Teaching is a challenging but rewarding profession, with opportunities for graduates from all degree disciplines to work with different age groups in a range of settings. Some experience of working with children and young people, and classroom experience, are essential if you are thinking of applying for teacher training and will help you better understand the sector and whether it is right for you.

The University of York job sector pages have useful information about starting a career in teaching and education more generally. There are sections on what teaching entails and the skills you will need to do it, whether it is the right career for you, the various routes into teaching and training courses, how best to find a job, and much more.

Talks on careers in teaching are available on the VLE Psychology Employability Tutorial under Psychology Resources and Careers Days talks – these give a personal insight into the career.

To test if this is the right career for you and to get a place on your chosen course, you need to gain experience in educational settings. If possible build up experience with different age groups and in different types or schools/colleges.

  • The Careers volunteering programme, York Students in Schools (YSIS), places York students into local schools: this is a very hassle free way of gaining experience!
  • You could try contacting your own old school/college or schools in your home area for experience during university vacations.
  • Teach First runs an Insight work experience programme for penultimate year students intending to teach STEM subjects.
  • Get other valuable experience with children/young people, e.g. play schemes, after school clubs, Cubs, Guides, youth work, children's camps, sports coaching, as a volunteer learning mentor. Check the Careers Look for work and Volunteering pages for ideas.
  • YUSU also have volunteering projects with children and young people.
  • www.do-it.org - search for volunteering opportunities nationally.
  • You may be able to get a place on a School Experience Programme (shortage secondary subjects only).
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To contact the Student Documentation maintainers please email psychology-student-docs-group@york.ac.uk (use your University of York email address).