How To Become a Teacher: Your Path Starts Here
NEWS / 16 Jan 2026
A clear guide for future educators in the UK
Thinking About Becoming a Teacher?
Becoming a teacher is one of the most rewarding career choices you can make. Whether you’re just starting your academic journey or considering a change of direction, teaching offers the opportunity to inspire young people, shape their futures, and make a lasting contribution to your community. But where do you begin? This guide walks you through the key steps to help you understand the process of becoming a qualified teacher in the UK.
What Does a Teacher Do?
Teachers shape the future every day. Their responsibilities include:
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Planning and delivering engaging lessons
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Supporting pupils’ academic and personal development
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Managing the classroom environment
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Working with parents and carers
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Making a positive contribution to school life
Teaching blends creativity, communication, and leadership.
1. Choose Your Teaching Path
Who Would You Like to Teach?
Early Years (0–5)
Help young children build the foundations for lifelong learning.
Primary (5–11)
Teach across all subjects and support pupils at a key stage in their development.
Secondary (11–16/18)
Share your passion for a specific subject and inspire the next generation.
2. Understand the Routes into Teaching
There isn’t just one path into teaching — which means you can choose an option that fits your circumstances and experience. If you're leaving school or college and already know you want to teach, you can choose an undergraduate degree with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). This allows you to gain your degree and teaching qualification at the same time.
If you already have a degree, there are a variety of postgraduate routes, such as a PGCE at a university, School‑Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT), or school‑led programmes. These offer a blend of academic study and hands‑on classroom experience. Some programmes are salaried, allowing you to earn while you train.
There are also apprenticeship routes and specialist pathways for career changers, ensuring there’s a flexible option for almost every aspiring teacher.
3. Gain Some Classroom Experience
While not always mandatory, spending time in a school is one of the best ways to check that teaching is right for you. Classroom experience gives you a first-hand look at how lessons are delivered, how pupils engage, and how teachers manage behaviour and support learning. This experience can also strengthen your application, demonstrating commitment and insight into the profession.
Try:
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Volunteering
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Teaching assistant roles
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School experience days
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Teaching internships
4. Apply for Teacher Training
Once you’ve chosen your route, the next step is to apply to an accredited training provider. Postgraduate applicants typically need:
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A degree (usually a 2:2 or above, depending on the provider)
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GCSEs in English and maths (and science for primary teaching)
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A personal statement outlining your motivation and suitability
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References from academic or professional contacts
At FTA, once your application has been received, you will be invited to attend an interview and deliver a short classroom session with a focus on your subject area/phase. This is designed to assess your communication skills, subject knowledge, and potential as a teacher.
You can apply through:
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Apply for Teacher Training (England)
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UCAS (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
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Training providers directly – View courses and apply directly to Futures Teaching Alliance
You’ll submit a personal statement, references, and academic evidence.
5. Complete Your Training Year
Teacher training usually lasts one academic year for full‑time students. During this time, you’ll complete school placements where you’ll gradually take on teaching responsibilities. You’ll learn how to plan lessons, manage classrooms, assess pupil progress, and adapt teaching to meet different needs. Alongside this, you’ll study educational theory and work with mentors who guide you throughout the year.
By the end of your training, you’ll be assessed against the Teachers’ Standards to ensure you’re ready for the next stage.
6. Achieve QTS and Start Your Career
After successfully completing your programme, you’ll be awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) (England and Wales)*
This allows you to apply for teaching positions across the UK. You'll then begin your two year early career teacher (ECT) phase, where you receive additional support and professional mentoring to help you grow in confidence and refine your practice.
*In Scotland, you'll gain the Teaching Qualification (TQ), In Northern Ireland, you’ll register with GTCNI.
If you'd like help exploring routes into teaching or arranging school experience, our team is here to support you.