The UK is a popular destination for educators seeking new opportunities in a world-class education system. Migrating to the UK as a teacher involves careful planning, meeting eligibility criteria, and navigating the visa and employment processes. This guide breaks down the steps to help you achieve your dream of teaching in the UK.
In February 2023, the UK government officially launched an opportunity that enables qualified teachers to teach in the UK even if they had their qualification in another country.
For instance, if you have a teaching qualification/experience or are a certified teacher in Nigeria under the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria, TRCN. You can move to the UK to work as a teacher, you will also be able to move with your family/legal partner.
You can apply to become a teacher, school leader (e.g., headteacher or head of department), education support (e.g., teaching assistant or learning cover supervisor), or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) coordinator (e.g., SEND coordinator).
Below are lists of eligible countries & job roles you can apply for.
What you will need to teach in England
If you are already qualified as a teacher in one of the eligible countries, you do not need to retrain to teach in England. You will need to:
Apply for English ‘qualified teacher status’ QTS, or be able to demonstrate strong non-UK qualifications and experience.
QTS is the English Teacher Training that leads to a professional teaching qualification. QTS is a legal requirement to teach in many English schools and is considered desirable for teachers in the majority of schools in England. However, You can work as a teacher in England for up to 4 years without applying for QTS if you are qualified as a teacher in a country outside the UK, or if you have successfully completed a course of teacher training recognised by the organisation that regulates teachers in the country where you qualified.
Having a QTS may increase your chance of getting employed to teach. Click here to read more on how to apply for QTS if you need to.
A high standard of written and spoken English.
The school you want to teach at will screen you on this. They may do this through an assessment system or check your English certificates.
Pass criminal and Professional safeguarding checks (these will be organised by your employer).
In the Uk, there is something called CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) or DBS (Disclosure Barring and Service). It is usually to check an individual’s criminal record to determine their suitability to work with children or vulnerable groups.
Safeguarding on the other hand is a term used in the United Kingdom and Ireland to denote measures to protect the health, well-being and human rights of individuals, which allow people—especially children, young people and vulnerable adults—to live free from abuse, harm and neglect.
These will be organised by your employer.
Usually, you will be asked to provide a criminal record certificate from your country. If you a Nigerian, Police Character Certificate is what you will need. Click here to apply for a POLICE CHARACTER CERTIFICATE in Nigeria.
Below is a list of Subjects you can teach.
Steps Migrate to the UK as a Teacher
The first step to kick start your migration journey as a teacher to the UK is to:
Search and Apply for a Teaching Job in the UK
If eligible, proceed to search and apply for a teaching job in the UK. You can use the links below for your search.
Teaching jobs in Northern Ireland
Before you apply for a teaching job, contact the school to make sure it is a Home Office licensed sponsor. If the school is a sponsor, it can help you apply for your visa. Schools can also apply to the Home Office to become sponsors to employ you.
Need information on how to ace your interview for UK teaching job? Click here.
Apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa
The main visa route for non-UK teachers in England is the Skilled Worker Visa.
After acing your interview and getting a teaching job in the UK. Your employer will issue you an employment letter which contains your contract details and salary information. You will also be assigned a CoS number.
These are some of the documents you will need to apply for your Visa to the UK. You will also need your sponsor license number.
You will only be able to apply for a skilled worker visa if you have a job offer from a school that is a licensed Home Office sponsor.
Eligibility
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:
- work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office.
- have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK.
- do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations.
- be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work you do.
Knowledge of English
You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply. You may need to submit an IELTS result (IELTS GENERAL for UKVI) with your application.
Your salary must meet the requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa – It is not enough to get a teaching job in the UK. The salary must meet up with the minimum salary requirement for different categories as shown in the image below or else your visa application may not be successful.
You could be eligible for a single payment of £10,000 from the UK government to pay back some of your moving expenses, including visa costs and the immigration health surcharge.
Was this information helpful? Kindly drop a comment in the section below. I wish you the best in your application.
Disclaimer: Kindly note that the information supplied in this post is based on information available in public domain & personal experience in the UK. It does not in any way reflect that of an agent/immigration officer.
How are you doing m brother ? My name is Obodo Augustine.I was excited to learn about the High school Mathematics teaching Job positions and how someone can apply.
I have a degree in Mathematics from University of Bolton, England. I also have Professional Diploma in Education. I am currently a mathematics
teacher . I registered with Teachers Registration Council .I have just attained a Qualified Teachers Status (QTS) and met requirement for
employment in Uk. My Teacher Reference number is 2276672. The problem is that I need a Visa sponsorship. Pleases any opportunity,
let me know and I will be willing to relocate as soon as possible. Is difficult but I believe God.
Thanks and God bless you.
Yours faithfully,
Augustine.
Please how can I apply to teach in a nursery school in the UK or Ireland.
I’m a trained and licensed science teacher with over 10 years of experience. I have also been awarded the Qualified Teachers Status. I need recruiting agencies to work with or better still links to schools directly.
Thank you for the detailed explanation.
Hi Faith, I dropped some links in the blog post where you can search for teaching jobs in the UK. You might want to target Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. I am unsure if the following agencies recruit from abroad but you can try them. 1. Monarch Education 2. Teaching Tomorrow
I am a qualified teacher from Nigeria,I have a B ED in language arts in English, IELTS (7 points) and a Teachers registration council of Nigeria license,I teach children in nursery schools.Please how can I apply?
I am a liscenced teacher from Nigeria. Teaching science/ biology for approximately 9years. I’ve been making plans to relocate to UK but that certificate of sponsorship is what am looking for.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. I am currently a teacher in nigeria. I have my qts but getting a job to even apply to is the big problem. They are all asking for NIN. And the sponsorship is majorly for EU countries
Thanks for the explicit update.
Weldone sir
Kindly make your phone number/ WhatsApp number available. I have many questions for which I will need your answers concerning Teaching Job Opportunities in UK.
I am a Nigerian and present living in Nigeria. A teacher by training but presently an administrator in Education Sector.
Thanks and my regards, ma.
Hello Adewale, kindly send me an email via ola@olalekanabiola.com. We can take it from there. Regards.
Nice one please how can I apply
Thus is nice opportunity.Hope it is going to be of a good help to those who are going to apply.And I will be one of those people.Thanks alot
Apply as a french Teacher.