Become an English Teacher

Why become an English teacher?

Make a real difference: You'll equip students with the communication skills they need to thrive in all areas of life. Whether it's developing their own voice, finding the literature they love or guiding them to tackle their exams with confidence – you'll be a part of their journey.

Spark a love of learning: English is a gateway to countless worlds. By igniting a passion for reading, writing, and critical thinking, you'll open doors to new ideas and experiences for your students.

Be creative in the classroom: As an English teacher, you’ll design engaging lessons that bring the subject to life. From drama workshops to debates, you'll find innovative ways to inject passion and inspiration into their studies.

Why is teaching English important?

English is a global language, a key to unlocking educational and professional opportunities at home and abroad. By teaching English, you're:

Empowering individuals: Equipping students with English language skills will open doors to further education, better jobs and even travel opportunities.

Representing the past, present and future: You'll be the one to introduce students to the rich tapestry of English literature, ensuring inclusivity, diversity and heritage are at the heart of their literary studies.

Nurturing critical thinkers: Analysing literature and developing strong communication skills are essential for critical thinking – a skill valuable in all areas of life.

If you have a passion for the English language and literature, and a desire to make a positive impact, then teaching English could be the perfect career path for you!

How do teachers make a difference to young people's lives?

What will I be teaching?

You will teach the national curriculum for English. When teaching, you will cover themes including:

Reading
Writing
Grammar and vocabulary
Spoken English

How will I learn?

Structured Weekly Plan: Follow a clear and manageable weekly schedule that combines online learning with hands-on experience in a real school setting.

Online Learning: Dedicate 20% of your time to in-depth subject knowledge and professional development modules delivered through our engaging e-learning platform. Access course materials, engaging lessons, and helpful tutorials whenever you need them.

Expert Mentorship: Receive dedicated support from a school-based mentor who will guide you through your ITT course, offering regular progress checks and helping you plan your next steps.

How can I prepare for English teacher training?

Read the National Curriculum: English programmes of study documents – from KS1 to KS5 so that you understand how they detail and support progression
Engage with the GCSE specifications and past papers for English Language and English Literature (AQA is the most commonly taught exam board)
If selecting the 16-19 route, engage with the A level specifications and past papers for English Language, English Literature and the combined qualification
Visit the NATE (National Association for the Teaching of English) website and engage with their open access resources and current debates
Reflect on your knowledge of Shakespeare. Read and (importantly) watch the plays you are most likely to teach: Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest. Engage with expert-level resources from the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Globe Theatre
Use the Booktrust’s Bookfinder tool to find and read contemporary young adult literature
Reflect more broadly on the diversity of your own literary choices: Do you have a global view of English Literature? Do you read books by authors from a diverse range of backgrounds, genders, races and cultures? Do you read much non-fiction? What gaps exist? Make a plan to consciously address these gaps and expand your own reading selections
Now reflect on your writing: When and why do you write? Do you ever write creatively? When you do, what is your experience? Where are the sticking points and how do you get ‘unstuck’? Make a plan to push yourself to rediscover (and hopefully enjoy) creative writing

Eligibility & Funding

What qualifications do I need to train to be an English teacher?

To train to teach English, you will need:

GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths
A bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject
A keen interest in, and passion for, English literature and English language
If we think you might need to top up your English knowledge, we might recommend that you to undertake some subject knowledge enhancement before you start your teacher training

What funding is available to me to train to be a English teacher?

A tax-free bursary of £10,000 is available for eligible trainee English teachers.

You can get a bursary or scholarship alongside a tuition fee and maintenance loan.

You may also be able to get extra funding support if you're a parent/carer or disabled.

Non-UK citizens without indefinite leave to remain in the UK are unlikely to be eligible for funding. You can find out more about fees and financial support available for non-UK citizens.

What funding is available to my employing school?

If you choose to train to teach English through a Teacher Apprenticeship, a grant will be paid directly to your employing school to support paying your wages (paid according to the unqualified teacher pay scale).

Secondary specialism	Cost of training	Unqualified Teacher Pay scale	Employer grant
English	Levy-funded	£20,598	£1,000

The Application Process

What is the application process like?

You can apply directly through our website below. After an initial check, we will then contact you to arrange an interview. Once a successful interview has been completed and you have accepted a place to train to teach with BPN, we will then search for a school placement for you (if you do not already have a school that is willing to support your training).

How can I prepare for a secondary teacher training interview?

Consider why you want to teach in a secondary school and why you want to train to teach your subject
Reflect on why you've chosen to apply for either the teacher apprenticeship or fee-funded route
Identify some personal qualities or characteristics that you possess that would make you a suitable secondary teacher
Think about some examples of skills or knowledge from your education or work history that you could share at interview that demonstrate your potential to train to teach, e.g. your knowledge of your chosen subject, previous experience of working with children or young people etc
Familiarise yourself with the Secondary National Curriculum and your chosen subject's Programme of Study and use these to identify your strengths and areas for development in terms of your subject knowledge
Research lesson plans and resources that are available for teaching your chosen subject using Oak National Academy or BBC Bitesize as a starting point
Brush up on your literacy and numeracy skills so you are well-prepared for the Maths and Written Tasks
Where possible, talk to current teachers or trainees so you can find out more about the teaching profession and the role of a secondary school teacher
Research current issues in education using Schools Week or TES and think about how these might affect pupils, teachers and schools. Prepare any questions that you want to ask us about the Secondary ITT programme and/or training to teach
Think about whether there's any important information that you need to share with us that would help you to access the programme, if you are offered a place. This could include reasonable adjustments, a learning support plan, or anything else you feel you may need support with.

How do I apply to become an English teacher?

First, you will need to decide which programme best suits your needs. We have two programmes available to budding English teachers, the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship and Fee-funded Initial Teacher Training (ITT).

Both programmes are school-centred in that the majority of your training will occur in school as you learn on the job. However, there are key differences when it comes to funding and salary. You can compare the two programmes looking at the respective programme structures below.