Your Step-by-Step Guide to Getting into Teaching

Are you thinking of becoming a teacher? This career choice will take you onto a rewarding pathway where you will inspire and shape future generations.

If you’re ready to become a teacher, there are a number of steps you’ll need to take towards your chosen career.

This guide will delve into what’s involved in training to become a teacher, the pros and cons of this career path and how online CPD training for teachers can help you achieve your career goals.

What does the role of a teacher involve?

Teachers work in schools at primary or secondary levels, providing their students with education and instruction. They’ll help them prepare for assessments or exams and support them so they can reach their full potential. But there’s much more involved in this pivotal role.

Teachers’ duties also include creating lesson plans and assessing work, along with report writing and record keeping. They may be involved with extracurricular activities like after-school sports clubs or provide pastoral care to their students.

Teachers also work closely with other stakeholders in the education sector, including parents, teaching assistants, headteachers and governors.

As well having as an excellent knowledge of your chosen subject and an interest in developing students, being a teacher requires other personal qualities such as:

• A confident, patient and resilient nature
• Enthusiasm, imagination and creativity
• Good listening, observational and communication skills
• Good leadership skills

Why become a teacher? The pros and cons

Like any profession, teaching comes with its advantages and challenges. Here are a few to consider:

Pros

• Immense job satisfaction as you shape future generations
• Opportunities for career progression
• Relatively consistent working schedule

Cons

• Can be physically and mentally demanding
• Potential for high workload and long working hours
• Facing challenges such as dealing with disruptive students

How do you become a teacher?

Before starting a career as a teacher, you must obtain all of the necessary qualifications and registrations. Here’s what you need to do:

Qualifications

First, you must acquire the relevant qualifications, including UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

You’ll need to hold an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate qualification like the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).

If you want to teach at secondary level, your degree must be related to the subject you plan to teach.

You will also need to hold English and Maths GCSEs (grades A*-C or 9-4), and if you want to teach at primary level, you will also need a Science GCSE.

Work experience

Finding suitable work experience or volunteering opportunities is a great way to be sure that you really want to be a teacher. It also helps support your application for postgraduate teaching qualifications and enhances your CV.

You could gain some practical work experience within the education sector as a teaching or learning support assistant. Alternatively, you may be able to volunteer at local schools for a hands-on experience of the teaching environment.

Registration

Once you’ve qualified, you will need to register with the respective educational body in the country where you will be working:

• the Teaching Regulation Agency in England
• the Education Workforce Council in Wales
• the General Teaching Council for Scotland
• the General Teaching Council NI for Northern Ireland

You will need to renew your registration annually, and there is a fee associated with both registration and renewal.

Online Training for Teachers

The learning doesn’t stop once you are qualified; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. You will need to undertake Continuous Professional Development training in order to maintain your teacher registration.

Because teachers’ schedules are so demanding, it can be hard to fit face-to-face training around their workload. Caredemy’s online training courses can help ease this problem by allowing busy teachers to study online at any convenient time and location.

Online CPD training for teachers covers a wide range of topics, reflecting the diverse role of a teacher. To enhance your skill set and stay up to date with developments in the educational landscape, you might choose to enrol in training courses such as:

• Safeguarding Children For Schools & Colleges
• Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children
• Paediatric First Aid
• Fire Safety Awareness
• COVID-19 Awareness

You can keep track of your learning through the Caredemy Personal Learner Dashboard, so it’s easy to pick up from your last study session. The dashboard also keeps track of your CPD points so that you can be sure you’re meeting the CPD hours required for maintaining teacher registration.

Online training courses for teachers ensure you’re equipped to provide the best education possible and also boost your employability. If you would like to discuss your study plans, please get in touch with our Student Support team, who will be happy to help.

Embarking on a teaching career means more than just starting a new job; it’s a commitment to nurture and inspire future generations.

With the right qualifications, experience and a passion for education, you can make a significant impact on countless lives.