Whether you’re starting your training in a school or at university, the National Education Union is here to support you throughout your teacher training and your career.
We are delighted you have chosen to join the profession. Teaching is a great job. As a teacher you can change children’s lives. However, if you train to teach, you can rely on the National Education Union (NEU) to support you throughout your training, induction and career.
As the UK’s largest education union, we provide support, training, and advice to thousands of trainee teachers every year.
Anti-racism is not covered in the current teacher training in England and there is no current guidance for ITE/T providers on anti-racism in ITE/T. The NEU commissioned research on anti-racism in teacher education that led to this anti-racism framework.
We suggest that you draw on the Anti-racism charter alongside the Teacher Standards and Core Content Framework in ways appropriate to your course context.
Mae athrawon yng Nghymru yn gweithio o fewn fframwaith cyfreithiol sy'n cynnwys hawliau a dyletswyddau. Mae'r nodiadau darlith hyn yn y Gymraeg a Saesneg yn darparu gwybodaeth am y fframwaith cyfreithiol ar gyfer athrawon sy'n dechrau eu gyrfaoedd.
Mae'r canllaw hwn yn cynnig awgrymiadau yn y Gymraeg a Saesneg ar gefnogi meysydd allweddol o ymddygiad wrth i chi ddatblygu eich profiad yn yr ystafell ddosbarth.
The National Education Union would advise you not to intervene. On occasions like this, you are present to observe, learn and note. However, you should definitely discuss what you observed with the teacher afterwards to establish how much of what you saw was actually noticed, and the reasons why the teacher managed the class that way.
Inspections tend to be brief and tightly focused, and inspectors will discuss with a headteacher which lessons they need to see to get a picture of the school or college.
If an inspector should find themselves with a student teacher, they will apply their criteria regarding the experience and training of the teacher or lecturer being observed. Whether you are a student or not, you are entitled to feedback and this should be given with sensitivity to status.
There is no specific and consistent job description that applies to the role of a mentor and the word is often used to describe many different roles. However, you should expect to have a regular allocated time in which you can discuss, plan, get advice on and review your work to date.
As a trainee if you feel you are not being given adequate support, speak to both your HEI tutor and/or the most senior person responsible for initial teacher training and student teachers in your school as early as possible.
You must be sure that you are specific about what support you feel you should be receiving, you have listened to and acted upon advice when it has been given and you have clearly described your problems to your mentor. No matter what stage of teaching you are at, everyone needs a good mentor and, just as no one forgets a good teacher, no one forgets a good mentor either.
All teachers, including those on the way to gaining QTS, have a ‘duty of care’ towards their pupils. According to this duty of care, you are required to apply your education and acquired skills to safeguard pupils, demonstrating reasonable and careful professional standards while you are at work. The School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) sets out the duties of teachers employed in maintained schools. It also applies to teachers in academies, independent schools and free schools where the STPCD has been incorporated into their contracts. In addition to those concerned with classroom teaching, these include the maintenance of good order and discipline among pupils and the safeguarding of their health and safety.
You should always avoid discriminating against colleagues or pupils. The NEU believes that providing and promoting equal opportunities for pupils and staff is at the fundamental core of an effective education service.
Each year the DfE sets the training bursaries for certain subjects in England, when they are deemed to be shortage subjects. Read the information for the 2023-24 training year here.
There are a number of places to look and any job suitable for a new teacher should state that, as the school must offer you the ECF package (NQT package in Wales) of CPD and support. Look in the following places:
The Guardian job section – most jobs will be advertised in multiple places including the above.
The NEU’s publication Finding your first teaching job is packed with further advice.
We offer specific CPD to support you at every stage of your teaching journey. Discover our complimentary CPD training, open to all early career teachers and trainees.
