As a primary teacher, you'll also find that you're constantly developing and learning. Over time, you could progress to key stage head, a position in a senior leadership team, or even head teacher. In doing so, you could use your vision and experience to make a difference to the entire school.
In this job you will be helping to give young children the best possible start in life. If you like spending time with young children, and want to work in education, a job as a primary school teacher could be perfect for you.
A primary school teacher needs to have enthusiasm for the subjects they teach. You’ll need to be able to relate to pupils and their parents. You’ll also need patience and a good sense of humour.
One of the main routes into primary school teaching is to do Initial Teacher Education or Training (ITET) and get Qualified Teacher Status.
Primary teachers work with children between the ages of 3 and 11 and teach all of the subjects in the national curriculum.
Syllabus of Primary Teacher Training:
There will be five theoretical papers and two functional examinations. They are as follows:
Detail Syallbus :
| 1st Paper - Child Psychology | 2nd Paper - Child Care & Health |
| 3rd Paper - Sociology & Guidance | 4th Paper - Education & Society |
| 5th Paper - Modern Methods of Teaching | Practical - (1) Art & Craft, (2) Viva-Voce |
The work
You would work with children aged between five and eleven in state and independent schools, and be responsible for their educational, social and emotional development while in your care.
You would teach subjects covered by the primary national curriculum at Key Stage 1 (ages 5 to 7) and Key Stage 2 (7 to 11) — subjects such as English, science, music and art. In some classes, you may have a teaching assistant to help you.
Depending on your qualifications and experience, you may work as a subject specialist teacher, where you would concentrate on a particular subject, for example maths or modern foreign languages.
As well as teaching you would:
• plan lessons and teaching materials
• mark and assess children's work
• manage class behaviour
• work with other professionals, such as education psychologists and social workers
• discuss children's progress and other relevant matters with parents and carers
• attend meetings and training
• organise outings, social activities and sports events.
As a primary teacher, you could also work with children under the age of five (Early Years Foundation Stage) in settings like a children’s centre or a reception class in a school.