Primary School Teacher
Also advertised as: Class Teacher, Early Career Teacher, educator in primary education, educator in primary school, KS1 Teacher, KS2 Teacher
Plans and teaches the full curriculum to a class of primary-aged children.
What the job involves
Primary teachers take responsibility for a class across all subjects. You plan lessons, assess progress, manage behaviour, work with parents and lead a curriculum area. Routes include a PGCE, undergraduate education degree or salaried teaching apprenticeship.
Typical responsibilities
- Plan and teach lessons across the curriculum
- Assess and report on pupil progress
- Manage classroom behaviour and routines
- Work with parents and support staff
- Lead a subject area across the school
Common employers
- Maintained primary schools
- Academy trusts
- Independent schools
- International schools
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£31,000 – £33,000 a year
With experience
£38,000 – £50,000 a year
Typical hours
Directed hours plus significant planning and marking
Working environment
Classroom and school
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Lesson planning
- Behaviour management
- Assessment
- Subject knowledge
- Communication with families
Transferable skills you may already have
- Teaching assistant work
- Coaching or leading groups of children
- Planning activities
Requirements employers ask for
- Lesson planning
- Behaviour management
- Assessment
- Subject knowledge
- Communication with families
- Degree plus Qualified Teacher Status
- GCSE English, maths and science grade 4 or above
- QTS
- Enhanced DBS
- apply intercultural teaching strategies
- adapt teaching to student's capabilities
- support the positiveness of youths
- facilitate teamwork between students
- teamwork principles
- maintain relations with children's parents
- give constructive feedback
- observe student's progress
- maintain students' discipline
- apply teaching strategies
- assist students in their learning
- learning difficulties
Useful but not essential
- Teaching assistant work
- Coaching or leading groups of children
- Planning activities
- National Professional Qualifications
- SEND or phonics specialisms
- organise creative performance
- advise on lesson plans
- behavioural disorders
- assess the development of youth
- support gifted students
- musical notation
- musical instruments
- oversee extra-curricular activities
Helpful qualifications
- National Professional Qualifications
- SEND or phonics specialisms
Licences and checks
- QTS
- Enhanced DBS
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Teacher Degree Apprenticeship
- Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Primary education
- Related subject: Any degree subject with a PGCE
Where this career can lead
next
Phase Leader
next
Assistant Headteacher
next
Headteacher
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Salaried apprenticeship route now available
- Structured pay scale and pension
- Strong sense of purpose
What people find hard
- Workload outside teaching hours
- Behaviour and accountability pressure
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a primary school teacher?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. required
- How much does a primary school teacher earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £31,000 to £33,000 a year, rising towards £50,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Teaching assistant work, Coaching or leading groups of children, Planning activities.
Related careers
Teaching Assistant
Supports pupils' learning in the classroom, often working closely with those who need extra help.
School Business Manager
Runs the finances, premises and administration behind a school's day-to-day operation.
Secondary School Teacher
Plans and delivers lessons to pupils aged 11 to 18 in a specialist subject.
Special Educational Needs Coordinator
Coordinates support for pupils with additional learning needs across a school.
Education Welfare Officer
Works with families and schools to tackle poor school attendance and safeguarding concerns.
Further Education Tutor
Teaches vocational or academic subjects to students aged 16 and over in colleges and training providers.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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