstrating good practice and giving feedback and advice.

Timing your career progression

Teachers sometimes take on extra responsibilities from the start of their career, especially those recruited via the Fast Track programme. In smaller primary schools where there are fewer specialist teachers, an NQT with specialist skills may take on a co-ordinating role. However, many teachers prefer to consolidate their experience for the first two to three years before seeking additional responsibilities. It is possible to achieve a deputy head or head teacher position within ten years, and possibly sooner for those in Fast Track teacher positions. Teach First graduate Max Haimendorf became the country's youngest head at the age of 29 after just three years of classroom experience.

Continuing professional development (CPD)

As well as excellent career development opportunities, teachers also have access to – and are encouraged to make use of – continuing professional development (CPD). This is a powerful tool for all teachers who want to help raise children’s standards and improve their own job satisfaction and teaching abilities. Training starts with the statutory induction to achieve qualified teacher status and continues throughout a teacher’s career. Indeed, any activity that increases teachers’ knowledge or understanding, and their effectiveness in schools, counts as CPD. There are even opportunities to further your development abroad through the Teachers' International Development programme (TIDP). To find out more about career planning and professional devlopment, see the TeacherNet website.

Employment options beyond the classroom

If you're a qualified teacher with a couple of years' experience under your belt and don't want to progress in teaching, either via the management route or as a specialist teacher, but still want to use your qualifications and experience in an education-related role, there are plenty of alternative career choices.

Alternative careers in education open to teachers include teacher recruitment, training and retention, curriculum development and strategy, and school inspection. Education officer roles exist in museums, art galleries, zoos and countryside parks. There are also opportunities for those who wish to freelance, including educational consultancy, private tutoring and producing educational materials.

If you do decide to move on after a few years of teaching you will have plenty of skills to offer your next employer. You will be able to motivate others and form relationships, but you’ll also be expert at handling challenging behaviour and demonstrating assertiveness. You will also have developed excellent time-management, administrative, organisational and presentational skills. You will be well suited to any role where leadership and supervision abilities are required.

We would like to thank Diana Omolulu, head of service at the Specialist Institutions' Careers Service for the Careers Group, University of London for her help with this article.