How to Work and Immigrate to the UK as a Teacher?

What Subjects are Teacher Shortages in the UK?

Subjects for teachers needed in the UK are:

• Mathematics
• Sciences (especially Physics and Chemistry)
• Computing
• Modern Foreign Languages (such as French, Spanish, and German)
• Design and Technology
• Geography
• Business Studies

How to Immigrate to the UK as a Teacher?

To work as a teacher in the UK, you must go through this comprehensive process:

1. Checking Your Qualifications
2. Obtaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
3. Securing a Job Offer
4. Obtaining a UK Skilled Worker Visa
5. Planning Your Relocation
6. Registering with the UK Teaching Agencies

Step 1. Checking Your Qualifications

First, ensure that your teaching qualifications are recognized in the UK. Teaching in the UK with foreign qualifications requires a credential assessment by the UK ENIC to confirm they meet UK standards.

To start teaching in the UK as a foreigner, you must ensure your teaching qualifications are recognized in the UK by the UK ENIC. First, ask yourself: What qualifications do I need to be a teacher in the UK? You must have:

• Copies of your degree or certification that qualifies you as a teacher
• Records from your educational institution showing your courses and grades
• Proof of identity like a passport or national ID card
• Teaching license or certifications from your home country
• Letters or certificates of work experience from previous employers. Typically, UK schools prefer at least 2-3 years of experience.
• English language proficiency proof
  • IELTS: A minimum score of around 6.5 to 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.0 in each component
  • TOEFL: An overall score of at least 72
  • PTE Academic: A score of at least 36, with at least 36 in each component.
  • Trinity College London ISE: ISE I (B1) or higher

Note:

• If your documents are not in English, you’ll need to provide officially translated versions.
• If you have a degree taught in English, it must be verified through UK ENIC. It can serve as sufficient proof of your language ability.

Now that you know the requirements to work as a teacher in the UK, let us tell you how to qualify as a teacher in the UK:

1. Choose the right service. UK ENIC offers different types of services. Choose the one that fits you best:
   1. Standard Service is for teachers who do not require immediate verification. It takes up to 15 working days.
   2. Fast Track Service is for teachers who need their documents verified quickly. It takes 5 working days.
   3. 24-Hour Service is for teachers who are in urgent need of their statement. It takes 24 hours.
2. Go to the UK ENIC website and create a new account. You must provide your personal information, set up a login, and verify your email address.
3. Input details about your qualifications and fill out the application form online through your account.
4. Upload the scanned copies of your qualifications directly through the online platform.
5. Pay the fee
6. Standard service is around £49.50. 48-hour service costs around £144. 24-hour service costs about £180.
7. UK ENIC will begin processing your documents and qualifications and compare them to UK standards.
8. UK ENIC will issue a Statement of Comparability. You can use it to show your employers or educational institutions that your qualifications have UK equivalency.

Step 2. Obtaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Having QTS is not mandatory if you want to immigrate to the UK as a teacher. However, it can significantly enhance your employment chances. If you want it, you can apply for QTS through the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA). Here’s how to do it:

1. Ensure you have a degree from a higher education institution and a recognized teacher training qualification.
2. Gather your qualification certificates, academic transcripts, proof of identity, and a criminal record check from your home country.
3. Apply through the TRA via the UK government’s official website. Complete the application form and upload all required documents.
4. For qualifications from outside the UK, you might need to undergo an assessment period. Read more about it below.
5. After assessment, the TRA will award you the QTS. The assessment typically takes about 3 months. It costs approximately £2,000 to £4,000.

Note:

If your teaching qualifications aren’t from the UK, you might have to go through an assessment period. This is known as the Assessment Only Route to QTS. It allows experienced teachers who already meet teaching standards to gain QTS without a full teacher training program. Eligibility for the QTS requires candidates to hold a degree and possess substantial teaching experience across various age and ability ranges. Additionally, this pathway is designed for those who have not previously completed a standard initial teacher training course.

Step 3. Securing a Job Offer

To immigrate to the UK as a teacher, look for UK teacher recruitment opportunities. Start by preparing a strong CV that highlights your qualifications, teaching experience, and any relevant skills. Use online job portals and recruitment agencies or apply directly through the UK government’s official teaching vacancies. You can also attend job fairs and reach out to schools directly.

Job Searching Websites

• Teach Away
• Guardian Jobs
• Times Educational Supplement (TES)
• Indeed
• LinkedIn

Recruitment Agencies

• Engage Education
• Teaching Personnel
• Tradewind Recruitment
• Capita Education
• Randstad Education

Step 4. Obtaining a UK Skilled Worker Visa

With a job offer from a UK school, you can apply for a visa opportunity for teachers in the UK (UK Skilled Worker Visa). To complete the UK teacher visa route, you must:

1. Ensure your UK employer is a licensed sponsor. They must be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Your job offer must include this certificate.
2. Verify that you meet the salary requirement. It is typically at least £26,500 per year or the appropriate rate for the job offered, whichever is higher.
3. Gather your documents:
   1. Your passport or other valid travel documents
   2. Proof of your knowledge of English
   3. The Certificate of Sponsorship reference number from your employer
   4. Financial proof that you can support yourself. You must have at least £1,270. You can use bank statements or other proof. If your employer can cover your costs for the first month, this assurance must be noted in your Certificate of Sponsorship.
4. Complete the visa application form online on the UK government’s official visa and immigration website.
5. Skilled worker visas for teachers in the UK can cost from £610 to £1,408, and the healthcare surcharge is approximately £624 per year.
6. Provide your fingerprints and a photograph at a visa application center.
7. Attend an interview, if required, and answer questions about your application.
8. Your UK teacher visa application will be processed, and you will receive a decision. It typically takes about 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK or 8 weeks if applying from inside the UK.

Step 5. Planning Your Relocation

Before you immigrate to the UK as a teacher, you must plan your relocation. It involves:

• Well-known banks include Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, NatWest, and Santander.
• Popular websites are Rightmove, Zoopla, Spareroom, Gumtree, and OpenRent.
• Health Insurance. Famous providers include Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva, and Cigna.
• Cost of living: Living costs in London range from £1,200, excluding rent. Rent outside of London is usually cheaper, ranging from £800 to £1,500 per month.
• Familiarizing yourself with local culture. Engage with community events, join local groups or clubs, and explore local media.
• Familiarizing yourself with the UK curriculum by visiting the Department for Education’s website, and consider joining professional networks for teachers such as the National Education Union or the Chartered College of Teaching.

Step 6. Registering with the UK Teaching Agencies

After you immigrate to the UK as a teacher, you must ask the question: “How to register as a teacher in the UK?” Teacher registrations include:

Register with the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)

This registration ensures you are recognized in England and can be legally employed. To register, you must apply online via the TRA’s official website and provide your personal details, qualifications, a statement of comparability, and any details of teaching experience. Currently. It is free.

Apply for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

It is not mandatory for all teaching positions, but it allows you to take up teaching positions in state schools in England. If you didn’t apply before moving, you can apply through the TRA after arriving in the UK. It involves submitting your credentials and maybe going through an assessment period. The fee ranges from approximately £2,000 to £4,000.

Update or Register for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

A DBS allows you to work with children. You can apply for a DBS check online, or your employer might arrange this for you. Obtain a new DBS check if you have one from another country. The fee is approximately £23, but an enhanced DBS check costs about £40.

Enroll in the Update Service (Optional but recommended)

With the Update Service, you don’t have to reapply for your DBS certificates, and prospective employers can check your certificate online with your consent. Within 30 days of getting your DBS check, you can sign up for this service. There’s a £13 annual fee for the Update Service.