Career change

Career change

People of all ages and backgrounds enter the teaching profession. In fact, some of the best teachers enter the profession after pursuing careers in other fields, bringing with them a wealth of experience and expertise to inspire the next generation.

The type of training and qualifications you will need depends on your previous experience, and what age group (primary or secondary education) you intend to work with.

Visit Get Into Teaching- Career changers' stories to read personal experiences and get more information. 

Financial support is available, in the form of tax-free bursaries and student finance, depending on your circumstances and on the subject you wish to teach.

If you have previous experience of working with children, either through voluntary or paid work, this will be helpful in your training. Teaching involves working with children of all abilities and of different backgrounds, as well as dealing directly with parents, so patience and good communication skills are essential.

We want the most talented people to become teachers. So if you are interested in teaching secondary maths, physics, chemistry, computing, languages or design and technology, and if you hold (or are predicted to get) a 2:2 degree or above, you could be eligible for Premier Plus. This service offers a range of exclusive benefits, including personalised one-to-one advice and guidance from a named adviser on becoming a teacher, along with support with your application.

For more information on Premier Plus visit the DfE website.

The decision to change your career can be a daunting one, but one that can open up considerable career opportunities From starting a career in teaching, progression can be achieved quickly, with Vice Principal level achievable within 11 years.

For information on the range of teaching salaries currently available please see here.

For more information visit: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/