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2026/27 figures Checked 5 Nov 2026

Career route planner 2026/27

Choose where you are now and the job you want. You'll see each step, the qualifications you need, a typical timeframe and the 2026/27 pay at every stage, plus live jobs for your next step.

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Teaching assistant

Pay: Set locally on the NJC pay spine (lowest point £25,614 FTE from 1 Apr 2026). Most TAs are term-time only, so actual pay is lower than FTE.

  1. Step 1 · 1 year of training if you have a degree; 3–4 years if you need a degree first

    Trainee teacher

    • If you don't have a degree, consider a part-time degree or a teacher degree apprenticeship where offered.
    • Check your GCSEs meet the entry requirements.
    • Apply through the DfE Apply for teacher training service — salaried routes let you train while employed by a school.

    Qualifications

    • A UK bachelor's degree (or equivalent)
    • GCSE English and maths at grade 4 (C) or above, plus science for primary — or an equivalency test.

    Pay: Fee-funded courses are unpaid (bursaries or scholarships for some subjects). Salaried trainees are usually paid on the unqualified range, from £23,732 outside London. Unqualified and leadership pay

    Teacher training courses (live list) · Get Into Teaching (DfE) · Do you need a degree to be a teacher?

  2. Step 2 · On passing your course

    Early career teacher (ECT)

    • Complete your training and be recommended for QTS.
    • Apply for your first teaching post — many are advertised from January to May for September.

    Qualifications

    • Qualified teacher status (QTS)

    Pay: Usually M1: £34,069 outside London, £41,729 in Inner London (2026/27). Teacher pay calculator

    When do schools advertise jobs for September?

  3. Step 3 · 2 years of statutory induction

    Qualified teacher

    • Complete two years of induction with a mentor and the early career framework.
    • Be assessed against the Teachers' Standards; you move up the main pay range through appraisal.

    Qualifications

    • Passed statutory induction

    Pay: Main pay range £34,069–£46,940, upper range to £52,835 outside London (2026/27). Teacher pay scale

Timeframes are typical, not guaranteed. Pay is for England outside London unless stated; academies and independent schools can set their own pay. Terms explained in our glossary.

Live jobs for your next step: Trainee teacher

  • Closing in 3 days

    Trainee Physics Teacher

    Haberdashers' Crayford Academy · Dartford

    £27,727 FTE

    Full time

    Posted 10 days ago

    via Teaching Vacancies

    View job
  • Closing in 3 days

    Trainee Chemistry Teacher

    Haberdashers' Crayford Academy · Dartford

    £27,727 FTE

    Full time

    Posted 10 days ago

    via Teaching Vacancies

    View job

  • Trainee Teacher of Secondary Spanish

    Claremont High School · Harrow

    School-Centered Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) Programme

    Full time

    Posted 1 month ago

    via Teaching Vacancies

    View job
See all 3 live jobs →

Frequently asked questions

Can a teaching assistant become a teacher?

Yes. With a degree you can train in a year, often on a salaried route while working in a school. Without a degree you'll need one first, for example through a part-time degree or a teacher degree apprenticeship where offered.

Do I need the NPQH to become a headteacher?

No, the NPQH is not legally required in England, but many governing boards list it as desirable.

Does a SENCO need to be a teacher?

Yes. The SENCO must be a qualified teacher or the headteacher, and new SENCOs must complete the NPQ for SENCOs within three years.

Are the timeframes guaranteed?

No. They are typical ranges; schools appoint on experience and the posts available locally.