Many Now Teachers say that spending time in schools is the single most important step you can take in changing career to teaching. It helped them decide that teaching was right for them and made their interviews a real success.
We always recommend aspiring Now Teachers organise a school experience visit to your local school.
Contact local schools
Schools are busy places but many teachers are willing to share their experiences with you. If you have links locally, ask a nearby school if you can arrange a visit.
You can also find schools in your area using the Schools Web Directory.
We can help
Our Career Advisors can help you get an experience of the school environment via our partner schools. You may be required to take time off work to be able to see a school environment during the day but we would highly recommend it. To access this service, please fill in our network application form.
Get Into Teaching
The Department for Education’s Get Into Teaching service provides a school experience service. You register for free and they pair you with local schools.
We also suggest you visit more than one school because they can be very different; this experience will make sure you are aware of this diversity and make your application stronger.
What to do during your visit
There are a number of things that Now Teachers say helped them during their in school experience:
- Observing at least one entire lesson in your chosen subject area
- Speaking to a newly qualified or trainee teacher
- Talking to students in different year groups
- Touring the school
- Meeting staff working in your areas of particular interest, such as your subject, special needs or careers advice
- Reading the school’s Ofsted report before you visit
- Attend the morning staff briefing, if possible
Due to the uncertain situation with COVID-19, visiting a school has not always possible, so we have selected a library of articles, videos, reports, and podcasts to give you an idea of what it’s like to work in school and be a trainee teacher.
Recruitment Advisor which school you are visiting, and we can see if there’s a Now Teacher there who can give you the inside story.
