become a well-rounded teaching professional. Teaching can be a very rewarding career choice for talented, passionate people – learn more about the different routes into teaching and explore which one might be right for you.

There are generally two entry points into teaching for most candidates in the UK: undergraduate courses and postgraduate courses.

1. Undergraduate teaching courses will earn you a degree andyour QTS. This is a popular route into primary school teaching.
2. Postgraduate teacher training courses. These can be school or university led. You can gain your Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) by studying at a university – degrees in national curriculum subjects can be helpful to get onto the course of your choice. PGCEs qualify you to become either a primary or secondary school teacher in the UK.

In order to get onto a teaching course, you will usually need to have English and maths GCSE qualifications at a minimum of a grade C/4 (or an alternative qualification).If you want to become a primary school teacher, you will also need to have a science GCSE or alternative qualification at grade C/4. You will need to undergo a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check if you are going to work with pupils under the age of 18. You may want to undertake some work experience in schools before beginning your applications.

There are some exceptions to these standard career entry points. If you already have experience as a teacher you may be able to gain QTS by taking a shorter assessment-onlycourse. This can be a suitable option for teachers who have already trained abroad, or for people who have taught in schools as an unqualified teacher.

If you are thinking about embarking on a teaching career, have you considered supply teaching in Cambridge or supply teaching in Bedford? This is an option that can give you more flexibility and control over your schedule, as well as providing valuable experience for newly qualified teachers (NQTs). Knowing that supply teaching is a flexible and realistic option gives some aspiring teachers the confidence they need to go ahead and take the first steps. To find out more about career opportunities and to see what your future could look like, why not take a look at our job listings? If you have any questions, please get in touch with us.