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Primary school teacher

Primary school teachers are responsible for the educational, social and emotional development of children between the ages of 3 and 11.

Annual Salary

£32,000 to £49,000

Working hours

37 to 45 term time

You could work: evenings; attending events or appointments

3.5%
Future employment

There will be 3.5% more Primary school teacher jobs in 2029.
In your local area

What's it all about?

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

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.

Entry requirements

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
University

Undergraduate degree

You can do an undergraduate degree that leads to qualified teacher status (QTS), for example:

  • Bachelor of Education (BEd)
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) with QTS
  • Bachelor of Science (BSc) with QTS

Postgraduate certificate

If you already have a bachelor's degree without qualified teacher status, you can complete a postgraduate qualification like a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) to get QTS. This can be done at university or through a training programme based in a school.

You need QTS to teach in most primary and secondary schools in England but you do not need a PGCE to teach.

Find out more about QTS from Get Into Teaching.

Change careers to teaching

Find out about the support available if you want to change to a career in teaching.

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
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
  • funding for teacher training |https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-my-teacher-training
  • postgraduate teacher training courses|https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-postgraduate-teacher-training-courses-in-england
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
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
  • postgraduate teaching apprenticeships|https://www.ucas.com/teaching-option/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 and work experience

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.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

More information

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.

Further information

You canlearn more about becoming a primary school teacher from Get Into Teaching.

You can also search for jobs through the Teaching Vacancies service.

Employment by region

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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.

Other useful information

You can discover more about how to become a teacher from Get Into Teaching.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

  • 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
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