Education and Training Career Guide

The education and training sector can offer a wide range of job roles and plenty of opportunities for progression. Teaching may be the first career path that comes to mind, but there are other avenues in this sector. Alternative job roles include tutoring, training new corporate employees and lecturing in further or higher education settings.

Potential Roles in Education and Training

Education and training job roles span across industries and sectors. Schools, colleges and universities provide most of the jobs in education. Companies in regulated industries facilitate training opportunities for staff to stay up to date and meet their professional registration requirements. Training is provided in-house or outsourced to a dedicated training company.

This guide focuses on three education and training roles in schools and the workplace: teaching assistant, teacher and training coordinator.

Teaching assistants (TAs) support teachers in a classroom environment in primary or secondary schools. Teaching assistant jobs involve helping less able pupils, preparing classroom activities and making wall displays.

Teachers are responsible for planning lessons and teaching pupils in a classroom environment. Teaching jobs involve taking responsibility for the learning and development of pupils, planning and delivering lessons and working with the wider school team. Teachers can take on leadership roles as they progress in their careers.

Training coordinators are often part of a large company’s learning and development team. Training coordinator jobs involve planning and delivering in-person or online training, evaluating training programmes, supporting learners and onboarding new starters.

Salary and Career Progression

A career in education and training can offer a range of salaries, from entry-level hourly rates for inexperienced teaching assistants to high-level professional salaries for senior roles, like a school headship position.

Teaching assistants are paid on a pro-rata, term-time basis. You may be employed directly by a state or independent school or a supply agency. TAs can work at levels 1, 2 or 3, with salaries that reflect the training and experience related to each level. A typical TA salary is between £12,000 and £23,000 per annum (this is for term-time only work, which is around 39 weeks per year). Teaching assistants can undertake further studies to become qualified teachers if they wish.

Teacher salaries reflect the training and qualifications required for the role. Teachers are often employed directly by a school but can also work for a supply agency. Working as a supply teacher typically attracts higher pay but lacks the security of guaranteed hours. Government employed teachers can expect to earn from £25,000 as a newly qualified teacher, rising to $42,000 and higher for more experienced candidates. There is scope for progression, and teachers can earn more by taking on leadership responsibilities.

Training coordinator salaries can vary significantly depending upon the industry and employer. At entry-level, you can expect to earn around £22,000 annually, rising to about £30,000 and above with experience.

Qualifications, Education and Experience

Teaching assistants must have the following:

• No criminal convictions (to pass a DBS check)
• A completed apprenticeship or training course if the role requires it
• A good understanding of basic maths. Some employers expect NVQ Level 2 in maths as a minimum
• Basic IT skills
• Knowledge of health, safety and safeguarding policies

Teachers must have the following:

• An undergraduate degree in any subject, followed by a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) OR an undergraduate degree that qualifies them as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT)*
• 5 GCSEs at level 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent. These must include English and maths (and science for primary school teachers)

*There are some alternative routes to teaching; read about them on the government website.

Training coordinator qualifications vary depending upon the requirements of each particular employer. As a guide, training coordinators are usually expected to have the following:

• Experience in training in some capacity
• Knowledge of and experience in using training software systems
• Good understanding of standard IT systems, such as Microsoft Office

Some employers ask for GCSE or NVQ qualifications in English, maths and sometimes, business.

Skills

Teaching assistants need excellent soft skills, as their role mainly consists of supporting children and the class teacher. TAs must have:

• Good communication skills
• The ability to stay calm under stress
• Patience
• A non-judgemental, positive attitude
• The ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Teachers need in-depth knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to build relationships with colleagues and pupils, so a combination of hard and soft skills is necessary. Teachers must have:

• Excellent time management and communication skills
• High levels of motivation and initiative
• An enthusiasm for spending time with children
• A positive outlook
• The ability to inspire others
• The ability to stay calm in stressful situations

Training coordinators must have a combination of hard and soft skills, including:

• Excellent communication skills
• A proactive and motivated approach
• The ability to work well in a team
• Confidence in speaking in front of people

Working Hours

Educational settings tend to work in three terms per year, running from September to July.

Teaching assistants typically work school hours, with an 8:30 am start and a 3:30 pm finish. However, you may also be required to work some evenings to attend meetings or help out at open evenings or parents’ evenings.

Teachers are expected to teach during school hours but may also need to work outside of these hours to plan lessons, mark work and attend meetings or school events. Although teachers are not expected to be at school during school holidays, they usually have to work from home to prepare for the term ahead.

Training coordinators usually work in corporate environments, and working hours tend to be 9 am – 5 pm, Monday to Friday, with no weekends or evenings.

Notable Locations

Educational roles are available all over the country. Most villages have a primary school, and towns and cities have primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities. Densely populated areas like London, Birmingham and Manchester will have the highest number of schools and more career opportunities. Independent schools are typically located in cities, and many of the country’s top schools are in London.

Many large companies have in-house training departments, so most towns and cities around the UK will offer job opportunities in this field. Companies that specialise in delivering training to other organisations exist in areas with plenty of industrial and commercial activity, like London, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester.

Notable Companies

Government-funded primary and secondary schools are the biggest employer of teachers and teaching assistants in the UK.

Teachers and TAs can also work in independent schools, including:

• King’s College School, London.
• Wycombe Abbey, High Wycombe.
• The Manchester Grammar School, Manchester.
• George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh.
• Barnard Castle Senior School, Durham.

Those pursuing a career in training can work in a large company with an in-house learning and development team. For example:

• NHS Trusts across the UK
• Costello Medical, Cambridge, UK.
• Sodexo, UK.
• Greene King Brewing Company, Bury St Edmonds, UK.

Next Steps

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