Teaching and training around the UK
Teacher training and the schools system are not universal throughout the UK. While day-to-day life in a school does not differ widely, the route to training, the curriculum studied and the compulsory ages for full-time education do vary.
Training to teach in England
The most popular route to teacher training in England is the postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE), studied after an undergraduate degree in a national curriculum subject. The school-centered initial teacher training (SCITT) programme is also aimed at graduates, but specifically for those with some prior teaching experience. Wannabe teachers can instead choose to do an undergraduate degree in education with qualified teacher status (QTS) or train by the graduate teacher programme (GTP) which is a school-based route that is particularly suitable for career changers or graduates who need to earn while learning. Details about all these routes can be found on the Teaching and Development Agency website.
To teach in a maintained school, teachers must have qualified teacher status (QTS), sit National Skills tests, and can expect a salary of £21,588 during the newly qualified teacher (NQT) induction year.
Training to teach in Wales
There are three main routes if you want to be a primary or secondary teacher in Wales. These are similar to the routes in England, but not identical. Undergraduates can follow a BA or BSc degree programme with qualified teacher status (QTS), while graduates can choose to study a professional/postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE) or pursue the employment-bases route of the graduate teacher programme (GTP). These routes are explained in more detail at the Teacher Training and Education in Wales website.
In Wales you are not required to sit the National Skills Tests in literacy, numeracy and ICT to achieve QTS. As in England, you will be required to complete a one-year induction programme as a newly qualified teacher (NQT). To teach in Wales you must register with the General Teaching Council for Wales and can expect a starting salary of £21,588.
Training to teach in Scotland
There are three types of initial teacher education (ITE) programme to choose from in Scotland. The bachelor of education (Bed) is a four-year undergraduate course that qualifies students to become primary school teachers. The professional graduate diploma in education (PGDE) is a one-year postgraduate course for those who already have an undergraduate degree and want to become primary or secondary teachers. There is also the option of doing a combined/concurrent degree, which is an undergraduate degree studied alongside an teacher training programme, and can be completed full- or part-time. Further information can be found at the General Teaching Council for Scotland website.
As a newly qualified teacher (NQT) you must register as a probationary teacher with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). You will then be offered a one-year supported training post in a Scottish school, through the Teacher Induction Scheme. You must complete the probationary year (or longer, if you choose to follow the flexible route) before you will meet the Standard for Full Registration (SFR) with the GTCS. As a probationer teacher, you can expect to earn upwards of £21,438.
Training to teach in Northern Ireland
There are two main routes into teaching in Northern Ireland: the ‘concurrent’ route, which involves completion of a bachelors degree in education (BEd), and the ‘consecutive’ route, which consists of a first degree followed by a postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE). You can compare these options on the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland website.
In Northern Ireland there are three stages to teacher education: initial teacher training, induction and early professional development (EPD). On completion of an initial teacher training course you must obtain eligibility to teach status, which is granted by the Department of Education. You then participate in a three-year professional development programme, comprising of a one-year induction and two years of EPD. The starting salary for newly qualified teachers (NQTs) in Northern Ireland is £21,588.
The national curriculum
In England, compulsory education starts at age 5 and finishes at age 16. Most schools operate a two-tier education system (primary and secondary) although some local authorities still use the three-tier system (lower, middle and upper). All state-funded or maintained schools must abide by the framework of the national curriculum, which is set by the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency.
