Surviving and thriving as a beginning teacher in the UK
Every year we support hundreds of Aussie, New Zealand and Canadian teachers into permanent, fixed-term and guaranteed supply contracts in schools across England and Wales.
Some of the teachers we help are very experienced, including Principals and Heads of Department and others are straight out of university. We make sure we support our new graduates with 1:1 attention from their local and UK Consultants and we also make sure early career teachers have a UK Mentor in their school.
We have some fantastic resources for beginning teachers starting their career in British Schools. High Performance UK ex-headteacher, Stuart McLaughlin has collaborated with us and we’ve created a 8 part video resource for teachers entering into the profession in british schools. The series was created during covid, so there may be some remote references that hopefully are less relevant now and into the future!
Click here to watch one of the episodes on Time Management.
We have also compiled some tips to help you tackle your first year in the job!
-Make a daily to-do list: Write down everything you need to accomplish each day, and prioritize your tasks. This will help you stay organized and focused.
-Build relationships with your students: Get to know your students as individuals, and show that you care about their success. This will help you build a positive classroom culture and make
your job easier.
-Don’t reinvent the wheel: Use resources that are already available, such as lesson plans and worksheets.
-Don’t be afraid to ask other teachers for help or advice.
-Plan ahead: Make a long-term plan for the year, and break it down into smaller units. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you cover all the necessary material.
-Be consistent: Establish clear expectations and consequences for your students, and stick to them. This will help create a structured and safe learning environment.
-Don’t forget self-care: Teaching can be stressful, so make sure to take care of yourself. Get enough rest, eat well, exercise, and find ways to de-stress outside of work.
-Seek feedback: Ask other teachers or administrators for feedback on your teaching, and be open to constructive criticism. This will help you improve your skills and become a better teacher.
Remember, your first year of teaching is a learning experience, and it’s okay to make mistakes. By following these hacks, you’ll be able to navigate your first year with more ease and confidence.
We are all teachers and want to find you a supportive school.
Click here to apply to teach in the UK.
Good luck!
