Change career into teaching

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Over half of the trainees joining Astra each year are career switchers.

While the journey into teaching is not without difficulties, there are also plenty of rewards:

The chance to work in a role that makes a tangible difference to the lives of children and young people
The energy, enthusiasm and eager expectation of working with pupils in the classroom
A role that let's you share your passion for your subject, especially in secondary and the opportunity, too, to refresh your subject expertise
A high chance of gaining employment at the end of your training
Over twelve weeks of holiday (including Bank Holidays)

With our experience of working with career changers, we are able to offer support and advice, at all stages from your initial contact with us through to leaving the course and gaining employment as a teacher.

Support for career changers

Training with Astra we are able to offer the support, challenge and encouragement you'll need to enter the teaching profession, including:

A community of like-minded people, many of whom have made the decision to switch careers, in a mature and professional training environment
Access to professional coaching
Working alongside mentors and tutors who have switched careers into teaching
School-based placements from the outset, enabling you to experience real teaching from the start through a supportive course design
A carefully planned course to help you manage your conflicting priorities
Specialist advice and guidance when it comes to applying for a role in teaching
Part time routes available

Training days normally take place on a Wednesday and generally are timed to run from 9.00am to 4.00pm. There are occasional additional training days on a Tuesday. Primary trainees also have seven twilight sessions on Tuesdays, which run from 4.00pm to 6.00pm

Now Teach: tailored support for career changers

Update: July 2024 - Now Teach is continuing to recruit trainees to work alongside and will be recruiting up to 250 trainees to support through training from September 2025.

Astra is a partner of Now Teach, an organisation supporting experienced people to make a successful transition into teaching Now Teach logo through offer additional events and resources tailored to the needs of career changers. Further details can be found at https://nowteach.org.uk/, with event details being advertised here: https://nowteach.org.uk/now-teach-events/ . This leaflet also explains more.

The sooner someone joins, the sooner they can start to benefit from the Now Teach support, including access to monthly school insight webinars, an onboarding hub and regular opportunities to talk to each other and Now Teachers from previous years.

Now Teach recruit on the following criteria:

Motivation to teach and be part of the Now Teach career-change network, actively engaging with their offer
Career experience: Now Teachers are talented individuals who bring fresh perspectives from industry, business and other sectors into schools. The average age of a Now Teacher is late 40s, and they have members in their early 30s and some in their late 60s.

Incoming career-change trainees who would benefit from being part of Now Teach can apply by either completing the EOI on their website and selecting 'I already have an ITT placement' or emailing Jo.Holmes@nowteach.org.uk, letting her know you are an Astra trainee.