Primary school teacher
Primary school teachers are responsible for the educational, social and emotional development of children between the ages of 3 and 11.
Also known as: Junior school teacher
- Starter salary£33,000 a year
- Experienced£51,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 45 a week
What you'll do
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.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
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
How to become a primary school teacher
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
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
Apprenticeship
You may be able to apply to do an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Teacher Level 6 Apprenticeship to teach children from ages 3 to 7 or 5 to 11.
The undergraduate option takes up to 4 years to complete. The postgraduate route takes around 9 months, with both leading to qualified teacher status (QTS).
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 postgraduate teaching apprenticeship
Work
You could start as a teaching assistant and do further training like a part-time degree or an undergraduate teaching apprenticeship to gain qualified teacher status (QTS).
Volunteering
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.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
Career path and progression
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
The Get Into Teaching website has more information on how to develop your career .
Career tips
You can 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.
Registration
- you'll usually need qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in a state school in England
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleHeadteacher
- Job roleTeaching assistant
- Job roleSecondary school teacher
- Job roleSpecial educational needs (SEN) teacher
- Job roleNursery manager
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