Primary School Teacher

Role:

Primary School teachers facilitate learning for young children by establishing a teacher-student relationship with pupils within the classroom environment to stimulate academic development. Teachers produce lesson plans and work based on the national curriculum and need to engage with their pupils, and therefore, they have to be creative when developing schemes of learning. A primary teacher has to teach all aspects of the primary curriculum, take responsibility for the progress of the class, plan and prepare lessons.

Source Prospects

Skills Required:

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) qualification or Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
Organisational skills
Confidence and ability to communicate clearly
Initiative
Leadership skills
Creativity and imagination
Enthusiasm and patience

Things to Consider:

Teaching is a rewarding career as a Teacher is able to see the development of their class. Furthermore, working with young people can be fun especially if you have the enthusiasm and ability to engage with them.

The SSAS 3001 module, ‘An Introduction to Teaching: The Ambassador Scheme in Social Sciences', will enhance the skills and knowledge about the world of teaching for successful applicants to the module. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to work within a school during term time. Third year Social Sciences Students can apply to take this module.

Read more about the SSAS 3001 Module. Also, visit the links at the bottom of the page for written and video accounts about previous student's experiences with the module.

Working with young people can be fun but it can also be frustrating. The ability to remain calm and act appropriately is crucial. Teachers are role models for their pupils, and therefore, they have to be careful of their actions because at young ages children can be very impressionable.

Relevant qualifications to become a primary school teacher such as QTS or PGCE, as mentioned above, will need to be gained in order to become a primary school teacher.

Read more about the University of Southamptons PGCE programme.