Early Career Teaching Jobs

Justteachers has been supporting Early Career Teachers / Newly Qualified Teachers for over ten years and continues to provide essential advice, encouragement and options to our ECTs. We specialise in placing you into the right schools, whether it be for permanent, long-term or supply teaching roles, by getting to know you and your preferences.

We understand that ECTs (both BA QTS and PGCE qualified) can often feel reluctant to apply for permanent jobs in an unfamiliar school. Through our experience, many ECTs prefer to hear about day-to- day or short-term contracts in the first year or longer, so that they can build up their experience within local schools without a permanent commitment.

Although statistics suggest that one in six teachers in England quit after just a year in the classroom, improved working conditions introduced by recent government initiatives, such as flexible working and part time contracts, have been viewed positively by teaching staff.

Increasing opportunities for flexible working may have a huge role in retaining teachers in the profession, which is why supply teaching is a favourable route many ECTs take. Many find that the variety of working within different schools allows them the freedom to experience different SLT styles, pupil needs and culture. This allows them the time to  shortlist which schools they would be well suited to a permanent role, should the opportunity arise.

Whatever your preference, it is important to know that justteachers can provide you with options.

Supply Work

• Builds on your experience within different school settings and with different pupils
• Allows you to test the landscape by assessing the schools and the culture fit without a long-term commitment
• Undertake a variety of roles (many exclusive) to build upon your confidence
• Offers a great degree of flexibility- you decide when to work and where

Long-Term Roles

• Gauge if the school is the right fit for you – allowing you time to settle in to the environment without a permanent commitment
• Gain valuable references
• Receive a regular and reliable income
• Suitable positions could count towards your induction

Don’t feel quite ready to commence a teaching role?

A favourable route into teaching for many ECTs who wish to gain more classroom experience, is to undertake Support Work roles (either on supply or longer-term basis), such as HLTA, TA or Cover Supervisor roles. This enables you to build upon your existing knowledge, gain hands-on experience in the classroom and can act, once you are comfortable, as a stepping stone to securing a permanent teaching position. We are also finding that many final year students are keen to take on support roles on a day to day basis to add to their portfolio of experience.