Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
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How to become a primary school teacher
Inspire young children in the classroom to achieve their full potential.
What is a primary school teacher?
As a primary school teacher or a teaching assistant you'll work with children aged between 5 and 11 to foster learning and growth through the first stages of their education.
How do I become a primary school teacher?
To qualify as a primary school teacher, you'll need a degree and qualified teacher status (QTS) following your initial teacher training (ITT).
To achieve QTS you can take:
- An undergraduate Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree
- Or a BA/BSc with QTS
If you already have a degree you can gain QTS in other ways:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) – available at many universities, colleges of higher education and teacher training led by schools.
- Salaried teacher training – schemes which offer on-the-job training while you earn a salary.
Whichever path you take, your training will involve placements in school, working with children in Early Years or Key Stage 1. This will be a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience and build your professional network.
What would I do as a primary school teacher?
As a primary school teacher you'll help to create a positive environment that inspires learning.
As a primary school teacher you'll find yourself teaching a wide range of subjects across the curriculum. You'll plan, prepare and present lessons that cover all abilities in the class and encourage children to develop their understanding. Perhaps the most important ingredients you'll bring to the classroom will be your enthusiasm and imagination, to keep children engaged and motivated.
Typically the role involves:
- Taking responsibility for the progress of a class of primary-age pupils
- Preparing and marking work that encourages pupils to develop
- Maintaining discipline in the classroom
- Recording pupils' progress
- Preparing children for national testing
- Giving feedback on progress to parents and carers
- Keeping up with changes in the curriculum
- Organising and taking part in school events, outings and activities
- Working with other professionals such as welfare officers and educational psychologists
Becoming a primary school teacher could be for you if...
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You're on the same wavelength
With a classroom of 5-11 year olds in your care, you'll need to show empathy, understanding and patience.
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You tell a good story
Great teachers use their imagination and creativity to make learning fun.
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You're a source of energy
Teaching is demanding and you'll need to keep energy levels high in the classroom.
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You're a super-organiser
Planning, managing resources and reporting means you'll need to be highly organised.
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You love to see growth
The satisfaction of teaching is seeing children reach their full potential, academically and socially.
What are the typical working hours for a primary school teacher?
The school day usually runs from 08:30 until 15:30 or 16:00. Most teachers arrive before the school day starts and stay behind after school is finished.
Teachers are allowed a minimum of 10% of timetabled teaching time for planning, preparation and assessment (PPA). You'll often spend time at home preparing lessons and marking pupils' work.
Teachers are required to work in school for 39 weeks of the year, but you may also work during the 13 weeks' holiday, marking, planning and preparing.
You'll also be expected to attend parents' evenings and take part in extra-curricular activities such as field trips and outings.
New teachers in England start on £25,714 rising in stages to £36,961. Teachers working in or near London earn a little more.
With experience, it's possible to become a lead practitioner in England and Wales. Salaries for head teachers can rise to around £100,000.
Academies, free schools and independent schools decide their own levels of pay.
