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Home/Teaching in the UK/School Support

How Our Schools Support Overseas Teachers

We are all teachers at Teach in and we have lived and worked in the UK during our teaching career, so we understand how critically important it is that you are warmly welcomed by your UK school when you arrive and given ongoing support by your agency and school.

Our Induction Events will arm you with important information you need to confidently start your job but we also make sure we partner with British schools that are committed to making sure our overseas teachers feel welcomed, supported, and prepared to contribute effectively from day one.

Listen to some Aussie teachers talking about how they felt supported by their UK school.

Positive Onboarding Experiences

Below are some of the main things our teachers identify as being positive onboarding experiences, and what we believe encapsulates a supportive induction into a British school.

  1. Pre-arrival Preparation
  • Provide a Welcome Pack: Send an information pack before the teacher starts, which includes the school handbook, staff contact list, timetable, curriculum plans, and any essential policies (e.g., safeguarding, behaviour, and health & safety).
  • Communication: Ensure clear communication about start dates, expectations, and any induction events. Provide key contacts such as the Head of Department, mentor, and HR support.
  • Class Information: Share class lists, seating plans, and key information about students (including SEN and pastoral notes) to help the teacher understand their new classes. This often does not happen until very close to the start of the term.
  1. First Day Induction/ Inset Day ( Professional Development Day)
  • Warm Welcome: Arrange a personal welcome from the headteacher, leadership team, and/ or key colleagues.
  • Tour of the School: Offer a detailed tour to familiarize the teacher with important areas (classrooms, staffroom, ICT resources, safeguarding points).
  • Key Systems: Provide logins and training for essential software (e.g., for attendance, grades, lesson planning, and communications). Demonstrate how to use ICT facilities like interactive whiteboards, photocopiers, and the school’s communication system.
  • Policies Overview: Go over key policies, especially those related to safeguarding, behaviour management, and health and safety.
  1. Assign a Mentor or Buddy
  • Mentorship: Assign a mentor or buddy from the same department or phase of teaching. This person can guide the new teacher on the school’s culture, policies, and day-to-day routines.
  • Often you can be assigned a Curriculum Mentor and a Health and Wellbeing Mentor.
  • Check-ins: Schedule regular one-on-one check-ins with the mentor to discuss how the new teacher is settling in, answer questions, and offer support.
  1. Initial Support and Training
  • Professional Development: Offer targeted CPD (continuing professional development) in areas like curriculum planning, lesson observation, classroom management, and differentiation for SEN students.
  • Observe Lessons: Organize opportunities for the new teacher to observe experienced teachers to understand the school’s pedagogical approach and culture.
  • Provide Time: Allow time for the teacher to prepare lesson plans and adapt to the curriculum before they start full teaching responsibilities. Often our teachers are allowed to spend some time observing before starting on a full teaching load in the UK.

School Support

  1. Early Performance Feedback
  • Non-Judgmental Observations: Conduct low-stakes lesson observations early on, with constructive feedback aimed at helping the teacher grow rather than evaluating performance.
  • Reflective Conversations: Encourage reflective practice through conversations with the mentor or line manager, allowing the new teacher to share successes and challenges.
  1. Integrating into the School Culture
  • Team Building: Involve the new teacher in staff meetings, departmental meetings, and social events to help them feel part of the school community.
  • Pastoral Role: Make clear any pastoral responsibilities, such as being a form tutor, and provide training or resources to support them in this role.
  1. Ongoing Support
  • Regular Reviews: Schedule formal check-ins at key points (e.g., after one month and at the end of the term) to review how the teacher is settling in and discuss any ongoing support needs.
  • Workload Management: Be mindful of their workload, especially if they are new to the profession or transitioning from another school, and offer support in managing teaching, marking, and planning demands.
  • Encourage Wellbeing: Promote a culture of wellbeing, encouraging the new teacher to balance work and personal life and offering resources for mental health support if needed.
  • Teach in teachers also get regular check-in calls and emails from their UK Consultant who they can talk to about any concerns they have or share their successes!
  1. Opportunities for Professional Growth
  • Career Development: Discuss the teacher’s career aspirations and provide opportunities for further training, mentoring roles, or leadership responsibilities where appropriate.
  • Performance Management: Clarify the performance management process early on, including goals, expectations, and timelines for appraisals.

We really want our teachers to have a smooth transition into teaching in the UK. We know that teachers who feel confident and supported are more likely to stay in their school and have a positive experience and that is why almost half our teachers are referred to us by other teachers we have already helped into jobs in the UK.

Ready to find out more about your options? Get in touch by clicking here to register your interest in teaching in the UK.