Learning Blog
Becoming a Teacher in the United Kingdom
Written by Lizzie Learn
On 2nd Mar 2022
To become a teacher in the United Kingdom, it’s essential to undergo teacher training.
Working with children and teenagers, as well as having the power over their education, is a huge responsibility that requires a lot of training. Not only do teachers need to understand the curriculum and the specifics of how to teach, but they also need to continually develop and think of new ways to communicate information.
Is Teaching the Right Job for You?
Before undertaking teacher training, you will need to find out if being a teacher is really the right job for you. At New Skills Academy, we have over 70 online courses in our Education category. With this much choice, you will understand all there is to know about teaching and education, and you can gain the knowledge you need to decide if teaching is your desired career.
Start the journey towards your teaching career today by taking a look at our Education courses. One of our most popular courses is the Teaching Diploma. This covers 5 courses in 1, comprising Level 2 Teaching Assistant Diploma, The Complete SEND Diploma, ADHD Awareness Diploma, Dyslexia Diploma and Autism Awareness Diploma.
At New Skills Academy, we also have safeguarding and child protection, mental health in young people, child counselling, first aid, and childcare courses online.
The following information discusses the process necessary to become a qualified teacher in the UK.
Getting a Degree and Qualified Teacher Status
When you have decided that you want to fulfil your dream of becoming a teacher, the next step is to do a university course and gain a degree. Usually, a bachelor’s degree is sufficient to begin your journey towards becoming a teacher. It’s a good idea to start out with a general idea of subjects that you would be interested in teaching, as well as an age group that you would like to teach.
Training usually includes a focus on teaching strategies specific to age groups and subjects, so it’s important to have this in the back of your mind. The UK divides students into five different general age groups. These are the early years foundation stage, or EYFS, as well as the Key Stages 1-4. Once you’ve gained Qualified Teacher Status, you are technically qualified to teach any age group within the United Kingdom. However, this is usually not enough to switch between age groups. It’s important to put a focus on the age range that you want to work with, gaining experience with a certain group. To get a job working with children of these ages, it’s usually necessary to show that you have experience and can effectively do the job.
In order to get your Qualified Teacher Status, you must pursue an additional year of training after you’ve already obtained your degree. This may be offered through your undergraduate university, but it is also offered in other types of schools. This type of training is called Initial Teacher Training.
Initial Teacher Training
Initial Teacher Training takes about a year to complete, and it is the first step to getting a Qualified Teacher Status. Essentially, Initial Teacher Training, or ITT, is meant to be a teacher’s first introduction to learning techniques and teaching strategies. Since teachers can begin with an undergraduate degree in any subject, this programme aims to bring teachers up to the same standards and prepare them to work with children and communicate knowledge. The year-long programme usually involves getting some experience working as a teacher, as well as getting the chance to observe experienced teachers at work. This is an essential part of training for teachers. This year of training gives you the context and education necessary to give you confidence in your beginnings as a teacher.
Passing Requirements and Professional Skills Tests
Once you have your degree and your status as a Qualified Teacher, there are still some steps to take to become a teacher in the United Kingdom. It’s essential to prove your proficiency in several basic subjects that are taught in schools. Usually, this focuses on your English and maths abilities. Proving your proficiency is usually done by ensuring you have high GCSE grades or an equivalent test that shows your understanding of the subject.
When applying for your Initial Teacher Training, you will also likely have to go through a handful of professional skills tests. The focus of these skills tests is on numeracy and literacy, giving you the chance to prove your basic maths and language skills. Once you’ve completed all of these steps, you can begin searching for a job as a teacher in the United Kingdom. It’s a good idea to have your degree topic in a similar subject to that which you want to teach, or at least relevant to the general field. As long as all of your academic grades are at least average or higher, and you have undergone a criminal records check, you will be fully qualified to teach in the UK.
However, these are just the basics, and most employers are looking for people with competitive skills. Any form of additional training or studying that you’ve done will look great on your CV. New Skills Academy’s CPD-approved courses may just give you that edge when you’re applying for a job.
It’s also a good idea to get as much experience working with children as possible. Try to focus on the age group that you want to teach in the future. Small steps like working in a nursery, volunteering with children or doing additional training programmes, can help you get your chosen job once you’re a qualified teacher. Don’t underestimate the power of strengthening your skills and going through as many useful training procedures as possible.
In conclusion, becoming a teacher is no easy feat. There are many steps to take and training programmes to undergo if you want to teach in the United Kingdom. However, that is not all there is to become an amazing teacher. Participating in continued training and development is what makes teachers great, allowing them to gain new skills and knowledge about learning and education in the modern world. Going the extra mile and studying beyond the usual training process will not only help you to become a better teacher, but it will improve your chances with employers.
What if I decide I don’t want to go to university?
If you decide not to become a fully qualified teacher, there are many other careers that involve working with and supporting children. These include Teaching Assistant, SEN Teaching Assistant, Nursery Assistant, Online Tutor, Child Counsellor, Safeguarding Officer, Child Protection Officer, Childcarer.
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With so many options available, you may wish to take advantage of our unlimited learning package to gain access to our 700+ online courses. This includes access to our CV Builder tool, giving you advice on how to create the perfect CV.
You will also gain access to our job board, so you can search for your ideal role. With these and many other benefits, you will be well on your way to getting the job of your dreams!
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