What does a Primary School Teacher actually do?

The short version

Primary school teachers take one class through almost the whole curriculum — phonics to fractions — plus the planning, marking, parents and paperwork that come with it. Pay follows published national scales with London weighting, progression is predictable, and the pension is genuinely good. The catch is workload: term-time weeks run far beyond the school day.

AI is eating the admin side of the job — planning, worksheets, reports — but not the classroom itself. Demand stays driven by pupil numbers and a stubborn retention problem.

Entry routes that actually work

• Degree + PGCE/SCITT — the standard one-year route after any degree.
• Undergraduate QTS degree — fastest if you decide early.
• Salaried school-based training / Teach First — earn while you train; competitive.
• Assessment-only — for experienced unqualified teachers.