Primary school positions involve educating children aged between seven and eleven.
A wide range of job opportunities are available in primary school education, from school lunchtime supervisor and classroom assistant positions to primary school teacher positions.
Qualifications and entry requirements
Academic qualifications are not required to work in primary school lunchtime supervisor or classroom assistant jobs. However, many employers seek candidates with a good standard of basic education and a willingness to undergo on-the-job training. To work in primary school teacher roles, a degree conferring Qualified Teacher Status is essential. To study for a teaching qualification at university, two or more A levels are required.
Key competencies
For all primary school jobs, candidates require good organisational and time-management skills, an ability to manage children with challenging behaviour, excellent communication skills, a good sense of humour, patience, enthusiasm and a commitment to providing equal opportunities.
Primary school staff can find employment in state-maintained and independent primary schools. Vacancies are commonly publicised through sector publications and recruitment agencies handling education jobs.
Salaries
Salaries for primary school jobs vary, depending on experience, qualifications and responsibilities. Part-time lunchtime supervisors working only one hour a day over the course of the academic year may earn around £1,600 a year. Full-time teaching assistants, meanwhile, may start on salaries of around £13,000 a year while primary school teachers may earn between £21,000 and £30,000 a year, depending on experience.