Student and graduate teaching opportunities

Whether you want to be in the classroom, at the front of a lecture theatre or working as an early years teacher, this list of graduate teaching opportunities will provide you with options to consider in the teaching and education sector.

With numerous teaching roles available, there is a good amount of graduate and training programmes available to suit your interests and career goals. Companies like Teach First and Ark Teacher Training run teacher training programmes for graduates who are straight out of university with a 2.2 degree or above in a range of subject areas. These programmes will give you real-life teaching experience, weekly training sessions, and a supportive network of educational experts.

Some graduate teacher training programmes will offer you the chance to receive a fully-funded Professional Graduate Diploma of Education (PGDE), which is double the credits of a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). Teaching Apprenticeship Programme (TAP) is another opportunity that offers an instant entry point for graduates after they finish the programme. This apprenticeship programme will gain your Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) within a year, and comes with a competitive salary while studying. Gaining valuable experience and key qualifications allows you to leave the programme and teach for roles in any UK state school.

To find out more about becoming a qualified teacher, read our article all about what is a PGCE, and how does it work?

Some companies offer taster days (like internships) for students, such as this one at Teach First. In these taster days, you will experience teaching first-hand, gaining a range of skills such as communication, presentation, and leadership that will make you stand out - they’re a great addition to your CV too. 

For those who don’t want to take the typical degree route, there are two other options to gain Qualified Teacher Status without purely spending three years at university. The level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) is a recognised teaching qualification for the post-16 sector. For this, you can choose a college or university-led training route, or you can work as an unqualified future education teacher while you train part-time. This programme usually lasts one or two years, and once you’ve completed your training you can apply for a Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) qualification.

Another teacher training route is School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT), designed by groups of neighbouring schools. With training set in classrooms alongside experienced teachers, you will train as a trainee teacher alongside a degree in various subjects and work towards the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). This offers you hands-on experience and skills that will take you through to your first teaching role. Browse the latest Education and Teaching interships. 

You’ll likely be placed in the classroom from day one, and working as a teacher can be very unpredictable at times! So you need to make sure you’re ready to face anything that comes your way. Some of the top skills and attributes needed include:

• Resilience 
• Curiosity and desire to learn 
• Ability to be self-aware 
• Level of planning and organisation 
• Respect and empathy for those around you 
• Ability to problem solve - especially in difficult situations you may be placed under

Learn how to develop the 8 key skills you need to work in Education.

Most teaching graduate programmes have a rolling deadline, rather than a fixed deadline. Depending on your choice of graduate teacher training programme, the application processes will vary  However, a typical graduate teacher training programme application could include the following: numerous interviews, a test on your mathematics and literacy ability, or a section day (tasks, interview, teaching episode). 

Head to Bright Network’s Career Advice section to make sure you’re ready for any application process.

For graduate teaching programmes you will need to have or be working towards a 2.1 degree (2.2 considered) in subjects including childhood studies, English, Art and Design, Mathematics, and science. Some may also accept an A*, A, or B A-Level equivalent.

For teaching internships and apprenticeships you’ll need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 (Grade C), including English, Mathematics, and Science, and roughly 112 UCAS Tariff points from A-Levels or equivalent - it’s preferred that your A-Levels are in a subject you’re hoping to teach in for the future.