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Primary school teacher

Primary school teachers are responsible for the educational, social and emotional development of children between the ages of 3 and 11.

Annual Salary

£32,000 to £49,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

37 to 45 term time

You could work: evenings; attending events or appointments

3.5%
Future employment

There will be 3.5% more Primary school teacher jobs in 2029.

Day to day tasks

As a primary school teacher, you could:

  • prepare teaching materials, set up the classroom and organise displays
  • plan and teach lessons and work with small groups of students
  • mark work and talk to parents and carers about their children's progress
  • manage the work of teaching assistants
  • follow safeguarding procedures and work with education psychologists and social workers
  • organise trips, after school clubs and sports events
  • work and attend meetings and training outside of usual working hours

Working environment

You could work at a school or at a pupil referral unit.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
University

Undergraduate degree

You can do an undergraduate degree that leads to qualified teacher status (QTS), for example:

  • Bachelor of Education (BEd)
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) with QTS
  • Bachelor of Science (BSc) with QTS

Postgraduate certificate

If you already have a bachelor's degree without qualified teacher status, you can complete a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). This can be done at university or through a training programme based in a school.

More teacher training options

There are more training options if you want to change to a career in teaching or specialise in teaching certain subjects.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
  • funding for teacher training |https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-my-teacher-training
  • postgraduate teacher training courses|https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-postgraduate-teacher-training-courses-in-england
Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Teacher Level 6 Apprenticeship, if you have a degree and want to teach children from ages 3 to 7 or 5 to 11.

This apprenticeship takes a minimum of one year to complete and leads to qualified teacher status.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths
  • GCSE science at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) for primary school teaching
  • a degree for a teaching apprenticeship
  • experience in related work
For more information
  • postgraduate teaching apprenticeships|https://www.ucas.com/teaching-option/postgraduate-teaching-apprenticeship
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work

You could start as a teaching assistant and do a part-time degree. You could then move onto a postgraduate teaching course to qualify as a teacher.

Volunteering and work experience

You'll find it helpful to get some experience of working with children in different age ranges, though this is not essential.

You could volunteer at a school, help at an after school club or work on a holiday scheme.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

More information

Career tips

You can do a subject knowledge enhancement course to improve your understanding of the subject you want to teach.

You can also attend a Get Into Teaching event before you apply to get advice about teaching, funding and the different training routes available. You can attend events in person and online.

Further information

You can learn more about how to become a teacher from Get Into Teaching.

You can also search for jobs through the Teaching Vacancies service.

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With experience you could:become a special educational needs teacher or move into pastoral care; become a lead practitioner, supporting and mentoring other teachers and developing best practice; be a curriculum leader, deputy head or headteacher; move into private tuition; teach overseas in an international school

You can discover more about how to become a teacher from Get Into Teaching.

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Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • knowledge of English language
  • maths knowledge
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
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