Primary School Teachers will create and design lesson plans to help young children learn new skills and develop their interests giving them the best possible start in life. They normally work with children aged between the ages of five and eleven in state maintained and independent schools and will be responsible for their educational, social and emotional development while at school.
To become a primary school teacher, you'll need:
- GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English, maths and science
- passes in numeracy and literacy skills tests
- enhanced background checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
Although not essential, you'll find it useful to have some school experience to support your application.
If you have a degree, you can train through a postgraduate teacher training course. There are 2 main routes: school-led and university-led. Both provide you with the practical skills and knowledge needed for teaching, but are delivered differently.
If you don't have a degree, you can study for one that also awards qualified teacher status (QTS).
Financial support is available to train as a primary school teacher. Depending on the route you take, you could get a salary, a bursary, a student loan or a tax-free bursary if you teach primary maths.
Get Into Teaching has more information on the support available, including £26,000 tax-free bursaries if you teach at secondary level.
Career Path and Progression
You could specialise in teaching pupils with special educational needs or move into pastoral care. With experience, you could become a specialist leader of education (SLE) supporting teachers in other schools.
You could also progress to curriculum leader, deputy head and head teacher, or become a private tutor.
Related careers you may be interested in:
- PE teacher
- Montessori teacher
- Early years teacher
- Secondary school teacher
National Government Policy states that all students should have achieved at least a Grade 4 or C Grade in English & Maths at GCSE. Achieving this minimum grade in these subjects will increase the opportunities open to you, support your future career development and prospects.
Students who do not meet this standard will be supported to continue to study English and Maths through full-time education or an Apprenticeship.
- Enthusiasm for your subject and a strong desire to teach others
- Creativity to create interesting lesson plans which will keep pupils enthused,
- Good communication skills and the ability to develop good relationships with parents, pupils and colleagues,
- Patience and a good sense of humour
- The ability to manage a class full of children and deal with challenging behaviour
- Good problem solving abilities
£22,917 to £67,305