What does a Teacher do?
Teachers share their knowledge and skills to help students learn. They can teach children and adults in several educational settings, including schools, universities and community centres.
Teachers can also work in remote learning environments online. Primary school teachers educate children in a range of foundation subjects. Other Teachers usually specialise in one subject or a small selection of related subjects. Some of these subjects include mathematics, science, English as a Second Language, pottery and dance. The reputation of every educational institution relies on high-quality Teachers. The best Teachers help students learn effectively so they can achieve their potential.
Teacher skills and qualifications
A successful Teacher candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- Written and verbal communication skills, including confident public speaking and active listening
- Superior knowledge of subjects they teach
- Ability to break complex topics down to make them more accessible
- Conflict resolution and classroom management for managing disagreements between students and for unruly behaviour
- Organisation for managing various projects and administrative tasks for different classes
- Creative thinking to engage students and develop innovative solutions to aid learning
- Basic computer literacy, including proficiency in data entry, word processing and record keeping software
Teacher experience requirements
Experience requirements for Teachers vary depending on where they are teaching and their subject. Paid experience is not essential, but is valued. School and university teachers are required to complete a Teacher placement which is part of their Initial Teacher Training. During placement, Student Teachers will lead classes under the supervision of a mentor. Teacher placements provide classroom experience before Student Teachers enter the paid workforce.
However, people can teach in unregulated subjects, such as yoga, without Teacher placement.
Teacher education and training requirements
The type of degree a Teacher needs, if any depends on their subject and place of work. Teachers at primary and secondary schools and state-funded academies need GCSEs A* to C. They also need a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Teachers can achieve this by earning a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor, of Education degree. Alternatively, they can gain QTS status by studying a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. While this is not required, it allows teachers to study their masters.
Teachers with students under five need the equivalent of a QTS: the Early Years Teaching Status. While it is not essential, many Yoga Teachers obtain certificates or diplomas in yoga teaching. All Teachers educating students need a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Teacher salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Teacher is £130 per day. A teacher’s school and its location, along with experience and subject all influence earnings.
Job description samples for similar positions
Are there more specific types of Teachers that you need? Reading our samples for similar positions may help you write your own job description.