10 Reasons Why You Should Become a Teacher

A career in teaching not only comes with great job satisfaction, but the pay isn’t too bad either. A newly qualified teacher can expect to earn between £25,000 and £30,000 per annum and a Headteacher can earn as much as £122,000 per year. 

But these aren't the only reasons why you should consider a career in teaching. There are also a number of other benefits to becoming a teacher, including the holidays, the pension and the responsibility you have. If you want to learn more about life as a teacher and want to find out why you should consider starting your training, then keep reading below:

What to Study at University

In order to work as a teacher, you will need to complete a recognised degree. There are lots of different courses available, depending on the type of teacher you want to become. You could choose to complete an undergraduate degree with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) included or complete a degree in your favourite subject before taking a teacher training course.

Who Can You Teach?

Before starting your teacher training, you need to decide who you want to teach. Do you want to work with younger children, older children, teenagers or adults? Here are the different options explained a little bit more:

• Primary school teacher – primary school teachers work with children between the ages of 4 and 11. They work hard to make sure children have good numeracy and literacy skills before they start secondary education. Primary school teachers plan lessons and follow the national curriculum.
• Secondary school teacher – secondary school teachers teach children between the ages of 11 and 18. There is a wide selection of subjects they can choose to teach including DT, Maths, English, French, Art and History. Like primary school teachers, they plan their own lessons and follow the national curriculum.
• Further education lecturer - further education lecturers can work in a variety of different environments from prisons and colleges to the armed forces and community centres. They may choose to teach academic subjects, diplomas, leisure and hobby courses or vocational courses. 

Why You Should Become a Teacher

Teaching can be a challenging profession, but don’t let that put you off. There are lots of reasons why you should consider a career in teaching. Here are some of the main benefits of becoming a teacher:

1) Every day is different – if you want a career where every day is different, then a career as a teacher is a great option for you. Many people find the thought of repeating the same task day in day out extremely boring. If you want to avoid getting stuck in a rut, then why not look into becoming a teacher? 

2) You're always learning – teachers not only get to share their knowledge with their pupils, but they get to learn new things along the way. Teachers are often sent on training courses to extend their knowledge in different areas. They also have to stay ahead of new technology, historic events, and trends, meaning they’re always learning new things.

3) You make a difference – teachers make a real difference to their pupils’ lives. Unlike many other professions, teachers work face to face with their pupils. This allows you to see the impact you’re having. 

4) Work opportunities – trained teachers can work all over the world. The skills you learn as a teacher are highly transferable, meaning you can pretty much get any job you apply for. This allows you to travel the world and work at the same time. There aren’t many other careers that offer this.

5) The hours – teachers are able to choose the hours they work outside of school. There are also flexible working options such as becoming a supply teacher or working part time. 

6) Job security – in the future, we expect to see many jobs being replaced by technology. This isn’t the case for teachers. 

7) It's more than just a job – a career in teaching is about more than just the pay cheque; it’s an extremely satisfying career that allows you to make a difference.

8) The pay – the salary of a newly qualified teacher is approximately £25,000 per annum. This figure will only increase as you gain more experience in the classroom. 

9) The holidays – who doesn’t like the idea of only working around 33 weeks a year? Of course, you will be expected to complete some work at home, but this is much better than travelling to the office on a daily basis. 

10) It’s the best job in the world – working with children can be stressful at times, but it can also be lots of fun. Remember, no two days are ever the same. 

There are lots of reasons why you should consider a career in teaching from the work opportunities available to the holidays you get. Why not look into starting teacher training today?

A question we are often asked here at Kent-Teach is "How do I get into teaching without a degree?" In fact, there are several routes into teaching for those who don’t have a degree, it can seem more daunting, but this does not need to be the case.