Why teaching could be the best career move you ever made

NEXT week most children will be going back to school – but could   you be joining them?

Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers, with a survey showing adults believe that teachers are one of the biggest influences on their life.

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Each year, the country needs around 35,000 trainee teachers.

Newly qualified teachers earn between £25,000 to £32,000 depending on where you are employed and you could also qualify for a tax-free bursary of up to £26,000.

Though the role can be pressured with long hours, you have job security, long holidays and a clear path for career progression.

The two main routes into the profession are through The Department for Education’s Get Into Teaching or education charity Teach First which recruits teachers for schools that serve disadvantaged communities.

Roger Pope, spokesperson for the Get Into Teaching campaign and a National Leader of Education, said: “When it comes to a role that can have a meaningful and lasting impact, there are few other careers that can truly compete.”

Get Into Teaching recruits primary and secondary school teachers. 

This is the option Ryan Walters, 25, took.

He has been teaching for five years at St Matthew’s CofE Primary and Nursery Academy in Plymouth and says: “Deciding to train as a teacher when I was 18 years old was the best career move I ever made.

“You go home each day knowing you’ve made a difference.

“My family and friends are very proud of my profession and the difference that I make.”

If you are a graduate, you will undertake Initial Teacher Training and gain Qualified Teacher Status.

If you do not have a degree, you can consider an undergraduate route. See getintoteaching.education.gov.uk.

This year the Teach First scheme received 3,500 requests from schools wanting to hire a Teach First trainee, up 25 per cent.

There are positions for early years, primary and secondary school teachers but the greatest need is for trainees to teach science, technology, engineering and maths subjects as well as languages.

You must be a graduate but can apply at any time, plus trainees get paid from day one in the classroom as you work towards qualifying, making it a top option for career switchers.

Now head of computer science in a London school, Michael Kolawole, 33, grew up in a disadvantaged community in South London.

He decided to train with Teach First in 2015. He said: “Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions. I feel lucky to be trusted to support young people and upskill them in a subject I’m really passionate about.

“I don’t remember having any teachers from an African background like me, and feel proud that I can act as a positive role model for any pupils that relate to my upbringing.”

Apply for the 2023 intake at teachfirst.org.uk/training-programme.

PAY RISE A PRIORITY

ONE in three workers is on the hunt for a better-paid job to ­combat the cost-of-living crisis.

In what is being dubbed The Great Reshuffle, women are more likely to be motivated to seek a salary hike than men, alongside staff aged under 34, new research shows.

Workers over 55 are the most loyal, requiring a pay rise of less than £1,000, while 18 to 34-year-olds wanted between £2,500 and £4,900 to stick with the same employer.

James Reed, chairman of recruiters Reed, which conducted the study, said: “Runaway inflation outstripping wage rises means millions will be on the move from this September onwards to secure a pay bump.”

THE FLIGHT SWITCH?

TAKE to the skies in a new role with Virgin Atlantic.

The airline has opened up recruitment for First Officers across Airbus and Boeing fleets for the first time since 2020.

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Candidates must have a minimum experience of 1,500 hours’ total flying time on the aircraft, with at least 500 hours on the current type.

Estelle Hollingsworth, who is Chief People Officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “Ensuring our pilot community is made up of diverse backgrounds remains a core priority for us.

“We welcome anyone with a genuine passion for aviation to apply for these exciting positions.”

To find out more about the opportunities with the airline, see virg.in/firstofficers.

IS QUIET EXIT WAY TO GO?

WITH more than eight million views on TikTok, quiet quitting is the trend of employees no longer going above and beyond and having work as their main focus.

But quiet quitters are facing a backlash from employers and co-workers.

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Brean Horne, personal finance expert at NerdWallet, highlights what potential quitters should consider.

1. Prepare for a reaction from managers: Be ready to explain why your performance has changed. Your manager may decide to alter your responsibilities, but this could help if you’re trying to achieve a more sustainable work-life balance.

2. Acknowledge it could lead to a lack of progression or pay rises: If you step back, others will step up to further their own careers.

3. Consider if you want to continue in your role: Evaluate why you want to quietly quit. Would you make the changes in any other job role or is it because you are no longer motivated or fulfilled in your current role or organisation? Have you outgrown your job?

4. Don’t confuse quiet quitting with laziness: You could put your job and financial security at risk. Is this smart in the midst of a looming recession, rising inflation and the cost-of-living crisis? Ensure you are still doing all the tasks expected of you.

5. Don’t ignore the signs of burnout: Avoid using quiet quitting to ignore burnout. Doing less may be a short-term fix, but it won’t help you manage your wellbeing in the long term. Talk to your HR department and GP.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk