Teacher...

Tasks are broadly the same for all primary school teachers and include:

• teaching all areas of the primary curriculum;
• taking responsibility for the progress of a class of primary-age pupils;
• organizing the classroom and learning resources and creating displays to encourage a positive learning environment;
• planning, preparing and presenting lessons that cater for the needs of the whole ability range within their class;
• motivating pupils with enthusiastic, imaginative presentation;
• maintaining discipline;
• preparing and marking work to facilitate positive pupil development;
• meeting requirements for the assessment and recording of pupils' development;
• providing feedback to parents and carers on a pupil's progress at parents' evenings and other meetings;
• coordinating activities and resources within a specific area of the curriculum, and supporting colleagues in the delivery of this specialist area;
• working with others to plan and coordinate work;
• keeping up to date with changes and developments in the structure of the curriculum;
• organizing and taking part in school events, outings and activities which may take place at weekends or in the evening;
• liaising with colleagues and working flexibly, particularly in smaller schools;
• working with parents and school governors (in England, Northern Ireland and Wales) or School Boards (in Scotland) to maximise their involvement in the school and the development of resources for the school;
• meeting with other professionals such as education welfare officers and educational psychologists, if required.

  Salary

• New entrants to the profession in England, Wales and Northern Ireland start on the main salary scale, which rises incrementally from £21,804 to £31,868.
• Enhanced pay scales apply for teachers working in or near London.
• In Scotland, the new entrants' starting salary is £21,867, plus any payments made through the Preference Waiver Scheme, rising incrementally to £34,887.
• After gaining experience and expertise, particularly skilled classroom teachers in England and Wales can, where the opportunities exist, apply to go on to become a leading practitioner. Schools now have the freedom to create higher salary posts for teachers whose primary purpose is modelling and leading improvement of teaching skills. Salaries in this bracket start at £37,836, potentially rising to over £100,000.
• Academies and free schools set their own pay and working conditions. In some, this may be very similar to local authority schools, while in others it may vary considerably.
• Experienced classroom teachers undertaking additional responsibility may receive teaching and learning responsibility (TLR) payments.
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• Primary teachers are usually based in their own classrooms, although they may teach elsewhere in school to cover for staff shortages or because of their specialist subject area. Resources vary between schools.
• Teaching posts are available in all areas, although there are more jobs in towns and cities than in rural areas. Certain areas of work, such as nursery or special needs, are only available in some schools.
• A very high proportion of primary school teachers are women and increasing numbers of women now hold senior posts. The Teaching Agency is encouraging more men, people from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities into teaching.
• There may be occasional trips with pupils, or staff development opportunities, which involve staying away from home and/or overseas travel.

Qualifications

Unless your first degree is a Bachelor of Education (BEd) or a BA/BSc with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), it is essential to gain QTS or, in Scotland, a teaching qualification (TQ), in order to teach in the maintained/local authority sector.
Independent schools are permitted to employ teachers without QTS/TQ, but in practice this is uncommon.
QTS/TQ may be gained through one of the following routes:

• a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), or in Scotland a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) - available at many universities and colleges of higher education;
• School Direct (England and Wales only) - a school-based training route with the expectation that participants will go on to work in the school, or partnership of schools, in which they trained. In most, but not all cases, a PGCE accredited by a higher education institution (HEI) will be awarded;
• School-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) programme (England and Wales only) - offered by a consortia of schools;
• Teach First (England only) - a two-year programme including a PGCE where top graduates are placed in challenging schools. On completing the programme, you have the option to remain in teaching or pursue other careers.

Skills

You will need:

• excellent communication and interpersonal abilities;
• good organisational and time-management skills;
• energy, enthusiasm, stamina, patience, dedication and self-discipline;
• initiative, leadership and supervisory skills and teamworking abilities;
• imagination, creativity and a sense of humour;
• good judgement and an analytical mind;
• a satisfactory health record and criminal record check through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Also advantageous are extra skills, such as:

• music;
• art;
• IT;
• drama;
• sport;
• community and modern languages.

Work experience

Experience in a classroom is essential for entry to all training routes. Arrange to visit schools to observe and talk to teachers. Become familiar with the primary curriculum. Ask if you can help a teacher with non-teaching duties on a regular basis. Try to do this over an extended period, rather than just before you apply for a PGCE/PGDE. A post as a teaching assistant could give you valuable experience.
Visit open days and try to attend taster courses organized through schools and universities. Contact your university careers service or school of education to find out about any local opportunities to gain experience in schools. Get experience of working with children in other ways too such as:

• mentoring;
• summer play schemes;
• summer camps;
• Brownies;
• Sunday schools;
• supplementary and mother-tongue schools.