Teaching in the UK

Australian Direct Recruitment

When to teach in the UK?
One of your first considerations will be when to teach in the UK. This can be based on any number of individual factors including any one or combination of the following:

Visa entitlements
Leave entitlements
Employment status
Financial resources

Your primary concern should be to gain as much from your trip as possible and to time your trip accordingly.

The academic year is divided into three terms...

The academic year is divided into three terms, approximately 13 weeks in duration and all with a mid-term holiday of one week. The major holidays are based around Christmas and Easter, each with a two week break and summer with six weeks. In addition to the school holidays there are also a number of public holidays scattered throughout the year.

The Academic Year
Autumn Term (Term 1):
September – December
2 week Christmas break/Half term break – 1 week
Spring Term (Term 2):
January – April (Easter)
2 week Easter break/Half term break – 1 week
Summer Term (Term 3):
April – July
6 week summer break/Half term break – 1 week

13 Weeks Holiday! More…

The majority of contract vacancies commence either at the start of the academic year in September (term 1) or the start of term 2 in January. UK schools have particular difficulty recruiting teachers at these times and this works in your favour when securing a position. The demand for contract teachers in High schools remains significantly stronger than for Primary schools.

Relief teaching work is available throughout the academic year for both Primary and High School teachers. There is however a marked decline in the amount of High School relief teaching work towards the end of the summer term. Senior pupils sitting public examinations embark on extended study, leaving schools the option of re-allocating their staffing resources.

There are a wide range of teaching options open to you in the UK and your decision should reflect the priorities of your trip...

What are my teaching options?

There are a wide range of teaching options open to you in the UK and your decision should reflect the priorities of your trip.

Contract
Teaching on a contract basis provides you with the job security of a fixed term contract. UK schools are autonomous in the way they recruit teachers, so you would be appointed on a purely merit basis. Head teachers interview prospective candidates by telephone or video link and successful applicants would be offered a contract of employment for six months to a year in the first instance. Contract positions are salaried and candidates receive benefits under the standard terms and conditions of UK teaching contracts.

Work permit employment is available, to teachers interested in UK contract teaching, who do not have the required visa status.

Casual Relief Teaching (Supply)
Many Australian teachers gain their first experience of teaching in the UK by working as a supply teacher. Assignments are provided on a daily basis, giving you the opportunity to experience a variety of schools in a short space of time. One of the main advantages to supply teaching is that it gives you the freedom to teach when it suits you.

Long Term
Long term involves teaching employment in excess of one term, with an enhanced daily rate due to the additional lesson planning and preparation required. Long term assignments provide job security without the need for an extended contract commitment.

It is a common occurrence for teachers to transfer to this type of work having started their teaching on a supply basis.

Who will I be teaching in the UK?
The majority of vacancies occur within state funded primary and secondary schools.

Primary schools cover the first two key stages of the National Curriculum with children aged between 5-11. Key stage one makes up the first two years of Primary education, whilst key stage two accounts for the remaining four years. Pupils follow the relevant programmes of study outlined in the National Curriculum. More…

During the first three years of High School, key stage three, education students follow a compulsory curriculum culminating in National Curriculum tests for fourteen year olds at the end of year nine. More…

The following two years, key stage four, pupils are taught compulsory and optional elements of the National Curriculum and entered into a range of external examinations. These include GCSE (General Certificate in Secondary Education) exams and vocational qualifications. More…

Key stages with the corresponding school phase and age group are listed in the table below.

Age Group	Key Stage	Infant	Primary	Secondary
3-4	Foundation	Nursery
4-5	Foundation	Reception
5-7	Key stage 1		Year 1 & 2
7-11	Key stage 2		Year 3,4,5,6
11-14	Key stage 3			Year 7,8,9
14-16	Key stage 4			Year 10,11
16-18	Key stage 5			Year 12,13

Where to teach in the UK?

Important factors to consider when deciding on a location:

Access to local transport infrastructure
Urban, Rural or Semi-rural location
Access to national and international transport infrastructure
Accommodation availability
Social and leisure facility provision

Click here for a map of our teaching locations throughout the UK.

ADR