How to become a teacher

Working as a teacher can be a rewarding and satisfying career and there are now more ways than ever before to enter the profession.

To work as a teacher in a maintained school in England you need to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). This can be achieved in a number of ways.

1) Undergraduate teacher training

There are two undergraduate routes: a Bachelor of Education or a BA/BSc. with QTS Ð these courses usually take three to four years full-time (or up to six years part-time) and can be taken at various Universities.

2) Post-graduate certificate (P.G.C.E.)

The PGCE is a 1 year full-time course taken after you have gained an undergraduate degree. This involves attendance at University and placements at schools. Part-time options can be taken with the Open University.

3) Employment-based teacher training

There are various employment-based routes that lead to QTS where you can be paid an unqualified teacher's salary while you train on the job. Theses include the Graduate Teacher Programme and Registered Teacher Programme.

Teach First is a scheme for high-flying graduates that can lead to fast-track to management opportunities after working in challenging schools.

Full details of how to train as a teacher and the funding available can be found on the Training and Development Agency (TDA) website www.tda.gov.uk.

Trainees would also need a minimum of a grade C in maths and English at GCSE before they could enter the profession.

Teaching can be a stressful job but benefits include excellent holidays, a good pension and the satisfaction that you are making a difference to young people's lives.