what is a primary teacher?
As a primary teacher, you educate young children from four years, at the reception stage, to eleven years, which is year 6 in England and Wales. Your job is to build the numeracy and literacy skills of the children and prepare them for secondary school. You will work with a single class for the entire academic year. That means you have to be conversant with all the subjects in the national curriculum.
You work with pupils between three to five years old, covering nursery and reception, which are the foundation years. At this stage, you help children acclimatise to the school environment and learn basic numeracy and literacy skills. Most primary teachers teach Key Stages 1 and 2. Key Stage 1 involves working with year 1 and year 2 pupils between five and seven years, while Stage 2 involves working with years 3 to 6.
Primary teachers work in state schools and private academic institutions. You can work in community schools (local authority maintained), free schools or academies. Some primary teachers find jobs in independent schools not funded by the government and don't have to follow the national curriculum.
As a primary teacher, you need enthusiasm and a dedication to working with children. It also helps to have good judgement and an analytical mind to succeed. Most employers require a satisfactory health record and conduct criminal checks.
Would working in education as a primary teacher suit your enthusiasm and passion for helping children? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a primary teacher role.
primary teacher jobsprimary teacher salary
According to National Careers, a primary teacher takes home a salary of £25,714 annually. As their skills and experience improve, the compensation package increases to £41,604 per year. Local authorities fund most primary schools, and the government defines the pay scale for teachers. However, independent schools usually determine their salaries based on their resources and internal policies.
Primary teachers receive multiple benefits, including medical and transport allowances. They also enjoy annual leave and pension contributions. Some independent schools offer incentives like bonuses.
how to increase your salary as a primary teacher
Primary teachers' salaries are constantly under review, and most employers increase the compensation package gradually as your experience increases. Community and free schools usually have a lower salary bracket than independent institutions since they rely on local authorities and government support. Independent schools are also likely to provide additional perks and benefits to teachers.
The location can also affect your earning levels depending on the demand and the living costs. For instance, working in London improves your salary prospects compared to working in small towns. As well as changing location, you can improve your pay by building on your educational qualifications.
types of primary teachers
Some of the types of primary teachers include:
- foundation level primary teacher: as a primary teacher in charge of early years foundation stage learners, you introduce young children to the school environment. You teach basic skills like reading and writing to children between three and five years.
- Key Stage 1 primary teacher: you introduce basic literacy and numeracy skills to your pupils as a Key Stage 1 primary teacher. Your children are young and require close supervision as they transition from the foundation stage to the primary school learning environment.
- Key Stage 2 primary teacher: as a KS2 primary teacher, your pupils are between seven and eleven years old. You ensure learners achieve the objectives stipulated in the curriculum. You also prepare them for secondary school following Year 6.
working as a primary teacher
Working as a primary teacher involves imparting knowledge to pupils and helping them achieve their educational goals to progress to the next stage. Take a look at the work schedules and specific tasks that primary teachers perform.
-
primary teacher job description
The day-to-day roles of a primary teacher include:
- planning lessons: as a primary teacher, you create lesson plans for the term or the entire year of your class. Your lessons should be in line with the national curriculum. You aim to make lessons in various subject areas engaging by collaborating with colleagues and teaching assistants.
- setting up the classroom: as a primary teacher, you use a range of resources to impart knowledge and enhance pupils' ability to explore a specific study area. Before class commences, you need to set up the equipment you will use and organise displays to improve the learning experience.
- devising various teaching methods: as a primary teacher, you cannot rely on a single teaching technique for all subjects. It is vital to keep your pupils engaged through various teaching methods. For instance, you can incorporate group work, independent research, experiments and demonstrations to enhance pupils' participation. Group work also improves the pupils' teamwork skills and encourages positive interaction.
- completing assessments and administrative work: primary teachers give homework to pupils to assess their progress. They also use other evaluation techniques to measure performance. Apart from classwork, you organise administrative work like updating pupils' records, marking homework and taking registers.
- attending meetings: as a primary teacher, you update parents on pupils' progress during school meetings. You also attend staff meetings with other colleagues and participate in training and development activities.
- organising class trips and outings: as a primary teacher, you organise field excursions and outdoor learning activities for your class. You can also supervise school clubs and social activities and help pupils prepare for competitions and sports events.
-
work environment
Primary teachers are usually employed by community schools, free schools and independent schools. Hence, the work environment differs depending on the employer and the resources available in the learning institution. As a primary teacher, you will spend most of the time indoors as you are in charge of one classroom for the whole year. Some primary teachers work in nurseries or special needs facilities depending on the size of the school.
Teaching roles are available in cities and rural areas. While there is minimal travelling, you will go for the occasional class trips and social school events.
-
who are your colleagues?
Whether you work for an independent or community school, your colleagues might include teaching assistants, nursery nurses and secondary school teachers. You are also likely to work with english teachers, cover supervisor, supply teachers and special educational needs teachers, as well as other professionals that could include early years teachers, private tutors and headteachers.
-
work schedule
Your workdays as a primary teacher start early and end late. During weekdays, you have to be in school to prepare lesson plans before your classes commence, and you may extend the evenings to complete assessment and administrative work. Typical working hours run from 8.30 am to 4 pm, but you can stay late. Most primary teachers don't work during public holidays and at weekends unless they have a school activity to attend. Primary teachers work 39 weeks a year but sometimes use the 13 weeks of holiday to attend training and development conferences and preparation for another school term. Most teachers work full-time.
-
job outlook
A primary teacher enjoys a lucrative career with attractive progression options. For instance, if you have a subject which interests you, you can specialise and become a secondary teacher. Another option is to go for managerial positions like a headteacher, deputy headteacher or school administrator. Becoming a supply teacher is a good idea if you want flexible working hours. Alternatively, you could work from home and provide remote tutoring services on various subjects in primary and secondary schools.
-
advantages of finding a primary teacher job through randstad
Finding your primary teacher job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a primary teacher is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
You need the following academic qualifications to become a primary teacher:
- university degree: a primary teacher needs to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS) by completing a bachelor's degree in education, science or arts. You also have to complete the initial teacher training induction programme before practising in the UK. The Teaching Regulation Agency of England will award you a QTS when you meet the qualifications. While you can work in independent schools without a QTS, it is a necessary qualification for teaching jobs outside the private sector.
- apprenticeship: when you already have a degree without a QTS status, you can begin teaching via a postgraduate qualification. You train on the job and receive a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE).
- work experience: having work experience is important for primary teachers. You can gain experience through internships, voluntary work and private tutoring.
skills and competencies
Some of the qualities and characteristics of primary teachers include:
- creativity: as a primary teacher, you have to be creative to develop exciting learning methods for pupils. Complex lessons require creativity to build pupils' interest and help them understand concepts.
- problem-solving skills: as a primary teacher, you need conflict resolution and problem-solving skills to build a healthy educational environment.
- organisational skills: primary teachers juggle multiple tasks, from creating lesson plans to grading assignments and working one-to-one with pupils. Organisational skills help you stay on track with your objectives and attend to each pupil.
- communication: your primary role is to transfer information to pupils in a language they can understand. Hence communications skills are vital. You also have to be a good listener to help pupils excel.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a primary teacher
-
what is a primary teacher?
Based on the national curriculum, a primary teacher educates children aged between three and eleven years. They also mentor and assist pupils in career development.
-
is a primary teacher a good career?
Teaching primary schools in the UK is a challenging and rewarding career. Since you work with young children, you need to be patient and caring. The salary prospects and career progression in the role are rewarding.
-
what qualifications do primary teachers need?
As a primary teacher, you need to complete an undergraduate degree and achieve qualified teaching status (QTS) to qualify for a teaching role. Work experience improves your employment prospects.
-
do primary teachers teach all subjects?
As a primary teacher, you impart knowledge on all subjects in the curriculum. You also help pupils develop social and emotional awareness.
-
how do I apply for a primary teacher vacancy?
Applying for a primary teacher job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our CV and job search tips here!
