School Teacher

School teachers play an essential part in helping children and young people to acquire and develop the knowledge and skills they will need in later life. The work involves building relationships that encourage pupils to learn and fulfil their potential.

Primary teachers usually teach one class in all subjects, while secondary school teachers usually teach one or two subjects to several different classes. Although they spend most of their time teaching, teachers also have a range of other duties, including planning lessons, marking course work and exams, talking to pupils about their work and other issues, keeping records and writing reports, and maintaining order and discipline.

Teachers have about 32.5 hours a week in the classroom, plus about three hours scheduled in for lesson planning. Part-time and temporary work is available. Teachers attend parents' evenings and participate in activities outside school hours. Holidays are about 13 weeks a year. Teachers might accompany their pupils on trips locally or abroad.

Salaries range from £21,102 a year (£26,000 in inner London) to £102,734 (up to £109,658 in inner London).

A school teacher should:

• relate well to young people from all backgrounds
• have leadership skills, enthusiasm and stamina
• be assertive when faced with challenging behaviour
• be creative and resourceful in presenting a subject in order to bring it to life
• be patient and adaptable when teaching pupils of different ability levels
• communicate well with parents and with other professionals
• be interested in theories of learning and teaching.

There is a shortage of teachers in maths, science, modern languages, English, religious education (RE), music, information and communication technology (ICT) and design and technology (DT).

Teachers generally must hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). They must also have GCSEs (A*-C) in English and maths and, in the case of primary teaching, a science subject. The new Diploma in society, health and development, available in many schools and colleges, may be relevant for this work.

The route to QTS is known as initial teacher training (ITT). There are several options for ITT, some based outside schools and some based within. They include degrees and postgraduate qualifications. All ITT involves teaching practice.

Candidates for training must have paid or voluntary experience of working with children, preferably in a school.

All teachers in state-maintained schools must register with the General Teaching Council for England (GTC) though this may change from autumn 2010 as there are plans for its abolition.

Newly qualified teachers must undergo a three-term induction period in order to continue to teach to ensure they are supported in their first year in a school.

All teachers are encouraged to undertake further training and development. Some may be given the opportunity to take part in the Fast Track Teaching programme, which helps teachers develop the skills required for senior leadership roles, such as deputy head or advanced skills teacher. It is also possible to undertake further qualifications.

There are opportunities to move into other careers, including teacher training, advisory work, educational research or schools inspection.

Further details