Teaching is one of the top choices of career among graduates.
The 2006 UK Graduate Careers Survey found that more than
one in 10 final year students had applied to teacher training
courses, putting teaching second only to working in the media,
and ahead of investment banking, marketing and accountancy.
There are many reasons why teaching is an attractive destination for graduates. The High Fliers research
rated pay as the top motivator for graduate career choices and teaching is a career that pays well. From
this September, newly qualified teachers will start on a salary in excess of £20,000, or more than
£24,000 in inner London. This can rise to over £34,000 (or £40,000 in inner London) for good,
experienced classroom teachers. In addition, further incentives are paid to teachers who are considered
excellent and to those who take on management or other responsibilities. For headteachers, pay can, in
fact, rise to more than £90,000, depending on the size of the school. And progression to headship can
be swift. The profession enjoys excellent career prospects – including new opportunities that allow
people to rise up the career ladder while remaining as classroom teachers.
The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) found that more than half of graduates want
a job that offers intellectual challenge, while a third want to be able to use their creativity. Teaching
offers both: it is a creative and challenging career in which no two lessons – let alone days – are the
same, and it gives graduates a rare opportunity to pass on their enthusiasm and degree knowledge.
Teaching is also well-supported. Thorough training ensures teachers are fully prepared before they
enter the classroom, with newly qualified teachers benefiting from mentors. Classroom assistants are
widespread and all teachers have half a day a week out of the classroom for planning, preparation
and assessment to reduce their workload. Subject associations and fellow teachers ensure that there
is a substantial network to which people can turn for support and advice.
Above all, though, teaching is enjoyable. Psychologists were recently sent into classrooms in a
variety of schools around the country and found that teachers break into a smile on average 10
times every half an hour and laugh out loud four times during the same period. How many
professions can you say that about?
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