The Now Teach Programme
About this Programme
Now Teach finds and supports career changers in teaching. Now Teachers bring a range of backgrounds and quality experience to the education system. What they share is a passion to do something new, which is challenging and makes a difference to young people. Now Teachers want to give something back to their communities.
Salaried retraining
Programme type
1st Sep 2023 - 00:00 (GMT+1)
Applications Open
1st Feb 2024 - 00:00 (GMT)
Applications Close
Across the UK
Location
Facilitated By
Now Teach
About the Programme
Training support for experienced professionals: career change into teaching, 4 days per week
Applications now open! Starting Summer 2024.
Have you had a long and successful career?
Are you ready for a change and excited by taking on a new challenge?
Do you want to make a real difference, every day, to the life chances of disadvantaged students using your extensive experience and knowledge?
Then join a pioneering movement to change the face of teaching.
The opportunity
Now Teach offers a bespoke recruitment and support programme for experienced professionals who retrain as teachers. The charity offers support and guidance throughout the entire process of becoming a qualified teacher: applying to teach, finding a school placement, succeeding in teacher training and beyond as an NQT.
The Now Teach programme is tailored to later-life career changers who can use the skills and knowledge they’ve developed in their career to inspire students from disadvantaged backgrounds. They will form a support network of likeminded individuals, sharing expertise.
Participants typically train on the job in a secondary school, gain a bursary and work a compressed timetable of 4 days per week. They also have access to regular Now Teach events and workshops which are designed for career changers, and guidance from a Now Teach adviser.
The charity partners with a range of teacher training providers in London, the West Midlands, East Anglia and Hastings. Candidates who would like to teach the shortage subjects of Maths, computer science, languages (French & Spanish), geography and all sciences are particularly encouraged to apply.
To be eligible, you'll need:
- an undergraduate degree and an A level (or equivalent) related to the subject that you wish to teach,
- GCSE (or equivalent) C grades or above in maths and English, and
- to undergo a full DBS check.
*We will endeavour to find you a school but cannot guarantee a place. Priority is given to those who can teach shortage subjects, particularly Maths, Science, Computer Science and Spanish/French.
How Now Teach work with you
Now Teach supports you at each stage of your journey to become a teacher. Our recruitment advisors are experts in guiding you through the process to apply to a teacher training programme. The team support you when applying to courses and may recommend you to some of our affiliate training providers if appropriate. We currently work with 58 training providers in 100 schools.
Whether you found your training place via Now Teach or applied to us alongside a UCAS application a dedicated Programmes Manager will work with you on your first steps in teaching when training to achieve Qualified Teacher Status.
Once qualified, most Now Teachers then stay in the school they trained in but you can move to a different school as a Newly Qualified Teacher. Alongside the network and fellow Now Teachers, we continue to work with you in the first few years of your career.
We do this at no charge to trainees. Our funding comes from the Department for Education and philanthropic sources.
The benefits of a career change into teaching
Older people now make up a larger proportion of the UK’s population than ever before. With a longer working life, many people have a greater opportunity to explore different career paths. And yet whilst many have much more to give, some have felt as though their skills and experience have not always been valued by employers. Now Teach is determined to rectify this by redeploying those skills for the benefit of the next generation. As a network, we have a focus on ensuring our teachers have the opportunity to help students who need it most. We are committed to bridging the Attainment Gap.
Not only do students gain the wisdom and real-world experience that our Now Teachers offer, but our trainees also have an opportunity for an energising new challenge. The skills and experience that you bring, influence schools across the country.
What you should know before applying...
- We are an honest, common-sense organisation designed to support career changers
- There are provider-led or school-based training options
- Bursary up to £26,000 tax-free
- In-school coach/mentor during training
- Access to Now Teach network of teachers and education policy experts
- Conference, Graduation, Teach Meets, Network Sessions, Coaching
- Support and training on completing QTS & NQT
- Opportunity for feedback to DfE on what works in education/teacher training
To Apply
When you click on 'Apply' on our website you will be taken to our Eligibility Form. Once you complete this and providing you meet our criteria, you will receive a link to the application form and an email with your personalised application form link.
If successful at application, we will invite you to an assessment where we will interview you, you will teach a short mock lesson, and you will complete a Subject Knowledge Audit and a piece of self-reflection. The assessment process is instructive - many of our candidates have found that it has given them a greater understanding of their motivations and interest to teach.
If successful at assessment, we will begin the process of matching you to a supportive local school which you will gain some school experience in, and could potentially interview with. We will give you training and guidance before you go into a school. If you are successful at the school interview stage, you will receive an offer of a place to train there as part of the Now Teach programme.
Now Teach alumni
Hundreds of talented and ambitious professionals have decided to change their careers and retrain as teachers. Here are a few of our Now Teach alumni.
Charlotte - From PR to Now Teach Trainee
"My decision to change career and retrain as a teacher has been as much a pull as a push. I’m extremely motivated to do what I can to support young people at a crucial time in their lives. I see young teenagers equally as vulnerable as they are full of promise and potential. I feel many young teenagers from less advantaged backgrounds stand at a crossroads – they could go one way or another. I think bringing into the classroom confident professionals who have successfully navigated the world is a fantastic concept. I have noticed that Now Teach candidates do have a special energy – one that needs bottling! Bringing that sense of positivity and self-confidence to young people must have an impact."
Khasruz - From Corporate Lawyer to Now Teach Trainee
" I have three children – a daughter, aged 12, and twin boys, aged 10. When I told them I was training to become a teacher, one of them exclaimed, “But I thought being a lawyer was a good job and better paid?” Now they ask if I have figured out how to use an interactive white board!
For me, becoming a teacher was also about engaging with the kids outside of lessons. I want to organise work experience and day trips to the City to inspire them. Many of the pupils have never met people like me or even been in an office before. I want to set them on the right path and help them fulfil their aspirations."
David - From Risk Management to Now Teach Trainee
"I’m one of these people with what you’d call a ‘portfolio career’. I came into teaching from running my own business, which was a risk management consultancy, and before that I worked for a large consultancy in southern Africa. After graduating from university I joined the military and spent ten years in the Royal Marines in various capacities, including as a helicopter pilot. I also did an MBA and I have a Masters in Finance so my career has been a pretty mixed bag! I had a successful career and I was half-enjoying what I was doing, but I’d been doing it for a long time. I wanted to do something different. I’d never thought about going into teaching before but then I read about Now Teach in a FT article. That kicked it all off for me.
The greatest value I get from teaching is the giving back. I do feel that I make a difference every day to pupils who are desperate to have people make that difference to them. You know that quite often, you’re probably the most consistent person in that young person’s life. "
Programme FAQs
All your questions should be answered here.
Now Teach is the only teacher recruitment programme specifically designed for experienced career-changers. Recruitment Advisers help participants to secure a training place that suits them and dedicated Programme Managers provide on-going support during the first two years of training.
We match participants with training providers which will welcome the different perspectives and experiences that a previous working life can bring.
We connect them with a network of other experienced professionals who have all decided to retrain as teachers, giving them a ready-made professional network.
We work to ensure they are on a compressed training programme of four days per week, allowing them the flexibility to pursue other commitments or interests.
We ensure candidates who want the highest quality of training gain access it, ensuring Now Teachers have the best possible training
Now Teach participants have carefully considered their interest in becoming a teacher, have experience of secondary schools, and like working with secondary school children. They are credible communicators and passionate about their subject.
The best teachers have a thorough understanding of their subject, whilst being aware of where they need to work on their subject knowledge and teaching skills.
Now Teachers aim to raise the aspirations of all their students regardless of background, so it is essential to have faith and trust in the pupils you teach.
Our participants are trainees and are not expected to be fantastic teachers from their first day. What is essential is that you are willing to learn and improve your teaching practice.
Teachers are learning something new in a new environment, embracing the challenge as well as feedback on your progress is essential.
At the end of the training year, Now Teachers will gain QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) which will allow them to teach in any state school in England. Most training providers enable you to opt-in to a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) which can count towards a Masters. In addition to being a fully qualified teacher, our employment rates are strong and our trainees that want to teach part time secure part time positions. You will also have a strong professional network to help you establish yourself as a second career teacher.
Everyone applying to become a teacher must meet the criteria set by the Department for Education.
You require a GCSE Grade C or above in English and maths and an undergraduate degree (usually at least a second-class degree). If you have overseas qualifications, they must be equivalent to or above. Equivalencies can be provided by NARIC. Please contact Now Teach if you are unsure of this process and we can support.
You will need to have some qualifications in the subject you would like to teach. Usually this will be: 50% of your degree, a good A-level (A/B) or substantial relevant professional experience
We accept applications from non-UK citizens.
If you’re from within the EEA, you can apply if you have permission to work in the UK. For non-EEA citizens, you can currently apply if you are eligible to work in the UK for the duration of the programme. If you have not lived within the EEA for the last three years, you may not be eligible for the bursary.
Now Teach first helps busy career changers navigate the teacher training process and find the teacher training role that is right for you. We place candidates in schools or with training providers which value career changers.
We then provide personalised support throughout your training from a Programme Manager and a network of like-minded trainees made up of other career-changers.
The Now Teach network provides advice, insight and fellowship from fellow career-changers also retraining as teachers. Your dedicated Programme Manager is also on-hand to offer advice and support and organise regular opportunities to collaborate, share and network with the rest of the cohort, giving you time to reflect together outside of the school and training context.
We support you throughout the two years needed to become a fully-qualified teacher. In your first year, you gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) when you complete your initial teacher training. Completing your second ‘induction’ year as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) means you can then teach in any state school.
During your first two years in the network, you will have access to a range of events, wellbeing and career coaches as a programme of support to aid and accelerate in your transition into teaching. These complement your Initial Teacher Training and induction year training, enhancing your progress.
There is not a limit. It is never too late to train. Our oldest Now Teacher is 72. It is important to consider your own personal circumstances. The average age of the cohort is currently 51 with a wide age range.
Self-awareness and reflection are key elements of teacher training. We would recommend anyone considering changing career should reflect on the following questions before applying:
How do you feel about becoming a trainee again?
How do you respond to feedback?
Do you want to work with teenagers?
How do you respond when things don’t go to plan?
How do you think you might manage pupil behaviour?
What experience have you had of schools or other similar organisations?
Consider the change in financial situation carefully
Can you picture yourself as a teacher?
