Job hunting decisions and tips
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How do you get a teaching job in Northern Ireland?
Find out where to look for vacancies and how to get a teaching job in Northern Ireland.
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How do you get a teaching job in Scotland?
Find out how to get a teaching job in Scotland and the role of the Teacher Induction Scheme for probationer teachers.
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Teaching jobs: where to find them and when to apply
Get to grips with local authority registration schemes, pool applications and the other approaches schools use to recruit newly qualified teachers.
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Teaching job jargon buster
The education sector makes plentiful use of acronyms, so we've put together a handy guide to commonly used teaching jargon to help you plan for career success.
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How do you get your first job in teaching?
Use our guidance on the job hunting process for teachers to help you identify the role you want and succeed in getting it.
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What kind of school do you want to teach in?
The way a school is funded and managed has a big impact on its working environment. Before you apply for a teaching job you need to think about what you want to get out of it and what kind of school will best suit your needs.
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How do you get a teaching job in Wales?
Find out how to get a teaching job in Wales and which are the priority subjects identified by the Welsh Government.
Applications
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Before you apply: teaching application form and CV checklist
Find out what you should know about a school before you apply for a teaching job and what to expect from the application form.
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How to write a great personal statement for a teaching job
Find out what to cover in your personal statement when you apply to work as a teacher and how to present your skills, knowledge, experience and beliefs.
Interviews and assessment centres
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Typical teaching interview questions
Find out what you are likely to be asked at your interview for your first graduate teaching job, whether in a primary or secondary school.
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Perform your best in your teaching interview
Find out how to impress at interview for your first job, whether it’s a panel or pool interview, and pick up tips for the sample lesson.
Pay and progression
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Salary prospects for teachers
Find out what you can expect to earn as a newly qualified teacher in a state school in England and Wales.
Training and qualification
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Join a teaching union as a graduate
Joining a teaching union will offer you protection throughout your career.
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How do you train to become a teacher?
Our overview of how to train to become a teacher explains the different options open to you, including the PGCE and the School Direct training programme.
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The induction year for newly qualified teachers
Newly qualified teachers in England and Wales undertake a year-long induction period to develop their skills and enable them to teach confidently in any school.
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What different types of school can you teach in?
Our overview of different kinds of schools in England will help you understand about the range of types of maintained schools, such as academies and free schools, as well as the independent sector.
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How to write your personal statement for teacher training
Your personal statement is a crucial part of your application for a teacher training place. Find out what training providers will be looking for and what to cover, from reasons for applying to school experience.
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What qualifications do you need to become a teacher?
Check the qualifications you need to apply for teacher training and get to grips with requirements around GCSEs, professional skills tests and your degree.
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Interview questions for teacher training
Prepare for your postgraduate teacher training interview with this list of typical questions, covering areas ranging from why you want to teach to your choice of degree subject.
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Overview of your postgraduate teacher training options
Are you considering a PGCE, PGDE, SCITT, School Direct or Teach First? Do you want to teach children in the early years? Here's a guide to different types of teacher training programme that lead to QTS.
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What to expect from the teacher training interview and selection day
Your teacher training selection day could include written tests, a presentation and teaching a mini-lesson in school as well as a panel interview. Find out what admissions tutors are looking for.
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Training and qualifications for alternative careers in education
Interested in teaching children with special needs, or going into museum education or TEFL? Explore training options for alternative careers related to education that don't involve teaching children in a classroom.
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Write a great application for teacher training
Find out about the process for applying for teacher training across the UK. Our overview of the UCAS Teacher Training process and timetable will help you understand what to do when, whether you've set your sights on a PGCE, PGDE, SCITT, School Direct programme or Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship programme.
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Funding for teacher training
You might be surprised by the bursaries, scholarships and early career payments available to train to teach some subjects, which can be worth as much as £32,000 in all and don't have to be repaid. Find out about financial support and loans in England.
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Training to teach in further and higher education
Find out about the range of qualifications available to train to teach in further education and how you become a higher education lecturer.
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How do you apply for postgraduate initial teacher education and training?
The application process for teacher training varies depending on the programme you want to do. Find out how to apply for PGCEs, PGDEs, early years initial teacher training, School Direct and other routes.
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Training to teach in Northern Ireland
You apply directly to institutions for postgraduate teacher training in Northern Ireland. Explore your options with our overview of qualification requirements and list of course providers and PGCEs.
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How do you become a teacher?
What is QTS, what age range do you want to teach, and what subjects are taught at primary and secondary level? You'll need to know the answers before you decide where to apply to train.
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Training to teach in Scotland
Find out about the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), which is the main graduate entry route into teaching in Scotland. Check out the entry requirements and how to apply.
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How do you get a job in teaching after training?
What can you earn as a newly qualified teacher, when should you apply for jobs and what is the induction year? Get answers to essential questions about starting your career after training.
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Training to teach in Wales
Your options for teacher training in Wales include the university-based PGCE route and the Graduate Teacher Programme. Find out about the qualifications you need and the Welsh language learning you'll undertake.
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How to get the work experience you need to teach
Teacher training providers usually expect you to have classroom work experience with children of the age group you want to teach. You'll need to plan ahead to arrange your placement.
Specialisms
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Early years education: teaching specialism
In a graduate career as an early years teacher, you'll help children learn through play.
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Primary education: teaching specialism
You could teach across the range of subjects offered in a primary school, or train to specialise.
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Secondary education: teaching specialism
Graduates who want to go into secondary school teaching need empathy, a calm approach and enthusiasm for their subject.
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Teaching in independent schools
Could teaching in an independent school be the right graduate career choice for you?
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Alternative careers in education
There are plenty of careers in education open to you other than teaching in a school, whether you’ve already trained as a teacher or are still considering your options.
Job descriptions
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Higher education administrator: job description
Higher education administrators undertake a wide variety of supportive, administrative, secretarial, financial and human resources tasks in universities.
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Archaeologist: job description
Archaeologists study human history by examining artefacts, which range from prehistoric tools and buildings to animal bones and tiny organisms.
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Teacher (nursery/early years): job description
Nursery and early years teachers help to nurture and develop the knowledge, abilities, and social skills of children from birth to five years old, giving them the best possible start to their education.
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Higher education advice worker: job description
Higher education advice workers or student services advisers provide a free, confidential, non-judgemental, independent information, advice and advocacy service on a wide range of issues for current and prospective university students.
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Archivist: job description
Archivists are responsible for the provision, care and management of permanent collections of information that are intended to preserve the past and allow others to discover it.
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Teacher (primary): job description
Primary school teachers provide initial compulsory education for children up to the age of 11, typically teaching a broad range of curriculum subjects.
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Learning mentor: job description
Learning mentors provide support and guidance to children and young people who are experiencing difficulties in learning due to social, emotional or behavioural problems or other issues.
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Private music teacher: job description
Private music teachers provide music lessons within home, school or college settings, teaching pupils of all ages to sing or play musical instruments.
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Teacher (secondary): job description
Secondary school teachers educate children between the ages of 11 and 18 and specialise in teaching a particular subject.
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Lecturer (adult education): job description
Adult education lecturers teach academic and vocational subjects to adults of all ages and academic abilities.
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Psychologist (educational): job description
Educational psychologists work with, observe and assess the behavioural, social, emotional and educational problems and needs of children and young people below the age of 19 years.
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Teacher (special educational needs): job description
Special educational needs teachers work with children who need extra support to fulfil their potential.
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Lecturer (further education): job description
Further education lecturers teach academic and vocational subjects to young people and adults.
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Careers adviser: job description
Careers advisers provide guidance about career choice, employment, training and further education opportunities to clients, including young people and the unemployed.
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Teaching/classroom assistant: job description
Teaching/classroom assistants help and support qualified teachers in the classroom with pupils up to the age of 18.
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Lecturer (higher education): job description
Higher education lecturers are employed by universities and higher education establishments to undertake teaching, research and administrative duties within a specialist subject area.
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Careers adviser (higher education): job description
Higher education careers advisers provide information and guidance about career choice, employment and educational opportunities to current university students, postgraduates and recent graduates.
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TEFL/TESL teacher: job description
TEFL is an umbrella term for teaching English to students of any age whose first language is not English. TESL refers to teaching students who will be using English instead of their native language after moving to an English-speaking country.
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Academic librarian: job description
Academic librarians are responsible for acquiring, organising, managing and distributing library resources, and ensuring that library provision meets the needs of all its users.
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Careers consultant: job description
Careers consultants provide advice about training, employment options and career progression to professionals and career changers.
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Education administrator: job description
Education administrators help to ensure that institutions such as universities run smoothly by managing administrative, financial and support systems.
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Museum education officer: job description
Museum education officers forge links between visitors and museums and encourage learning through formal or informal education, marketing and publicity.
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Museum/gallery exhibition officer: job description
Museum/gallery exhibition officers are responsible for planning and organising permanent or travelling exhibitions, publicity events and promotional activities such as talks and workshops.
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Community education officer: job description
Community education officers are responsible for identifying educational needs in a particular area and developing appropriate recreational, educational and training programmes in response to these.
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Environmental education officer: job description
Environmental education officers are responsible for promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development via a variety of means, including education, marketing and publicity.