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Teaching: Making a difference

"Great teaching is the most important lever schools have to improve pupil attainment” - Education Endowment Foundation 

At Exeter, our vision is to contribute to a more socially just society and we want to help you to become a teacher that makes a significant difference to young peoples’ lives. Our teacher training courses are underpinned by the belief that all children can succeed regardless of their current attainment or background. We know that high quality teaching is crucial in achieving the best outcomes for all pupils but particularly for the most disadvantaged. 

Much of the input you will receive is based on work that is carried out in our research centres. Sessions on social mobility, child and adolescent mental health, teacher identity and agency, the neuroscience of learning, climate and sustainability, literacy and numeracy across the curriculum, engaging parents and carers with learning, as well as many subject specific seminars will enable you to have a genuine impact on the children that you teach. 

“By the end of the course, trainees have a deep knowledge and understanding of teaching adaptations they can make to meet the needs of pupils.”  Ofsted Report 2023 

While most teachers would cite job satisfaction as the most rewarding aspect of a career in teaching, there are other benefits too. Teachers get more holiday than many other professions and have access to the Teachers' pension scheme.

The government recognises that teaching is a demanding profession. In addition to the numerous financial incentives available for new trainees, teachers now also earn competitive salaries.

Most early career teachers are paid a starting salary of £30,000 up to £36,745, depending on where you teach but this will increase as you get more experienced. For more information on established and senior teacher salaries and headteacher salary ranges please see the salary and benefits pages of the Get into Teaching website.

Some early career teachers can also be eligible for Early-career payments and Levelling up premium payments - these payments are dependent on the subject you are teaching, the type of school you are teaching in and when you completed your training. The government is also currently running a scheme where teachers of eligible subjects who are teaching in specific local authority areas can apply to claim back student loan repayments.

Teaching as a career

The University of Exeter has a strong reputation for excellence and our PGCE trainees are highly sought-after – a distinct advantage in finding employment. Many trainees gain posts in partnership schools thanks to the excellent reputation of our trainees with local headteachers. We also work hard to support you in navigating the process of seeking employment as a teacher; and draw on links with local and national schools and recruitment agencies to support you in finding the right school for you. The University Careers Zone can also help to ensure you are given the best possible opportunity to secure your first teaching post.

Our Primary trainees benefit from excellent curriculum knowledge across the board and many are appointed to posts due to their potential for subject leadership. Similarly, our Secondary trainees are valued in the job market thanks to their quality subject-specific pedagogic knowledge developed via the Exeter Model partnership between University and School.