Primary school teacher

As a primary school teacher, you'll plan and teach lessons that meet curriculum requirements and the needs of your pupils. You'll build positive relationships with pupils, organise resources effectively and create an inclusive and supportive learning environment in the classroom.

Your role is to foster the knowledge, skills and social abilities children need to learn, develop and thrive, according to their age, ability and aptitude.

You'll assess and record pupils' progress and use this information to inform your teaching. You'll link pupils' knowledge to earlier learning and build on it, challenging and inspiring pupils to deepen their knowledge and understanding.

Primary school teachers typically work with children aged around 4 or 5 to 11 or 12, depending on where in the UK they teach.

What does a primary school teacher do?

You'll need to:

• plan, prepare and teach engaging lessons across the primary curriculum
• adapt your teaching to meet pupils' different needs, abilities and stages of development
• create a positive, inclusive and stimulating learning environment and manage pupils' behaviour effectively
• monitor and assess pupils' progress, provide feedback and use assessment to plan future teaching
• support pupils' academic, personal and social development and encourage them to become confident and motivated learners
• ensure that pupils are safe and that child protection and safeguarding procedures are followed
• work closely with teachers, teaching assistants and other education professionals to support pupils' learning and wellbeing
• provide feedback to parents and carers on their child's progress and development
• organise and use classroom resources and technology effectively to support teaching and learning
• review and improve your teaching practice, keep your curriculum knowledge up to date and take part in continuing professional development (CPD).

With experience, you may also:

• lead or coordinate a subject or area of the curriculum
• mentor or support less experienced teachers and other colleagues
• take on additional pastoral, leadership or management responsibilities.

Find out more about life as a primary school teacher.

Primary school teacher salaries

• In England, newly qualified teachers start on £34,069 outside London. Experienced classroom teachers on the upper pay scale can earn up to £52,835. Salaries are higher in and around London, depending on your location and experience.
• In Wales, newly qualified teachers start on £33,731. Experienced classroom teachers on the upper pay scale can earn up to £51,942.
• In Northern Ireland, newly qualified teachers start on £32,916 and experienced teachers at the top of the upper pay scale can earn up to £50,876.
• In Scotland, provisionally registered teachers earn £36,159. Once fully registered, teachers start on £43,383 and can earn up to £54,453.
• With experience, you can earn more by taking on specialist or leadership roles. Headteacher and principal salaries can exceed £100,000, depending on school size, type and level of responsibility.

Academies and free schools in England, and independent schools, can set their own pay and working conditions, although many follow national or local pay arrangements.

Further information on teacher pay and awards is available from government education departments and teaching unions. For England, see the Department for Education (DfE) Get Into Teaching website.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours for primary school teachers

Hours vary between schools. Teachers usually arrive before the school day starts and remain after pupils have left to plan lessons, assess work, attend meetings and carry out other duties.

Teachers have allocated non-contact time for planning, preparation and assessment, although arrangements vary across the UK. Some work is also carried out outside school hours.

Teachers generally work during school terms and attend additional training or development days. Part-time and supply teaching opportunities are also available.

For more information on working hours, see the NASUWT, The Teachers' Union.

How do you become a primary school teacher?

The qualifications and registration you need depend on where in the UK you want to teach.

England

To teach in a maintained primary school in England, you'll usually need a degree and qualified teacher status (QTS).

If you don't already have a degree, you can take an undergraduate primary teaching degree that leads to QTS. Entry requirements vary, but you'll typically need A-levels or equivalent Level 3 qualifications, plus GCSEs at grade 4/C or above in English, maths and science. For a list of courses, search UCAS.

Teacher degree apprenticeships have recently been introduced. These allow you to work in a school while gaining a degree and QTS, although availability is currently limited.

If you're a graduate, you can complete postgraduate initial teacher training, which may be university or school led and usually takes around nine months full time or 18 to 24 months part time. Courses lead to QTS and many also award a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

For postgraduate training, you'll need a bachelor's degree in any subject and GCSEs at grade 4/C or above in English, maths and science. Providers may set additional entry requirements, such as a 2:2 degree or above.

Most postgraduate routes charge tuition fees, although there are salaried routes available that allow you to earn while you train.

Experienced unqualified teachers may be able to gain QTS through the Assessment Only route if they can demonstrate that they already meet the required teaching standards.

Independent schools, academies and free schools can employ teachers without QTS, although many prefer applicants to have it.

Find out more about routes into teaching and applying for teacher training.

Wales

To teach in a maintained primary school in Wales, you'll need to complete an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programme leading to QTS and register with the Education Workforce Council (EWC).

If you don't have a degree, you can take an undergraduate teacher training course. Graduates can take a one-year full-time PGCE in primary education. You'll also need GCSE grade C or above, or equivalent, in maths, English or Welsh, and a science subject.

The Open University in Wales also offers two-year salaried and part-time PGCE routes for primary teaching. The salaried route lets you earn while training in a school, while the part-time route can fit around other commitments.

Find out more from Educators Wales.

Scotland

To teach in Scotland, you'll need a degree and a recognised Teaching Qualification gained through an Initial Teacher Education programme. You'll also need to register with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).

You can qualify through an undergraduate primary education degree or, if you already have a degree, a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). For postgraduate primary teaching, you'll also need English at SCQF Level 6 and maths at SCQF Level 5, or accepted equivalents.

Find out more about initial teacher education in Scotland.

Northern Ireland

To teach in a grant-aided primary school in Northern Ireland, you'll need a degree, a recognised teaching qualification and registration with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI).

You can qualify through a four-year undergraduate BEd or, if you're already a graduate, a one-year PGCE. Primary teacher training also requires GCSE grade C or above, or equivalent, in English, maths and science.

Find out more about teacher training in Northern Ireland.

For a broader overview of training options across the UK, including funding options, see how to become a teacher and funding for teacher training.

Key skills for primary school teachers

You'll need:

• communication and interpersonal skills to explain ideas clearly, listen to pupils and build positive relationships with pupils, parents, carers and colleagues
• planning, organisation and time-management skills to prepare lessons, manage competing priorities and keep on top of assessment and other responsibilities
• creativity and the ability to motivate pupils to make learning engaging and encourage them to participate and develop confidence
• teamwork and collaboration skills to work effectively with teaching assistants, other teachers and education professionals
• adaptability and problem-solving skills to respond to different learning needs, behaviour and unexpected situations, and adjust your teaching when necessary
• good judgement and an understanding of inclusion and safeguarding to support pupils fairly, recognise concerns and help maintain a safe learning environment.

You'll also need to meet relevant health and safeguarding requirements, including undergoing criminal record checks.

Do you need primary school teaching experience?

School experience isn't always required for teacher training, but it can strengthen your application and help you decide whether primary teaching is right for you. Try to gain experience with primary-age children by observing or helping in a school and talking to teachers about their work. A role as a teaching assistant can also provide valuable classroom experience.

If you're in England, you can use the Get School Experience service to find opportunities in primary schools. Experiences usually last one or two days, although some can last up to three weeks.

Experience of working with children outside school is also useful, for example through:

• after-school or community education programmes
• mentoring or tutoring
• sports coaching and children's activities
• youth groups, play schemes or holiday clubs.

Find out more about gaining school work experience.

Who employs primary school teachers?

Most primary school teachers work in state-funded schools, although school types and funding arrangements vary across the UK. You can also work in independent schools.

In England, state-funded schools include maintained schools, academies and free schools. The type of school can affect governance, curriculum, pay and working conditions. Find out more about the different types of school.

You may also find opportunities in nursery or middle schools, depending on the age range you're qualified and experienced to teach.

Some teachers work as supply teachers, either through an agency or directly with schools. Supply work can offer greater flexibility, although it may be less predictable than permanent work.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Education Authority Jobs - teaching jobs in Northern Ireland.
• Educators Wales and local authority websites - vacancies in Wales.
• myjobscotland - teaching jobs in Scotland.
• Teaching Vacancies - DfE service for teaching and education jobs in England.
• Tes Jobs - teaching vacancies across the UK.

Vacancies are also advertised directly by schools, academy trusts, local authorities and specialist education recruitment agencies such as CER and Eteach.

In England, some local authorities and academy trusts operate recruitment pools for early career teachers, particularly for primary schools. Recruitment for September appointments is often busiest from February to June, although vacancies are advertised throughout the year.

Find out more about how to become a teacher, including where to find teaching jobs and how to apply.

Where can a career as a primary school teacher lead?

Your first years in teaching include structured induction and professional development, although arrangements vary across the UK. In England, early career teachers (ECTs) normally complete a two-year induction. In Wales, newly qualified teachers (NQTs) usually complete three school terms of induction, while in Northern Ireland ECT induction is usually completed in the first year of teaching. In Scotland, provisionally registered teachers complete a period of probation before gaining Full Registration.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is important throughout your career. This may include training in areas such as:

• assessment
• curriculum development
• digital technology
• inclusion and additional or special educational needs
• leadership
• safeguarding.

You may also take postgraduate or professional qualifications to develop specialist knowledge or prepare for additional responsibilities.

With experience, you can take on responsibility for a subject or curriculum area, pastoral care or other aspects of school life. You may to progress into leadership roles, such as responsibility for a year group or area of the school, deputy headteacher and headteacher. You can also develop as an experienced classroom practitioner, mentor or teacher educator.

Other career options include roles in:

• education consultancy
• educational publishing
• examining and assessment
• local or national government
• museum and cultural education
• school inspections
• teacher training.

Some experienced teachers move into private tutoring or other education-related self-employment or use their transferable skills to move into careers outside teaching.