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When you step into teaching you enter a world of possibilities. Whilst your day-to-day work with children and young adults is so rewarding the career progression itself can also give you immense job satisfaction. Receiving the right teaching career advice can significantly impact your professional journey and understanding the career progression routes available and how to get there can shape your future in the field.
This blog will provide teaching career advice on common career progression pathways in education, give insights into the qualifications and skills needed, and offer advice on how our agency can support your growth. At TeacherActive, we specialise in helping teachers and education staff to not only find the right job opportunities but to enhance their careers through free teaching career advice and continuous professional development (CPD) via our platform My-Progression.
Preparing for leadership
So, you are ready for the next step in your career in leadership. Before you dive in, you need to make sure you are prepared and organised. You may have the experience, but do you have the leadership mindset? Invest in some leadership books and material to help, we recommend:
- 5 Levels of Leadership by John C Maxwell
- 7 Habits of Highly Successful People by Stephen R. Covey
- Who Moved My Cheese? By Spencer Johnson
- Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Less about leadership and more about personal development, a good book we also recommend is Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Ahead of applying for any leadership positions, make sure you prepare by reviewing your answers to expected job interview questions to make sure you cover everything you need to in your responses.
Career progression routes in education
There is no single pathway for career progression in teaching. Whether you prefer staying in the classroom or advancing into the SLT, there are numerous avenues to explore. Below, we offer some teaching career advice and outline common routes to help you decide on the right path for you.
1. Classroom teacher to senior leadership roles
Many teachers start their careers in the classroom, but one of the most well-trodden routes to career progression is moving into senior leadership positions. These roles not only offer increased responsibility but also opportunities to impact a school’s overall strategy and development. These include:
- Head of department (HoD): For subject specialists who want to take the lead in shaping curriculum delivery, becoming a Head of Department is an excellent step. This role allows you to manage subject teachers, develop schemes of work, and ensure pupils excel in your subject area.
- Assistant or deputy headteacher: Moving into senior management often involves taking on the role of an Assistant or Deputy Headteacher. These roles typically include leading initiatives across key stages, improving teaching standards, or overseeing pastoral care. Leadership skills are essential here, and further qualifications such as the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) can provide a strong advantage.
- Headteacher: For those who aspire to lead a school, the role of Headteacher offers a significant leap in responsibility. Headteachers manage everything from academic performance to financial planning, and they serve as the face of the school to the wider community. Teaching career advice often highlights the importance of gaining experience across different leadership roles before making this leap.
2. Specialist roles in education
If leadership isn’t your primary goal, there are plenty of specialist roles that can offer progression within your teaching career. These roles allow you to focus on specific areas of interest, providing career satisfaction without the broader managerial responsibilities.
- Subject leads: Taking their passion from specialist areas, subject leads oversee their chosen subject within the school. They lead the improvement of the subject and offer guidance to other teachers on how to deliver the curriculum topics in the best way.
- Pastoral roles: For teachers who find satisfaction in supporting students' emotional and personal development, pastoral roles are a great option. Positions like Head of Year or Pastoral Lead focus on student welfare, behaviour management, and ensuring that pupils are supported both academically and personally.
- Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) Positions: TLR roles offer a chance to lead key teaching initiatives within your school. You might oversee a subject area, improve teaching standards, or mentor less experienced colleagues. TLR positions often come with additional responsibilities and allowances, helping you progress whilst remaining classroom focused.
3. Educational consultancy and training
For teachers who are passionate about shaping the future of education beyond the classroom, consultancy and training provide exciting career avenues. These roles allow you to influence educational practices on a broader scale, working with schools and educational institutions to enhance learning outcomes.
- Educational consultant: Consultants work closely with schools or multi-academy trusts to offer teaching career advice, curriculum development, and leadership training. Extensive experience in education is often required for consultancy roles, but they offer the chance to bring about significant change across multiple settings.
- Teacher trainer: Teacher trainers are responsible for delivering training and mentoring for new educators, either within schools or through Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programmes. This role allows experienced teachers to pass on their expertise, shaping the next generation of educators.
4. Leadership in Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs)
As Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) become more prevalent across the UK, leadership opportunities have expanded. These roles offer the chance to manage and influence education across several schools, making them an excellent option for those looking to step beyond individual school leadership.
- Executive headteacher: If you have gained extensive experience as a headteacher, you might consider moving into an executive role within a multi-academy trust (MAT). Executive headteachers are responsible for overseeing the leadership and performance of several schools within the MAT.
- CEO of a MAT: For those with a strong background in school leadership and education management, becoming the CEO of a MAT represents the pinnacle of career progression. The role involves setting the strategic direction of the trust, managing budgets, and ensuring high educational standards across all schools within the trust.
5. Further education (FE) and Higher education (HE)
Teachers who enjoy working with older students may prefer to transition into Further Education (FE) or Higher Education (HE). Roles could include:
- FE Lecturer: FE lecturers work in colleges or vocational settings, delivering post-16 education. This could involve preparing students for further study or directly for the workplace.
- University Lecturer: University lecturers typically specialise in both teaching and research. To pursue this career path, you will usually need a higher-level degree, such as a PhD, in your subject area.
Key qualifications and skills for career progression
Career progression in teaching often requires additional qualifications, especially when moving into leadership or specialist roles. Some key qualifications that may aid your career development include:
- National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL): Aimed at teachers moving into senior leadership positions, this qualification is often seen as a stepping stone towards roles like Assistant Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher.
- CPD (Continuous Professional Development): Engaging in CPD is critical for your professional growth. Regular CPD helps you stay current with the latest teaching methods, policies, and developments in your subject area. CPD can be obtained in multiple ways, such as through watching training videos on YouTube that offer teaching career advice, behaviour management techniques and more.
Finding the right route for you
It’s important that, whatever role you choose to explore, that you choose the right route for you. All roles in education are highly rewarding and will see you make a big difference in children’s lives, but be aware that, the higher up the ladder you climb, the less time you will spend in the classroom teaching day-to-day.
If becoming a Headteacher is not the right path for you, that is okay! You do not need to reach the top of the ladder to be a successful educational leader. If you want to be more hands-on in the classroom, becoming a peer mentor or TLR will work well for you. We’re sure that, whatever role you pick to develop into, you will find satisfaction and pride from having a positive impact on children’s education.
How TeacherActive can support your career development
At TeacherActive we understand that every educator’s career path is unique. That’s why we provide personalised teaching career advice and support, helping you navigate your professional journey and achieve your goals.
1. Diverse job opportunities
One of the biggest advantages of working with our agency is access to a wide range of teaching roles. Whether you're looking for short-term supply teaching, long-term placements, or permanent roles in teaching and leadership, we help match you with positions that align with your skills and aspirations. This allows you to gain valuable experience across different educational settings, which is vital for career progression.
2. CPD and training opportunities
We recognise that CPD is key to advancing your career. Our agency offers a range of CPD training topics designed to enhance your skills, from classroom management and safeguarding to leadership training and specialist workshops. Whether you’re looking to upskill or explore a new area of teaching, our CPD training topics will give you knowledge, support and teaching career advice.
3. Career Guidance and mentoring
Our experienced team offers tailored teaching career advice to help you on your journey. Whether you’re looking to transition into a new role, pursue additional qualifications, or prepare for leadership interviews, we’re here to guide you. We provide support with CV writing, interview preparation, and long-term career planning to ensure you achieve your full potential.
4. Flexibility and Experience
Supply teaching provides the flexibility to work across different schools and age groups. This variety is invaluable in helping you explore different career paths and discover your passions. It also allows you to build an impressive CV or teaching application, gaining the breadth of experience necessary for career progression.
Take the next step in your teaching career
Career development in education is a rewarding journey with multiple avenues for growth. Whether you’re aiming for leadership, specialist roles or simply want to expand your teaching skills, the right teaching career advice is essential. At TeacherActive we’re committed to helping you succeed by providing access to exciting opportunities, CPD training and expert career guidance.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your teaching career, register with us today. Let us help you find the perfect role and provide the support you need to grow and thrive in the education sector.
