What roles in the classroom will suit you as a graduate?

Education degrees will equip you with a broad range of skills needed for a career in education, but what are your options when you graduate?

Alongside a range of different teaching options, including both primary and secondary school teaching jobs, you could also take a role as a teaching assistant. Should you wish, you could also complete training to become a special educational needs (SEN) teacher, with work available in either special schools or mainstream settings.

Note that you can also make the move into the classroom from other degree disciplines, although you’ll likely need to complete additional training. This may take the form of a post-graduate teaching apprenticeship or direct training with a particular school.

If you’ve recently graduated, here are some of the classroom roles which you may want to consider…

Primary school teaching jobs

Teaching children from the ages of five to 11 years old, primary school teaching roles will often require you to have GCSE grades at 9-4 (A* to C) in English, maths and science, alongside your degree. You’ll be expected to cover a broad range of topics in your teaching, developing lesson plans which inspire youngsters, while creating a positive learning environment for them all to learn in.

You’ll need to develop relationships with pupils and work with them to hone their skills and social abilities, based on their age and personal development. Organisational skills are a must, as is a positive attitude – after all, you’re helping to shape the minds of tomorrow!

Secondary school teaching jobs

Working with older pupils from the ages of 11 through to 16 (or perhaps 18 if a school has a sixth form), secondary school teaching is subject based. Not only does this allow you to teach a subject you love, but you go into greater detail and engage with pupils far more than when teaching at primary level. The focus is on the curriculum and preparing children for the future, both for GCSE and A-level exams, but also for life beyond education.

In addition to the skills and requirements at primary level, you’ll need to stay up-to-date with developments in your subject, and across any changes to the curriculum. As your pupils are older, you’ll be able to use a wider array of technology and methodologies to aid your teaching, while you can also expect there to be a great emphasis on your behavioural management processes.

Teaching assistant roles

An alternative for graduates to full-time teaching is to take a teaching assistant role. This means you can get a glimpse into classroom life, without all of the teaching responsibilities attached. These roles can also be part-time and flexible, ideal for if you’re looking to have a good work-life balance in your early post-university life.

As a teaching assistant, you’ll have a role to play in supporting pupil development on either a one-to-one basis or in small groups. You can expect to provide help with their educational, social and emotional development, while with additional training you may also support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Special educational needs teaching jobs

Should you wish to help pupils with SEND from the outset after graduating, there are numerous SEN teaching jobs across the country available. It’s a role that isn’t without its challenges, but it is also an especially rewarding career as you can heavily influence learning outcomes and are helping those that require extra support. The aim is always to help pupils to reach their full potential, which often means being highly adaptable when it comes to the types of support you give to each individual. It’s also important to note that should you have a SEN teaching role, you may be based in the classroom or in specialist areas of a school, depending on that school’s policy.

As you can see, there are a number of different roles for graduates in the classroom, and the right one for you will largely depend on the direction you would like you career to go in.  Take the time to read up on the requirements for each role, and don’t hesitate to ask questions and seek guidance if you can’t decide.