Teaching in the UK

It is always best to secure a teaching post before coming to the UK, as your employer will then secure a work permit for you and send it to you. You will then be spared the problems that many persons have experienced and continue to experience by coming to the UK without job offers and suffering the indignity of having to live off friends/relatives until the situation improves. With the imposition of visas for Jamaicans to enter the UK, it is relatively difficult to have your status changed from visitor to a work permit. You must have all the correct paperwork before coming to Britain. Check with the British High Commission

Do not be fooled, teaching in the UK is not a bed of roses. The best reference tool for you to consult on all areas of the education sector is the Times Educational Supplement. It is the most comprehensive educational resource available online and hard copy. It includes news, views, curriculum and personal resources, as well as over 1000 jobs each week. It is published on a Friday and is updated by the following Monday online. To view the TES click here.. Another preparation tool that might prove useful is 'To Sir, With Love' by Braithwaite. There are many similarities in the present teaching climate, except for the respectful ending of the story.

Applying for a job

Most schools do not accept CVs for job applications. This means that you will need to send off for the application pack or in some instances fill in the application form online. Agencies, however, will require a CV in order to register you and begin a job search for you. This service should be free of charge, as the agency derives great benefit from placing you in employment. They rake in large fees, which can be as high as £5000 if an institution takes you on to their payroll within the first year.

Though you may begin teaching in the UK, ,you will need to gain a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to be paid on the Qualified Teachers pay scale.

The National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the UK (UKNARIC) is the body that assesses your qualification and decides if it is suitable for you to teach in the UK and/or if you wish to study, it will also determine what level you are presently at. There is a cost of £39 at present for the service.

Types of teaching jobs

Primary classroom teachers usually:

teach one class exclusively
are responsible for that class’s academic and pastoral progress
teach all subjects.

They may also:

lead the school’s development in a particular subject, such as science
lead development in a cross-curricular theme, such as literacy or citizenship.

Secondary classroom teachers usually work in a number of teams:

subject-based department or faculty, such as maths or geography
pastoral team, usually based on year groups divided into forms (classes). Form tutors are responsible for daily registration and every day pastoral matters
cross-curricular team, such as special educational needs or personal, health and social education.

Support teachers may specialise in dealing with particular groups of students, such as:

those with special educational needs (SEN)
children with English as a second language, ethnic minority children and traveller children (known as EMTAG teachers).

Support teachers may help with a whole class or be assigned to support particular students. In some schools they work full time, in others, they work part-time, maybe in a number of schools over the week.

State-funded schools in England and Wales follow the National Curriculum Scottish and Northern Irish schools have their own systems.

Professional Representation

Trade union membership is optional, but popular, as it can provide:

legal and financial information, advice, representation and insurance connected with their work
a national voice for teachers
discounts on some goods and services.

The union websites give a flavour of current professional issues and information on pay and conditions. The biggest unions are:

Membership fees tend to be around £10 a month and can be deducted from your salary.

The Government has recently set up a General Teaching Council (GTC) as a professional body for teachers in England ( www.gtce.org.uk ) and for Wales ( www.gtcw.org.uk ). Membership is compulsory and fees cost £23 a year. There is a well-established General Teaching Council for Scotland ( www.gtcs.org.uk ).

Child Protection

For Pay scales click here

Familiarize yourself with the jargon of the UK education system

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