Education careers for forces partners

If you're in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can view the full list of qualification levels on GOV.UK. These are the levels we refer to on this page.

It's important to note that in Scotland and other countries outside of the UK, qualifications use different level systems. Regardless of where you obtained your qualifications, there's usually an equivalent recognised in other countries. 

GOV.UK advises further on how to compare UK qualifications with non-UK qualifications, including through ENIC.

ENIC is the UK's official organisation for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications and skills. There is a fee for using this service.

In England, you need Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to teach in a primary, secondary or SEND school that's funded by the local authorities. To achieve QTS, you'll need to enrol on a teacher training course.

However, you don't need QTS to:

• Teach in Further Fducation (FE)
• Become a lecturer in Higher Education (HE)
• Work in early years (with children aged five or under)
• Secure a professional services role at an educational institution, for example as an Admissions Officer, Careers Advisor, Estates Manager, and so on.

It's possible to pursue a career in teaching without attending university.

While a Bachelor’s degree is typically required to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for teaching in primary and secondary schools in the UK, there are alternative pathways available.

These options include:

• Teacher Degree Apprenticeship: If you do not already have an undergraduate degree, you may be eligible to do a teacher degree apprenticeship (TDA). This innovative route allows you to work in a school while earning a salary, studying for a degree, and working towards QTS. It’s a great option for those seeking practical, hands-on approaches to teacher training. Check your eligibility and find out more.
• Assessment Only Route: If you’ve worked as an unqualified teacher, you may qualify for the Assessment Only route. This pathway will enable you to demonstrate that you already meet the teachers’ standards without needing additional training. Check your eligibility and find out more.

Get Into Teaching offers free advice to help you find the best fit for you.

You may be surprised at how many roles offer the flexibility to work around your existing childcare responsibilities.

Some are during term-time only, or during school hours. For example, an Early Years Practitioner may finish the working day earlier than a Secondary School Teacher, enabling them to take on the school run after work.

Other roles are sessional, which means they have a much shorter contract – often just for one or two terms. This can be ideal if you relocate frequently or only have childcare available for certain parts of the year.

Examples of sessional roles include:

• Supply Teacher
• Mid-day Supervising Assistant
• Sessional Exam Invigilator
• Associate Lecturer.

Jobs outside of the classroom are often hybrid or, in some cases, fully remote. Online or distance learning providers are most likely to offer fully remote positions, but it's much more common for institutions to offer hybrid working.

Hybrid roles include:

• Careers Advisor
• Admissions Officer
• Vocational Mentor
• Administrator
• Student Recruitment Officer
• Student Wellbeing Officer.

It's possible to study some courses online, or find providers that offer hybrid learning – that's a mixture of online learning and in-person sessions.

Consider the length of the course, as some are much shorter than you may expect. Some offer condensed hours over a shorter period of time, which can be particularly helpful if you're expecting to relocate in the future.

Teacher training usually involves placements in at least two schools, which means your training will happen in more than one location. If you're worried about needing to relocate while completing your course, speak to your training provider.

Funding your studies

No matter what level you're currently at, there may be funding available to support you during your studies. We've detailed some of the options available on each webpage, including courses that are available for free, such as GCSE English and Maths, free Level 3 qualifications for those aged 19 and over, and (if you are eligible) Access modules with the Open University.

Some courses, such as the Level 3 Access to Higher Education (HE) course, have tuition fees that will be written off if you successfully go on to study a degree or eligible higher education course. Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding balance you owe once you complete your studies, which means you do not have to repay it.

It's important that you read any eligibility criteria carefully, as every provider has its own unique terms and conditions.

Funding your teacher training

Many teacher training courses have tuition fees, but some also allow you to earn a salary while you train. GOV.UK offers plenty of advice on funding your teacher training.

If you're considering a course with tuition fees, it's important to check whether you're eligible for a student loan. Depending on your personal circumstances and chosen course, you may also be eligible for a scholarship or bursary. You can check available funding for the subject you want to teach.

Alternatively, you may decide to pursue a salaried course. This employment-based route is extremely popular and places are highly sought after. Fees may still apply, so check the details carefully for each provider.

Accessing financial services

Recognising that Service families can experience difficulty in accessing some services due to their frequent relocation, The Armed Forces Covenant provides financial advice and guidance on getting a fair deal when you need to access financial services to support you and your family.

Wraparound Childcare (WAC)

If you have children aged between 4-11 years old, you may be able to receive funding through the MOD's Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme. Eligible families may claim funding for up to 20 hours per week of wraparound childcare (for each child) during term time. Check your eligibility and browse FAQs on the Army Families Federation (AFF) website.

GOV.UK outlines the salary bands for qualified and unqualified teachers in England.

Your route into teaching will be shaped by the age group that you'd like to work with, so it's important to consider which might be the best fit for you. You may also want to specialise in working with pupils with additional learning needs or disabilities.

Find out how to:

• Become an early years teacher
• Become a primary school teacher
• Become a secondary school teacher
• Teach pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• Teach in Further Education (FE).

Yes. Behind every school, college, university, nursery or adult learning centre is a dedicated team of professionals that ensures the smooth running of day-to-day operations and the safety and wellbeing of its learners.

You may consider roles such as:

• Safeguarding Officer
• Pastoral Support Officer
• Behaviour Support Assistant
• Careers Advisor
• Admissions Officer
• Vocational Mentor
• Administrator
• Mid-day Supervising Assistant
• Caretaker / Groundskeeper
• Estates Manager
• Student Recruitment Officer
• Student Wellbeing Officer
• Speech and Language Therapist.

Yes. Many adults resit their GCSEs later in life and there are plenty of ways to get the grades you need. Many courses are available either online or in person, so you can learn in a way that suits you and your lifestyle.

The National Careers Service allows you to search for your nearest providers. Use the filters to look for daytime, evening or weekend courses, or ones with flexible or part-time hours. Many of these courses are completely free, though do check the eligibility criteria carefully before applying.

There are several certificates and apprenticeships that are equivalent to GCSEs. GOV.UK provides a full list of equivalent qualifications.

If you prefer a more hands-on way of learning, consider an Intermediate Apprenticeship instead. It's equivalent to GCSEs (Level 2) but you'll earn a salary while you learn. A Level 2 apprenticeship is typically for 12-18 months.

You can include functional skills as part of your apprenticeship, which is an alternative to GCSEs. However, you'll spend most of your time working. Keep in mind that you may need to remain in one location for the duration of your apprenticeship, so it may not be the best option for you if you need to relocate frequently.

Weigh up the pros and cons of an apprenticeship before you apply. You can then find and apply for an apprenticeship via GOV.UK.