How to Become a Teacher in the UK

Earning Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Teaching Qualification (TQ)

Apply for a Bachelors of Education if seeking a primary school job. A BEd is a 3-year degree that mainly applies for aspiring primary school teachers. Primary education includes Key Stages 1 and 2, as defined by the UK government (grades 1-2 and 3-6, respectively).. If you want to become a nursery teacher, you may be able to get a job without having a bachelor's degree, but you'll still need to be certified to work with young children.

Apply for a Bachelors in your preferred subject field for a secondary education job. If secondary education (Key Stages 3 and 4, or grades 7-9 and 10-11) is your focus, you’ll want to earn a degree that is appropriate for the subject matter you want to teach before moving on to graduate-level work. For example, if you want to teach secondary school science, a biology major would be a wise choice.

Earn a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). This certification will allow you to teach at all levels in the subject you earned your Bachelors in. It typically takes one year to earn a PGCE. In Scotland, their equivalent of a PGCE is a PGDE (Post Graduate Diploma in Education).

Pass all QTS (TQ in Scotland) exams. You must attain a C-grade or higher in the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams in math and English. The GCSE exams are administered online in a testing center and also include an oral “mental maths” exam. Primary school teacher candidates must also take a GCSE exam in Science and earn a C-grade or higher. If you plan to teach in Wales, they require a B-grade or higher on these exams.

Sign up for the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) program. The ITT program typically consists of three separate placements at three different schools of about 6-8 weeks each. While you’re at a placement you’ll be asked to do all normal activities that a regular teacher does. The only difference is that a mentor, someone with years of teaching experience under their belt, will be there to help you along. The Scottish equivalent of ITT is ITE, or Initial Teacher Education.

Register with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) if planning to teach in Scotland. The GCTS operates independent of the UK government in establishing and reviewing education standards and training standards for teachers. All teachers in Scotland are legally required to register with the GCTS. The Northern Ireland equivalent is the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland. Being a member is mandatory if teaching in Northern Ireland.

Becoming a Fully-Qualified Teacher

Prepare the necessary documents for a background check. Training providers will want to know your medical and criminal history. If you have a conviction on your record, employers may not want to hire you. Medical examiners will determine if you are fit to teach, subject to the rules outlined by the Equality Act. Aspiring teachers in Scotland must enlist themselves in the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. The PVG Scheme helps identify individuals who are forbidden from working with young children.

Pass a professional skills test for numeracy and literacy (England only). The skills test must be taken regardless of which subject you plan to teach. The computerized exam measures your ability to process data and information that you’ll encounter on the job.

Take a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course, if necessary. Some training providers will require you to take an SKE if the subject of your degree is not similar enough to subject matter you’ll be teaching. An SKE provides subject-specific teacher training.

Get through your one-year induction period as a Newly-Qualified Teacher (NQT). Once placed in an appropriate venue, NQTs are monitored strictly with classroom observations and regular progress reviews. A school-appointed induction tutor will be there to help you along. The induction period can be extended if the school headmaster deems it necessary. Failure to pass induction is not the end of the world. There are many private learning institutions in the UK that do not require statutory induction.

Developing Skills to Become a Successful Teacher

Lend a sympathetic ear to your pupils in order to relate to them. Remember that you were once a student yourself. Try to be understanding of their issues, whether they're personal or work-related, and be patient when problems arise.

Remain enthusiastic and confident at all times. Everyone has their good and bad days, but a teacher must remain engaged with their students even when fatigued or under the weather. Consistency is key in forming good teacher-student relationships.

Develop organizational skills. Keep legible records of your student's grades on homework and tests to help yourself out before report card time. Formulate a lesson schedule and test schedule, whether it's on a weekly or monthly basis, and try to stick to it as much as possible. On a personal level, try to keep your work-space as neat as possible. Clip papers together or place them in folders. Keep materials like pens and markers in one spot and place them back where they go when you're done using them so they don't get lost.

Learn how to teach subject matter in different ways. Falling into a routine will become boring to your students as well as yourself. Students learn in different ways, from memorizing by rote to working in groups, so make sure your lesson plans are dynamic.