Are you thinking about a career in teaching? Lots of people say it’s the greatest job in the world, albeit a very demanding one. It will take a huge amount of energy - physical and mental - but it can bring incredible rewards and make a real difference to the lives of young people.

Here’s the essential information about entering the profession.

What are the different routes in to teaching?

There are two main training pathways: university-led and school-led. The postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) is the traditional university-led route, in which you attend a university as a student for a year and undertake placements at different schools to develop your practice, gaining qualified teacher status at the end.

The government’s unsalaried School Direct route offers a similar pathway, although training comes through a network of approved schools, rather than a university.

Alternatively, there is the salaried School Direct route. Here, you are recruited and employed by a school, working as a teacher and learning on the job as you go (with a reduced timetable to allow for training).

Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships and the Teach First programme work in a similar way, and all also offer qualified teacher status (QTS) at the end.

What are the requirements for a teaching job?

In order to work towards gaining QTS, you will need a degree (or equivalent) at 2:2 level or above. If you are going to teach in a secondary school, your degree subject should be in, or related to, the subject that you want to teach (however, you may be able to take a subject knowledge enhancement course to teach a subject outside of your degree).

You also need to have C/4 grades or above in maths and English and, if you are going to teach in a primary school, you’ll need a C/4 grade in GCSE science. 

Before you can be awarded QTS, you will need to pass professional skills tests in literacy and numeracy (but you can keep retaking these as many times as necessary to secure a pass).

How much do teachers earn?

Teachers’ starting salaries vary according to several factors. The latest figure from the Department for Education (DfE) puts the minimum salary for qualified teachers in England and Wales at £23,720.

It’s higher for teachers in London, however, who earn from £24,859 on the London fringe; £27,596 in outer London; and £29,664 in inner London. Salaries in Northern Ireland start at £22,243 and in Scotland at £22,866. 

Other factors that can boost an NQT’s salary include teaching a subject that has a shortage of staff (such as physics or maths), or coming into the profession from another career that offers relevant experience, which could be recognised with a higher pay rate.

Salaries are set by schools (within a government-mandated range), so there is variation across the country.

What are working conditions like for teachers?

Conditions vary from school to school, but the career is one that will definitely keep you on your toes. The work is demanding (especially when you’re starting out and learning how to manage a classroom) and the term-time hours can be long: the DfE’s 2016 workload survey found that teachers work, on average, 54.4 hours a week, with senior leaders working 60 hours a week on average.

The holidays help to redress the balance, however - teachers generally receive more days off than other professions, with most working for 195 days out of the year in school (although many will also be working for several days during school holidays).

Another huge positive often cited by teachers when it comes to conditions is the tremendous team spirit and camaraderie forged within schools and departments.

How easy is it to get a teaching job?

Teachers of shortage subjects, such as maths and science, are likely to find themselves in demand, along with those who are prepared to work in less popular locations, while recruitment will be more competitive in popular areas, such as London. 

But the outlook is generally good. According to the DfE, 94 per cent of newly qualified teachers are employed in a teaching role within six months of completing their training.   

Are there opportunities for progression?

There is a structured pay progression for teachers, with each step offering an increase in salary. This used to be determined by length of service, but is now linked to teachers’ performance, enabling schools to assess when an advance should be made.  

Teachers can also take on extra responsibilities within school, which come with salary supplements known as teaching and learning responsibility payments. These can increase your salary from between £540 to £13,228 depending on the duties taken on, which can vary from pastoral roles to additional departmental responsibilities.

If you are qualified to work with pupils with special educational needs and disability (SEND) you could also be eligible for a SEND allowance, which ranges from £2,149 to £4,242 per year.

Zofia Niemtus is a freelance writer