Considerations for Starting a UK Career in Education

When deciding whether to begin a teaching career in the UK, there are a few factors you may wish to consider. First, understand the qualifications and certifications required, such as obtaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Consider the demand for teachers in various regions and subjects, as this can affect job availability and security.

What do I want to teach?

We all have our own set of skills and passions, and it’s worth molding them into specialties so that we can be experts in our field. With plenty of education courses in the UK to choose from, you will have support when deciding on a specialism and how you can continue to build on your knowledge within it.

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When I begin my teaching career in the UK, who will I teach?

To begin with, you need to think about the age group that suits you. Is it stimulating young minds as they begin their educational journey that excites you, or would you prefer challenging teenagers as they embark on defining a career for themselves? Each group holds its own pros and cons, so you might consider shadowing at different establishments to get a feel for what you might enjoy. Some teaching levels include

Nursery School Teacher

Children aged between 3 and 5 go to nursery school or pre-school. Teachers have to manage and prepare them to learn basic disciplines, rules, and skills. You also need to plan lessons and develop the communication skills of these young pupils.

Primary School Teacher

If you like kids and teach junior sections as well, then this job is for you. In the primary section, you teach basic literacy and numeracy skills to students. You will have great responsibilities and challenges. And you can earn good salaries without a doubt.

Secondary School Teacher

Secondary school students are between 11 and 16 years old. If you have a BSc, honors, or BEd degree, you can be a secondary school teacher. You may need the necessary training to boost your experience. Salary ranges are also attractive for primary teachers.

Higher or Further Education Teacher

At this stage, students are aged 18 and older. So, you will teach in colleges and universities. You will need to decide on any academic or vocational subject within your expertise area. You also need to have a good honors degree, maybe a Ph.D., work experience, etc.

Teacher of Special Education:

Students with disabilities are special children. They need special teaching and teachers as well. Qualified and experienced teachers can do well in this teaching sector. Teachers need to do special training to learn special teaching methods for children. These teachers have demand in educational careers.

Why do I want to teach?

Whether you are looking at education courses in the UK because you are at the start of your teaching career or if you are coming up to retirement and want to share your knowledge whilst staying challenged, there are plenty of options when it comes to teaching and training, whether it be working in a school, college or as a trainer for an independent business.

What do I need to be prepared for?

It will be no surprise that working in education will require a lot of hard work. You need to be able to work well independently and be adaptable and resilient. With the growth of modern technologies and social media, it’s also important to work on your IT skills, all of which we can point you in the right direction.

Moreover, the education sector is huge and teaching is not the only profession here. There are several types of education jobs and roles. You must identify them and choose a suitable career for you. Let’s see some other posts in this field:

Teaching Assistant

Becoming a teacher’s helping hand is also an important role. These assistants support teachers in preparing lessons and setting up indoor and outdoor classroom activities. They also manage and help students, thus freeing up teachers’ time. For fresh graduates, it is a popular entry-level job.

Supply Teaching

Experienced teachers can find this job suitable. Here, they will deal with various teaching methods, subjects, age groups, etc. In England, they need to gain general teaching experience for this post. They also fulfil primary, secondary, and other positions. Thus, they can register with any agency and get work.

Discipline Mentor

These mentors provide guidelines to students about rules and regulations. There is no need for specific degrees. Any general qualification can get you this job. The role is to cover the issues of absence, abuse, punctuality, etc. You can be a mentor of primary, secondary, or higher-level students.

Librarian

You can get a job in the school library or any other local authority. The role is to manage books, journals, and other materials, keep a record of data, etc. Again, the librarian will also promote the advantages of using the library. To get this interesting job, you need a library or IT-related degree.

Educational Psychologist-

Today’s younger generation suffers from different kinds of mental troubles. These psychologists play an important role for those young pupils. Psychologists deal with parents, students, teachers, and others. British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited undergraduate psychology degree and a Ph.D. in educational psychology are necessary to work in England.

Education and Welfare Services

This officer’s role is to guide students and support them with all the information. Students can get individual or group services. Welfare officers work with parents and teachers to identify problems and plan for future success. They work in a particular group of schools or local authority education welfare services.

Careers Advisor

Every student seeks career advice to make suitable decisions for their future. Advisors will identify students’ skill gaps and guide them accordingly. They will also help you make a CV and find jobs according to your interests. Graduates of any subject can apply for this post. As a career advisor, it is an interesting job full of responsibilities.

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If you would like some guidance on which education courses in the UK would be right for you, don’t hesitate to contact us at AHZ, as we would be delighted to help you take the first steps.

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