Oxford

EDUCATION
Education is one of the most popular sectors for Oxford
graduates. It’s a broad sector – covering teaching as well as
diverse opportunities such as publishing, policy, administration,
charities and NGOs, educational psychology, and museums.
Teaching can be a hugely rewarding
career, demanding communication skills,
energy, and a commitment to inspiring
students. It’s not for everyone, but offers
an opportunity to make a difference, to
use your subject, and to advance your
career in a variety of directions. Teachers
can rapidly specialise into managerial,
pastoral or training roles in schools.
Many also move into education roles in
other areas.
GETTING IN AND
ENTRY POINTS
To teach in a state school in the UK, you
will need qualified teacher status (QTS).
Routes to gain QTS divide into two main
types – mostly school-based courses
(Teach First, School Direct, HMC Teacher
Training, Researchers in Schools, Overseastrained
teacher programme and some
SCITTs), and courses at higher education
institutions in partnership with schools
(PGCE, PGDE, SCITT).
A PGCE is a one-year course, taught in
university but with substantial teaching
practice in schools. Teach First is a twoyear
programme addressing educational
disadvantage by placing top-calibre and
highly motivated graduates into paid
employment in challenging schools. For
School Direct you are based in a school
but linked with a local university. Most
School Direct places are funded in the
same way as a PGCE (tuition fees and
bursaries), but there is also a salaried
option. For any teacher training, it’s more
or less essential to have done a period of
observation in schools prior to application.
MORE INFORMATION
If you want to find out more about
this sector, visit:
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/TEFL
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/TEACHING
112
There is no formal requirement for a
teaching qualification in the independent
sector. Some independent schools offer
on-the-job training, including the formal
training route HMC Teacher Training,
others recruit recent graduates through
graduate assistant roles, particularly
in boarding schools. CareerConnect
(page 5) and the Times Educational
Supplement (TES) are good sources of
jobs in independent schools.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
(TEFL) and private tutoring are popular
short-term occupations on leaving
Oxford, but can also be longer-term
careers. A degree from Oxford may be
the only qualification needed for some
teaching jobs, but experience is always
helpful for applications, and a TEFL
qualification may make it easier to find
work abroad.
There are a few graduate training
programmes in education policy and
administration. Imperial College runs
a graduate management and finance
training scheme, and education policy
could form part of the Civil Service
Fast Stream or local government
schemes such as the National Graduate
Development Programme. The TES and
the Guardian are key publications for
opportunities in the Education sector.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR IDEAS
+ + Observe teachers at work in local
schools. Insight Into Teaching, run
by The Careers Service, offers three
days in schools around the UK. The
Teaching Agency runs formal schemes
for shortage subjects (Maths, Physics,
Chemistry and Modern Languages).
Alternatively, approach schools directly
to ask if you can observe lessons, or
help in other ways.
+ + Get international teaching experience
in the summer vacation through The
Internship Programme (p.35).
+ + Volunteer your time with local children
through organisations such as Jacari,
KEEN or Oxford Hub’s Schools Plus
programmes.
+ + Develop pastoral skills by helping
with Oxford University Scout & Guide
Group, or volunteering with Sexpression
Oxford to promote sexual health.
+ + Offer mentoring for UNIQ Summer
School participants, volunteer with
Oxford University Admissions or work
with Target Schools to promote access
to university, or with OxFizz to give
interview practice, mentoring, or to run
summer camps.
Matthew wood
teacher of history and deputy head of
sixth form – magdalen College school
“
It’s worth sending a quick
email to your old Head - I
found my own school very
helpful when seeking a
career in teaching.
”