Teaching in UK Private Schools
Here are some of the questions we receive most frequently about teaching in private schools in the United Kingdom:
Are teachers' pay and conditions comparable with those for teachers in state schools?
The independent education sector has a wide variety of schools and each one has its own terms and conditions for staff. Although private schools often work a longer day than state maintained schools, the holidays are longer; many private boarding schools cater for children from overseas and the longer holidays allow families to have more time together. Teachers gain from longer holidays too, and often use the opportunity to travel or undertake courses of study that are of interest to them.
Salaries are usually competitive and many schools take the main national salary scale as a minimum; large private schools often have their own salary scales and these are frequently higher than the national standard.
Boarding schools often provide accommodation for teachers, especially in remote areas. There are also roles for teachers as house masters and mistresses in boarding schools for pupils of all age groups.
Do private schools employ newly qualified teachers (NQT)?
It is possible for a newly qualified teacher to be employed at an independent school and the school may be able to provide an induction programme for such a teacher, subject to the school meeting statutory requirements. These requirements include the school providing a post suitable for NQT induction and that the curriculum being taught must at least match the National Curriculum requirements for the pupils' key stage. The school must also provide the NQT with a mentor, or induction tutor, who holds qualified teacher status. Teachers who work in state schools are obliged to have completed an induction programme, so it is in a teacher's best interests to have completed the programme if they feel they may wish to move into the state sector at some point in the future.
Do private schools employ teachers without qualified teacher status (QTS)?
Private schools may employ teachers who do not have QTS if they wish to do so and in the past many teachers have been engaged on the strength of their academic qualifications alone. However, in more recent times, schools do prefer candidates who are both qualified and who have relevant experience.
Do UK private schools employ teachers with overseas qualifications?
Yes, overseas trained teachers may be employed by independent schools in the UK. To take up any teaching post in the UK, it is essential that you have the right to work in the UK. If your qualification is from within the European Economic Area (EEA) the mobility laws apply which allow you to work in other EEA countries. If your teaching qualification was gained outside the EEA, you are permitted to work as a temporary, unqualified teacher and study for QTS while you work. In certain circumstances, your existing qualification may make you eligible for QTS without further assessment.
Private schools will want to be sure that your qualifications are recognised in the UK as equivalent to those of a British-trained teacher.
Do UK independent schools have to follow the National Curriculum?
No, although many sprep schools use key stage 1 and 2 tests as a benchmark. Private schools are free to choose their own curriculum and, whilst they are well aware of the UK National Curriculum, most see it as a basic minimum standard.