The UK is providing migration route for trained teachers from Africa and elsewhere willing to work in schools across the UK.
From 1 February 2023, teachers who qualified in the following 9 countries will also be able to apply to TRA for qualified teacher status (QTS):
- Ghana
- Hong Kong
- India
- Jamaica
- Nigeria
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Ukraine
- Zimbabwe
Qualified teacher status (QTS) is the professional status teachers in England gain at the end of their teacher training.
Teachers who qualified outside the UK can work in English schools for up to 4 years without QTS. However, obtaining QTS will make it easier for you to find work and develop your career as a teacher.
This is because:
- in many English state-maintained schools, QTS is a legal requirement when the 4-year exemption period is up
- in all English schools, QTS is used to assess the quality of candidates for teaching jobs
Qualifications and experience you’ll need to be eligible to become a teacher in the UK
To apply for assessment only QTS, you do not need a formal teacher training qualification.
However, you must have:
- a minimum of 2 years’ teaching experience
- a first (bachelor’s) degree from a UK or non-UK university
- an English language qualification which is the same standard as a grade 4 GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education)
- a maths qualification which is the same standard as a grade 4 GCSE
- to teach children aged 3 to 11 in primary school, a physics, chemistry or biology (science) qualification which is the same standard as a grade 4 GCSE
A GCSE is an academic qualification awarded for examinations in England, usually taken at age 16.
Apply for teacher training in England
All non-UK citizens can apply to train to teach in England. Train to teach in England non-UK applicants explains the academic qualifications and visa you’ll need, and how to apply for a teacher training course.
When you apply for a teacher training course in England leading to QTS you’ll:
- pay a fee (starting at £12,000) plus your living costs
- undergo a year of full-time training
- need to relocate to the UK.
Salaries and benefits of UK teachers
All qualified teachers will have a starting salary of at least £28,000. This will be higher for teachers working in London.
Qualified teacher salary
Your school will have their own pay scales for qualified teachers. Pay increases will always be linked to performance, not length of service, and will be reviewed every year.
The teacher pay scales for qualified teachers are:
| Area | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| England (excluding London) | £28,000 | £38,810 |
| London fringe | £29,344 | £40,083 |
| Outer London | £32,407 | £43,193 |
| Inner London | £34,502 | £44,756 |
Most established teachers will earn more than this maximum by progressing onto the upper pay range for teachers, or by becoming a leading practitioner.
If you’re not sure whether you’ll be teaching in inner, outer or the fringe of London, talk to your school.
Upper pay range for teachers
If you can demonstrate excellence against all of the teacher standards, you can be put onto the upper pay range for teachers.
This is for teachers who make a sustained and substantial contribution to their school.
The upper pay ranges for teachers are:
| Area | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| England (excluding London) | £40,625 | £43,685 |
| London fringe | £41,858 | £44,919 |
| Outer London | £44,687 | £48,055 |
| Inner London | £49,320 | £53,482 |
Leading practitioner salaries
If you’re an established and exceptional teacher, and regularly show the highest standards of classroom teaching, you can be put onto a higher pay scale.
Although they may not lead departments, leading practitioners coach and mentor other teachers and induct trainees and early career teachers (ECTs).
The teacher pay scales for leading practitioners are:
| Area | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| England (excluding London) | £44,523 | £67,685 |
| London fringe | £45,749 | £68,913 |
| Outer London | £48,055 | £71,220 |
| Inner London | £52,936 | £76,104 |
Headteacher salaries
A headteacher is the most senior person in a school. They are ultimately responsible for all teachers and pupils.
Their role is wide ranging, but includes leading and motivating teachers, and ensuring all pupils get a good education.
The salary ranges for headteachers are:
| Area | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| England (excluding London) | £50,122 | £123,057 |
| London fringe | £51,347 | £124,274 |
| Outer London | £53,637 | £126,539 |
| Inner London | £58,501 | £131,353 |
Other payments
You might also get extra payments for taking on extra responsibilities.
These payments are called ‘teaching and learning responsibility’ (TLR) payments. The extra responsibilities you might take on are:
- progressing the education of people beyond your assigned pupils
- leading, developing and enhancing the teaching practice of others
- TLR payments come in 2 main pay ranges (TLR 1 and TLR 2) depending on your responsibilities
| Level | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| TLR 1 | £8,706 | £14,732 |
| TLR 2 | £3,017 | £7,368 |
Unqualified teacher salaries
Many schools in England require teachers to have ‘qualified teacher status’ (QTS). If you do not have this, you can work in some schools as an unqualified teacher.
The unqualified teacher salary ranges are:
| Area | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| England (excluding London) | £19,340 | £30,172 |
| London fringe | £20,594 | £31,421 |
| Outer London | £22,924 | £33,759 |
| Inner London | £24,254 | £35,081 |
How to Apply
Qualified teachers who trained to teach outside of England who want to apply for qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in English schools and meet the minimum eligibility requirements can START HERE.
