Is teaching right
for me?

A teacher standing in a classroom

Choosing or changing a career can be a big decision. If you're wondering if teaching is the best path for you, find out what it's really like and where it can lead.

Making a difference

As a teacher, your passion and creativity will inspire and shape future generations.

  1. Product engineer turned science teacher, Chris Wallis

    Give something back

    I tried many things until I realised that working with young people and helping them develop skills truly inspired me.

  2. Jessica Walmsley, Head of Science.

    Share your subject passion

    I love bringing real life science stories into the classroom so students can build knowledge of the world around them.

Numbers to know

Your career, your path

Teaching gives you the chance to shape a role that suits your skills, situation and ambition.

  • Move into leadership and influence the way things work
  • Use your subject knowledge to help shape the curriculum
  • Work with a pastoral team to support pupil wellbeing
Read how Abigail shaped her career progression
Miss Hayre, Physics teacherTeacher smiling in front of a maths display board.Teacher helping a pupil with their work in a classroom.

What qualifications do you need to train?

To train to teach in primary, secondary and special schools in England you'll need:

  • GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths (and science if you want to teach primary)
  • a bachelor's degree

Find out more about the qualifications you need to teach.

A job like no other

Looking for challenge and variety? As a teacher you'll work with lots of young people with a range of abilities, thinking on your feet to find creative solutions to problems.

  1. Zainab Kasmani, English teacher

    Work in a dynamic environment

    You encounter problems, as you would in any career, but you have the support of colleagues to try new approaches and techniques until you find the right solution.

  2. Assistant headteacher, Gavin

    Challenge your own thinking

    The classroom changes by the hour and working with different age ranges and abilities means you have to keep a fresh outlook.

Get school experience

School experience can help you explore what life is really like in the classroom and which subject and age range you'd like to teach.

Find out more about school experience.

Find out how to become a teacher

Plan your next steps into teaching with our guide.

How to become a teacher.