Primary school teacher jobs

How to Get a Job as a Teacher in Elementary Schools

You have been giving some serious thought to beginning a career in teaching at the elementary school level; but, do you even know where to begin? Becoming a primary teacher is much more challenging than was first anticipated, since there seems to be a great deal of material and laws to go through and process.

What are some of the day-to-day, weekly, and monthly obligations of a primary school teacher? Do you have an idea of the prerequisites needed to work in a primary school, and can you think of somebody who would be able to provide you with some assistance in getting started?

Support primary school teachers all across the United Kingdom by providing them with a variety of ready-to-use primary teaching materials, lesson plans, and information on how to enter the field of education. If you are considering about beginning a career as a primary school teacher, this article will hopefully provide you with some useful information and guidance to help you get started.

What are the Steps I Need to Take to Become a Primary School Teacher?

Those who are interested in entering the teaching profession in 2021 have access to more opportunities than at any other time in history. Although in England and Wales you need to have qualified teacher status (QTS) to work in state-maintained schools (and in all special schools), free schools, academies, and independent schools are allowed to hire untrained instructors if they so want. Having said that, here at PlanBee we believe that achieving QTS is preferable for anyone going into teaching as it opens up the widest range of job opportunities and ensures that you receive adequate training. This is because it opens up the broadest range of job opportunities and ensures that you receive adequate training.

1. Obtain a degree from an accredited institution and QTS

The most typical beginning point for a career in teaching is completion of university coursework leading to QTS certification. There are a lot of other bachelor's degrees that are comparable to this one, and the most of them require four years to finish.

2. Get on the "fast track" to teaching by completing a postgraduate certificate in education program.

After completing this path, the postgraduate certificate in teaching is almost as frequent as an option (PGCE). Those who already have a degree may enter the teaching profession more quickly with this program. The whole process might take up to a year to finish.

3. Participate in an internship, sometimes known as the "Teach First" pathway.

Apprenticeship training opportunities for aspiring educators who already have degrees are becoming more available via a rising variety of programs. This method of becoming a teacher is attractive due to the fact that it is 'hands-on' (you will begin working in a school as soon as you begin the program) and that you will be paid a salary as an untrained instructor. Because of these advantages, there are only a certain number of spots available, and the level of competition is intense.

The Teach First program is possibly the most well-known and well-liked of all of the numerous apprenticeships that are available.

Apprentices put in a total of two years of work toward becoming fully qualified teachers.

4. Go your own way; get some training in on the side.

Even though it's not the fastest or simplest way to go into teaching, many excellent primary teachers got their start in the profession by working as teaching assistants or in other school jobs and then going to school part-time for a number of years to get their degrees.

Personally speaking, some of the very greatest educators I have ever met and worked with were able to get their QTS via this route; in fact, several of them did not even have the needed GCSEs when they first began teaching. When they were eventually done with their training, the quality of their teaching reflected both the effort and determination they had put in throughout the process.

The Essential Competencies Needed to Obtain Qualified Teacher Status Qualifications (QTS)

A Quick Look at:

GCSE in English, Mathematics, and Science with marks ranging from A* to C (9 to 4)

An undergraduate degree

Training for new teachers at the beginning of their careers (as described above)

a successful completion of the professional skill assessments

prior experience in teaching or interacting with children in their formative years

In addition to this, you'll need to pass more stringent background checks...

What do we mean when we talk about improved background checks?

Those who work with children are subject to more stringent requirements for background checks. They include checking to see whether you have a criminal record (including spent convictions, unspent convictions, cautions, and reprimands – essentially the whole thing), as well as checking with the local police to see if they have any information about you that is relevant to your work as a teacher.

These Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are, as they should be, quite thorough. The purpose of these checks is to ascertain whether or not you are trustworthy and reliable enough to deal with young people who are at risk.

Because you will spend a significant amount of time working in schools while you are doing your basic teacher training, you will be subject to more stringent requirements for background checks.

Following the completion of your Qualified Teacher Status requirements and the submission of a winning application for your first teaching position, your prospective employer will undertake an enhanced background check on you. After receiving training, each new school that you work at may do further checks on you. You are able to carry your background check with you from one job to the next and offer it to your new employer so that they can view it each time thanks to the newly launched DBS update service, which costs £13 per year. In order for you to successfully finish your training with the organization that is providing your Initial Teacher Training, you should get information about the kind of background check that is considered to be the most suitable.

What should I expect after my training has been completed?

After you have finished your initial teacher education training through one of the above-mentioned routes, you will be required to teach in a school or another teaching job that is equivalent to teaching for a minimum of three terms before you can become officially recognized as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT). During the NQT year, teachers will have a significantly reduced schedule (by around 20%), and they will also be subjected to a number of observations.

If you haven't finished your NQT year yet, you may still work as a short-term replacement teacher for up to five years. This indicates that you can take on supply work in the event that you are unable to find a full-time role immediately after completing your initial teacher education training in the hopes of landing a role in the future. This is the case even if you are unable to find a role immediately after completing your training.

The Way Forward to a Career as a Primary School Educator

It is my aim that at this point, you have a good understanding of the many paths you might pursue, as well as the credentials and experience that are required to become a primary school teacher. If you're interested in beginning a new profession as an elementary school teacher, here is a step-by-step guide to get you started:

1. Professional Qualifications and Years of Classroom Experience

Do you fulfill the basic criteria to become a Qualified Teacher in terms of the credentials you have and the amount of experience you have teaching in a school setting?

Remember that in order to become a primary school teacher, you will need to have at least an A* to C (9 to 4) grade in GCSEs in English, Math, and one Science subject, as well as previous in-school teaching experience, passes on the professional skills test, and to have completed the Initial Teacher Education Training program and gained your Qualified Teacher Status. These requirements must all be met. In addition to this, you will need to demonstrate that you can pass a more rigorous background check.

2. Make an application for extra training courses for teachers (if required)

Applying to the appropriate extra teaching training courses is a good place to start if you do not already possess all of the teaching credentials and experience necessary to become a primary school teacher. These requirements may be found in the job description.

You may also sign up for further individualized assistance for student teachers on the education.gov.uk website by clicking here. In addition to this, they provide in-depth information on a variety of different teacher training programs that are accessible today.

3. Make a decision on the age group(s) that you want to instruct.

You, as a teacher in primary school, are responsible for instructing three distinct age groups: the Early Years Foundation Stage (for children ages 3-5), KS1 (for children ages 5-7), and KS2 (for children ages 8-11). (7-11 years). You will be required to teach all of the topics that are included in the main National Curriculum while you are working with students in elementary schools.

Before settling on the age group that is ideal for you, it is recommended that you first have some experience teaching in a classroom setting, particularly if you are undecided as to the age group you would want to instruct. Because there are a variety of paths available for those who are interested in specializing in Early Years Foundation Stage, this has some influence on the kind of first teacher education program that you decide to pursue.

When you have achieved the necessary qualifications, you will need to choose the teaching positions for which you will apply. The age range of the students you will be responsible for instructing is a consideration for many people. That does not mean, however, that you will always have a choice: many businesses may advertise for a teacher without mentioning a year group for the post, and following the application process, they will determine where to put the successful applicant. It's possible that after your first year of teaching at a school, you'll be asked to go over to a different grade level altogether.

4. submitting a resume for a teaching position

In the United Kingdom, the process of applying to become a primary school teacher is not a tough one; nonetheless, it does need some knowledge, which we will try our best to give in the following part.

There are regions in the UK that have what are known as "Talent Pools," which allow teachers to fill out just one application form, have just one interview, be given a grade, and then wait to be contacted by schools that are part of the LEA. After being approached by local schools, you will be given the opportunity to tour the institution and ask questions about it before coming in for an interview with the institution.

Other local education organizations and the vast majority of independent schools post job openings on their own websites, on other websites such as Jooble and eteach, or via supply agencies. It is highly recommended that you utilize the internet to construct a list of local primary schools in your region, find out what techniques they use to recruit primary instructors, and then apply to the schools on your list.

If you want to participate in the Talent Pool, the only time you will have to submit an application is when you decide to decline an interview or a job offer; nevertheless, you will have no other say in the decision of who wants to hire you. Directly applying to colleges provides you greater control over the admissions process but requires somewhat more time. It is possible that you may have to fill out many application forms, but it is still worth your time to apply.

5. Make sure you are prepared for the interviews.

There are a number of really nice examples of potential questions that might be asked of primary school teachers during their job interviews online. These examples can be found at various websites. These 50 example questions and answers for teaching jobs interviews provided by SupplyMe are quite helpful. I really enjoy the advice that are provided below each question. These tips provide a deep insight into the reasons why interviewers are asking that specific topic, as well as what they are probably looking for in your answer.

The following are five helpful hints to keep in mind as you prepare for those dreaded interviews:

Make sure you are current with the modifications that have been made to the curriculum and the news about education.

You could find it helpful to compile a portfolio that showcases samples of annotated plans, work that has been marked, photographs of displays, and images of youngsters working on practical projects if you have anxiety during interviews. This will provide you with an excellent place to start, and it will also assist to stimulate your memory.

Do not over prepare to the point that you will be so worn out that you cannot perform at your peak on the day in question.

Remember that you will probably have to teach as part of the lesson, thus you will need to be able to move freely about the classroom. Dress in something that is professional looking but at the same time makes you feel at ease. You will have enough on your mind without adding more pressures.

You should always be prepared to fall back on concepts that have been tried and proven in the past. Keep in mind that you are not familiar with the youngsters, their skill levels, or their previous learning experiences. During the official interview, the interviewers will be seeking to see whether or not you have a good connection with the children, whether or not you are able to assess how the lesson is going and change it as needed, and whether or not you are able to reflect on your teaching.

Other obligations related to teaching include the following:

You are responsible for the lesson planning and presentation, as well as the preparation of the necessary teaching materials.

Providing feedback on the work of your students

Having the ability to evaluate and oversee individual people

Accountability for the scholastic development of each and every one of your students

Getting your students excited about their work while also being creative is a great way to motivate them.

Taking charge of the general behavior of the class

Participating in and helping to organize school activities and field trips

Collaborating with other teachers to plan and organize class activities

Participating in various gatherings (parent's nights, etc.) and training programs for teachers

Maintaining one's familiarity with the most recent alterations and additions to the national teaching curriculum