Teaching is one of the best jobs available in society today. An opportunity to shape the minds of the next generation, to help them be the best that they can be. It’s also exciting. Every day is a different day when teaching, and it’s not always easy. Challenging children, from the violent to the cheeky, keep you on your toes. But the good outweighs the bad, and the reward of knowing that you have made a positive difference on the life of a young person far exceeds that of knowing you have made a positive difference on the bank balance of your boss.
Being a teacher in the UK also gives you the fantastic flexibility of choosing where you work. Whilst others might be pinned to certain cities with certain industries, teaching is everywhere, and moving jobs is simple. Many companies exist that can help you to find you a job, and if you have positive references from your last teaching job it shouldn’t be difficult for them to find you the job that you want. In Northampton teaching jobs are currently available and quality teachers are in high demand.
Though it has been a difficult few years for UK teachers, with much negative attention from certain parts of the press, there are reasons to be hopeful for the future of UK teaching. Though pay has been affected by the recession, UK teachers are still amongst the best re-numerated in the world. According to the 2014 ‘OECD Education at a Glance’ survey, between 2001 and 2011 the amount spent by the government on UK pupils, per head, has increased by 72%. Schools are better equipped for a digital world, and teachers receive the training and support to adapt to new technologies. Looking into the future, teaching seems likely to remain a stable and well renumerated profession.
As well as a thriving public sector jobs market, there are also many jobs to be had in the UK independent schools sector. In Northampton teaching jobs in independent schools are well renumerated and come with perks. Sometimes these perks include travel to exotic locations whilst escorting school groups, or working in a period building in beautiful surroundings. Some jobs in the independent sector come with increased pay and food and board, as the schools are often located in the countryside. The schools provide living accommodation on site, often in period buildings. The teaching in these locations is often more pastoral, especially for staff who live on site, as they must supervise the children at all hours. This is a different sort of teaching, but some people love it and if you’re one of them then you’ll be suprised at how many job opportunities there are at the moment.
Now is as good a time as any to move to a different teaching job in the UK. The economy is improving, the largest shocks to the education system have now been implemented, and the youngest generation are the first fully digital generation to reach UK schools. Nurturing this talent is a responsibility and a privilege for UK teachers.