If you are searching for a new teaching role or ready to move into Leadership, you will be well versed in the ways of TES Jobs and it’s never-ending supply of school vacancies. However, casting your net a little further can pay dividends; using the less frequented teaching job websites can lead to a more focussed and efficient result. The following websites are big enough to attract 1000s of vacancies but offer niche or refined approaches to finding your next job.
Teaching Jobs Websites other than TES Jobs
During my time as a teacher and school leader, I was always interested in maintaining an eye on the roles that interested me in other institutions. It was only a few years into my career that I realised there was more to life than TES and it’s vast job library. Most of the following sites are ones I have used during my own career to find teaching jobs. When you are looking for a new role, I recommend taking the time to explore each one.
School Vacancies
Government Teaching Vacancy Service – Did you know the UK Government ran it’s own teaching vacancy website? The search functionality is incredibly streamlined, so if you know you want to work in a particular city or are prospecting for roles in a specific region, this is a great place to start. It’s a Government-run website so it is well maintained and runs smoothly. I like the presentation of vacancies; displayed with pertinent information and a map of the location, along with the process required for an application.
eTeach – Smaller than TES Jobs, but I found the focus of eTeach to be a benefit. Personally, I have found it easier to find roles on eTeach and their sister sites simply because I am not wading through as many unsuitable options. Don’t be surprised if you find something on eTeach you had previously overlooked on TES; absolutely worth a second-look!
Further Education Vacancies
FEJobs – Have you considered a move into Further Education? TES Jobs does list some FE vacancies but FE Jobs is the specialist in this field. Prior to my career in Secondary Schools I had an enjoyable time Lecturing in FE. I found that I had more opportunity to develop my subject expertise and was also given space my College Leadership to make the right decision based on the context of my subject and students. If I was to return to teaching it would be in Further Education. The drawbacks tend to be that salaries are unpredictable, although I earned more in FE and progressed fast than if I had followed my PGCE colleagues straight into school.
Higher Education Vacancies
Jobs.ac.uk – A powerful search engine for Jobs in Higher Education. University roles are a blind spot for many teaching jobs websites so this is a useful site if you are considering Lecturing or a role away from teaching. I found that the search tends to be somewhat overwhelming and this isn’t helped by the fact that non-teaching roles tend to have institution-specific names; meaning if you don’t know what you are looking for you have to trawl through 100s of listings. That said, it is a great place to start if you are thinking of leaving regular classroom teaching.
Importantly, take time to make sure the school is a right fit. Job adverts and initial visits tend to give fantastic impressions and it is important to be critical whilst not letting the fear of moving roles affect you. There are some fantastic schools in the UK that nurture and develop their staff. Take time to enjoy the process of finding different teaching jobs that excite and promise a positive future!
The Resignation Process
Finding a new job is the fun bit; handing in your notice is the stressful part! If you are unclear about the process regarding the resignation process in schools, I have put together a handy list of Frequently Asked Questions. Remember to plan ahead as resignation dates restrict the timeframes you can provide your letter of resignation. You can download a Free Template Resignation Letter to help speed up the process, and remove one admin task.
Looking for a different challenge?
If you think it’s time to quit teaching and find a role in a different industry, I recognise how challenging that can be! I have put together a list of great websites that ex-teachers (or those ready to leave) can find new and exciting roles! The websites listed above also provide plenty of non-teaching vacancies; I particularly recommend spending some time picking through the Jobs.ac.uk Student Support roles as they fulfill a lot of the enjoyable things about being a teacher, without the workload challenges.
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