11 Reasons Why You Should Become A Teacher

1) You could earn up to £65,000

As a leading practitioner, you could earn up to this £65,000. This pay range was applied from 1st September 2014 and includes qualified teachers who are employed in posts and have key qualities of modelling and leading improvement of teaching skills. 

For the latest teachers’ pay and conditions document, see the following link: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-teachers-pay-and-conditions-2014 

2) Receive £25,000 tax-free to train to teach

For trainees on eligible postgraduate courses, bursaries are available. Amounts will vary depending on teaching subject and degree class or highest relevant academic qualification.

For more information, visit the useful links below.

Bursaries and scholarships for top graduates who train to teach: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bursaries-and-scholarships-for-top-graduates-who-train-to-teach 

Get into Teaching: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/bursaries-and-funding 

3) A starting salary of £22,023 

Teachers can expect to start on a minimum of £22,023 and progress up the salary ranges.

Final year university students from the UK’s leading universities expect a starting salary on average of £23,700, based on recent research.

More information: http://www.highfliers.co.uk/ 

4) Teaching is a career for achievers!

73% of new postgraduate trainee teachers now have a 1st or a 2:1 A higher proportion than ever have a 1st degree - 17% of new teachers.

Initial teacher training: Trainee Number Census: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/initial-teacher-training-trainee-number-census-2014-to-2015 

Latest ITT census: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-top-graduates-training-to-be-teachers-than-ever-before 

5) Teacher training is better than ever

The overall quality of teacher training was highly rated by 91% of secondary teachers and 89% of primary teachers.  

Source: NQT Survey 2014 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/newly-qualified-teachers-annual-survey-2014 

After achieving Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you could apply to train to teach maths, physics, chemistry, computing, design and technology or a language. Subject knowledge enhancement courses are available, which allows you to top up your subject knowledge.

6) Excellent employment prospects and good teachers are in demand

An astounding 9 out of 10 newly qualified teachers were employed within 6 months of completing training. This is the highest figure it’s been in a decade.

Source: ITT performance https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/itt-performance-profiles-management-information-2012-to-2013 

7) Teaching is the one profession that starts every other!

Teachers make CEOs, nurses, scientists and engineers. Get young people inspired by the subject you love.

8) Inspire young people to fulfil their potential 

Teachers encourage children to perform to the best of their ability, making a B+ feel like Olympic Gold!

9) Life changing

Teachers can make students curious, question, and criticise, encouraging the frightened to be confident, the uninterested to be ambitious and the gifted to be brilliant. They change a young person’s life for the better!

10) Teachers are eye openers!

Teachers help young people to realise their ambitions by encouraging young people to achieve more than they ever believed they could achieve. 

11) Great job satisfaction

Teachers make their class take something home to think about at the end of the day! As a teacher, you could return home each day knowing you’ve made a difference.

(GOV.UK, 2015)

For information on teacher training please visit the following Kent-Teach blog articles: 

What is School Direct Teacher Training?: https://www.kent-teach.com/Blog/post/2014/11/07/What-is-School-Direct-Teacher-Training.aspx 

Routes into Teaching: https://www.kent-teach.com/Blog/post/2014/11/02/Routes-into-Teaching.aspx