Finding teaching jobs in the UK

Hello,

My husband and I are planning on moving to England next summer, and I would love some advice on looking for a teaching job. I have read many of the threads here about teaching, but many are a few years old, so I'm hoping to get some more up to date info.

A bit about my situation: I am a Swiss citizen, so I can work in the UK without restrictions; I am a licensed elementary teacher in the US with a few years' experience.

I am wondering whether anyone has any current info on the teaching job market (I would ideally like to teach in a rural area or small town), advice on how to look for a job (recruitment agencies? Directly with schools?), or advice on the differences in searching for a teaching job in the UK as opposed to the US.

Thank you so much in advance for your help!

I found my teaching job through my county council.  I'm in Durham and not sure how counties in the South may work, but there is a larger job website for Durham and the surrounding counties that lists all teaching related jobs.  You can also go through recruitment agencies, but I think that your best best is still through the council as they have the applications attached and necessary information right there.  The job market is quite tough from what I understand and I feel quite lucky to have found a job in the year I wanted.  The Headteacher at one school let us know that they had 65 applications and the position hadn't even closed yet.  Other teachers I know (British) told me that they can have up to 100 applicants per job. 

Make sure to get your degrees confirmed through NARIC and apply for QTS (qualified teacher status.)  It's easy to do before you come over as it's just paperwork.  You'll also need to get an FBI clearance for the time you lived in the US.  I suggest getting fingerprinted in the States and applying just before you leave so that the clearance covers your entire time; even one month without clearance before you come will not be accepted. 

Best of luck!!

Most teaching jobs (at least in secondary teaching) are posted on TES:

http://www.tes.co.uk/jobs/

Good luck - it can be VERY competitive out there I hear, especially outside of London and the South East.

Thank you both for the advice! The town where I currently work is very competitive for teachers, so I guess I'm used to it being difficult to get a job, at least!

Is supply teaching a good way to get hired in a district? I know it is a great way to get known here, but in some districts, they actually think of you as being on a separate "substitute track" and you are actually less likely to get hired if you sub.

Thanks especially for the background check tip...I had not thought about the timing of that!!

You should be able to sign up for supply.  I'm not sure it matters -- probably depends on the county and school.  There was a women I was up against who had done a half of year in supply in that school and I still got the job because I had more lead teacher experience.  I don't think supply is a bad way to go if you don't find a position though.  It will get you recognized and give you experience with the curriculum. 

Yes, so if I had known I would have been fingerprinted say a week before I left and mailed in the application to the FBI.  It takes about 5 weeks, but they check from when they start the process.  I had my first set rejected and then had do it again.  It was lots of waiting.  (Plus, they didn't even tell me the first set was rejected.  I called after 5 weeks and it had just been processed and rejected.  I didn't get the actual rejection letter for 12 weeks... if I had waited for that.... !)

*Sidenote* I found out I start at the bottom of the pay scale because they don't take experience and education into account for salary.  At least where I am.  I got a few different answers from people, but it seems that the most recent information for my area is that you start at level M1 no matter what.  Obviously, I don't know about everywhere, but be prepared for that just in case. 

*Sidenote* I found out I start at the bottom of the pay scale because they don't take experience and education into account for salary.  At least where I am.  I got a few different answers from people, but it seems that the most recent information for my area is that you start at level M1 no matter what.  Obviously, I don't know about everywhere, but be prepared for that just in case. 

Salary is no longer linked to experience (thanks Michael Gove), and Headteachers are not required to stick to the 'payscales.' The theory was that schools could pay better teachers more - but there is no additional money in the pot. You are free to try and negotiate a higher salary, but Heads are not required to start any teacher new to their school above M1.

The theory was that schools could pay better teachers more - but there is no additional money in the pot.

Again the logic of this sort of thing baffles. Similarly, I was reading this guy's defence of zero hour contracts, he said the 'flexibility' was great for workers.