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How to become a Primary School Teacher

Primary School Teacher

Career progression and salary expectations for a Primary School Teacher

1

Primary School Teacher

| Up to £32,000

The role of a Primary School Teacher

Good with kids? Think you've got what it takes to inspire a whole new generation? Then becoming a Primary School Teacher might be the perfect career move for you.

As a Teacher at this level, you'd be responsible for classes of five to eleven-year-olds, covering primary national curriculum subjects at Key Stages 1 and 2. You won't usually be able to specialise in one subject, so everything from English and maths to science and music will be on the timetable.It's not just about the lessons themselves though - you'll also be responsible for:

  • Your children's social and emotional development
  • Managing behaviour (even when it's challenging)
  • Discussing progress with parents, careers, inspectors and social workers
  • Organising outings such as museum trips
  • Coming up with lesson plans and ways to teach them
  • Marking children's work
To be successful in this position, having a passion for working with children is essential, as well as a genuine interest in education. You will also need exceptional communication skills and must be able to motivate pupils who may sometimes be unruly or lack confidence.

If you're the type of person who needs a lie-down in a darkened room after speaking to children for any length of time, then this isn't the vocation for you...

A good Primary School Teacher will be:

  • Full of enthusiasm for their subjects
  • Creative enough to come up with new ways of teaching old topics
  • Able to relate to people of all ages
  • Excellent at communication
  • Highly organised and good at time management
  • Patient
  • Calm in any kind of crisis - remember you'll be dealing with everything from playground fisticuffs to toilet-related mishaps with this age group
"It may be hard work and feel like a lot of shouting, but I love the freedom and creativity involved in leading my own classes. It's certainly not boring - you never know what the kids might come out with next - and the thrill of seeing a child master something completely new is like no other. A word of advice though - make sure you wear comfy shoes, as you won't believe how long you spend on your feet!"

Get qualified as a Primary School Teacher

To become a Primary School Teacher, you'll need five GCSEs (A to C) and two A-levels, after which you can work to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Recommended Primary teaching courses

  • Primary Teaching Diploma (QLS)

    Thames College
    FREE Level 5 QLS Endorsed Certificate| 3 Bonus Courses + 4 PDF Certificates as Gift | 180 CPD Points | Instant Access
    • 19 students
    • Online
    • 5 hours · Self-paced
    • 180 CPD points
    • Tutor support
    Great service
    ►►► The Must-Have Primary Teaching Course for Spring is Live Now! Hurry Up before the time runs out â—„â—„â—„ The primary teaching Training course has assembled an array of essential digital study resources for you. If you want to gain the ability to serve children with progressive e …
    £100

  • Certificate in Primary Teaching Assistant - CPD Certified With Complete Career Guide

    Training Express Ltd
    10 FREE Certificates | 10 CPD Accredited Courses | Unlimited Retake | Lifetime Access
    • Online
    • 60 hours · Self-paced
    • Certificate(s) included
    • 100 CPD points
    • Tutor support
    Great service
    ►►► Certificate in Primary Teaching Assistant - CPD Certified With Complete Career Guide â—„â—„â—„ ★★ FREE PDF & Hard Copy Certificate| PDF Transcripts| Lifetime Access ★★ Introducing our " Certificate in Primary Teaching Assistant - CPD Certified With Complete Career Guide " c …
    £50
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