Average Teacher Salary around the UK?

[Nirvlime]

I guess this question is a little different from the norm. But yeah, currently I am wanting to be a math teacher on the high school level.

I was wondering how much higher the teacher salary is in the UK compared to the US - or if it is at all.

And since there's a lot of people from the UK on the forums I figured I'd just ask here.

[Richie]

Don't do it, pay is rubbish to be a teacher over here, and there's wayy loads of paperwork and bratty kids, you don't want to do it.

There is a need for teachers but the salary really is not a good point of the job. I'm not sure of the exact figures but it's not brilliant by any stretch of the imagination.

I would personally stick to the US, not sure how good or bad it is but over here it's pretty grim.

[germ1984]

My girlfriends a high school science teacher, and she's currently looking to find a job elsewhere in education - not because of the behaviour of the kids (obviously there are the minority who just try and make her life difficult, but she says teaching the rest is the most rewarding thing about the job), but because of all the paperwork, red tape and government targets that she has to deal with.

To answer your question, I think the starting rate is around £18-20k. :(

[Nirvlime]

Geeze, you make it sound awful, lol. but okay then.

I wasn't really interested in going to the UK anyways. But I thought maybe if they got payed a good but more I'd give it a thought.

What is this speak of paperwork and government red tape? I don't follow. I know nothing about life in the UK except from what the media portrays it as. Which - if it is anything like the way the US is portrayed - is mostly wrong.

[Richie]

Health and Safety, plus you have to track all of the kids' progress to make sure they're hitting thier targets, you're hitting your targets, the school is hitting it's targets - there's so much paperwork, it hinders the teaching. The teachers have to spend so much time planning out lessons to meet the curriculum, doing testing and monitoring students, so much that they can't put as much effort into actually making teaching fun and exciting for the kids, meaning they learn less and... it's just not worth it over here.

[germ1984]

Health and Safety, plus you have to track all of the kids' progress to make sure they're hitting thier targets, you're hitting your targets, the school is hitting it's targets - there's so much paperwork, it hinders the teaching. The teachers have to spend so much time planning out lessons to meet the curriculum, doing testing and monitoring students, so much that they can't put as much effort into actually making teaching fun and exciting for the kids, meaning they learn less and... it's just not worth it over here.

You sound like my gf. :P

[Richie]

My sister is doing early learning years - it's exactly the same. I got all this from her.

[Nirvlime]

Oh okay I got you. We still have to do most of that here but I guess it's not as stressed considering a teacher has never told me not to teach because of all the paperwork.

[germ1984]

It's an absolutely crazy scenario. It's not just education either. The police, NHS, etc. have all been lumbered with these performance targets that this retarded government is so obsessed with. All they actually do is pile on stress and extra work, and the job they're trying to do suffers as a result.

[Nirvlime]

That sounds wild. Shows how little I know about the world around me. Thanks for the heads up. Is it worth the visit at least? lol I will have summer and holidays off ;]

[Richie]

Yes, parts of the UK are nice and it's an experience for sure. But for planning to work here, not so much. I know for sure I want out, this recession's just starting to hit too.

[germ1984]

Yeah, definitely come and visit. It's not all doom and gloom here!

Just don't get a job in the public sector! :D

[Nirvlime]

Haha, okay.

How's Scotland? I've never really felt any urge to leave the continent... but supposedly my last name is from Scottish decent. Thought it'd be nice to check out the area. Always looks beautiful on the television.

[germ1984]

Scotland's always somewhere I've wanted to visit too, particularly the Highlands. Everyone I know whose been says it's much more impressive in the flesh than on the TV.

[Richie]

Not bad, little bit cold and wet I suppose but that applies to the whole of the UK. I'd say definately go, parts of it are really nice.

[Nirvlime]

Yeah, as with everything. Television really shouldn't be a satisfying factor when it comes to beauty.

But yeah, I'll definitely have to check it out sometime. I guess I should let this post die down now since my question has been answered and we're started to drift.