How to become a Teacher - Primary

Personal requirements for a Teacher - Primary

Enjoy working with children
Creative and organised
Patient in dealing with students of differing abilities
Able to communicate simply and clearly
Prepared to work outside of school hours
Diligent and confident

Education & Training for a Teacher - Primary

To become a primary school teacher you usually have to complete a degree in primary education or primary school teaching. Alternatively, you can undertake a postgraduate qualification specialising in primary education after completing a degree with relevant study areas. To get into the degree courses you usually need to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English and mathematics are normally required. Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.

Additional information

Before undertaking practical placements required by courses, students will need to obtain a Working with Children Check. A National Police Certificate may also be required. You will need to register with the teaching board in your state or territory. Teachers are required by mandatory reporting laws to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.

Duties & Tasks of a Teacher - Primary

Primary school teachers:

Prepare daily and longer-term lesson plans in accordance with curriculum guidelines
Teach a full range of learning areas, including English (reading, writing, speaking and listening), mathematics, science, technology, society and environment, creative arts, personal development, health and physical education
Develop children's interests, abilities and coordination using creative activities such as art, music and sport
Use computers to assist with lesson preparation, teaching and reporting
Develop and maintain good working habits and discipline in classrooms
Carry out administrative duties
Supervise students during classes and at other times in the school day, including in the playground during breaks
Attend staff meetings and other training and development sessions
Take part in joint decision-making about educational issues
Assess and evaluate students' progress in written and oral work
Discuss students' progress and concerns with parents and administrators
Assist with and organise sporting activities, school concerts and excursions
Prepare for and attend parent-teacher interviews and other functions.

Tasks

Guiding discussions and supervising work in class
Presenting prescribed curriculum using a range of teaching techniques and materials
Performing extra-curricular tasks such as assisting with sport, school concerts, excursions and special interest programs
Maintaining class and scholastic records
Teaching literacy, numeracy, social science, creative expression and physical education skills to primary school students
Maintaining discipline in classrooms and other school areas
Discussing individual progress and problems with students and parents, and seeking advice from Student Counsellors and senior teachers
Developing students' interests, abilities and coordination by way of creative activities
Preparing, administering and marking tests, projects and assignments to evaluate students' progress and recording the results
Supervising student teachers on placement
Participating in staff meetings, educational conferences and workshops
Liaising with parent, community and business groups

Working conditions for a Teacher - Primary

Primary school teachers need to continually update their subject knowledge and teaching methods through private study and professional development activities. With further training and experience, they may be promoted to a position of educational leadership, such as primary school principal.

Employment Opportunities for a Teacher - Primary

Competition for positions in metropolitan schools is very strong. Teachers should be prepared to move to areas of need (rural areas, for example) to secure a job or obtain promotion to senior positions. Once employed, prospects for advancement can be enhanced by obtaining higher qualifications.

Specializations

Teacher Librarian - Primary

A teacher librarian - primary manages the school's learning resources in addition to undertaking the duties of a teacher. Teacher librarians play a key role in teaching cross-curricular skills in information literacy and provide professional development for other teachers. They help students to seek, critically evaluate, synthesise and present information using a range of resources and information technologies. They expose students to a variety of genres (writing styles) in print and digital formats, and promote the best quality literature and authors to reflect different cultures and themes. Teacher librarians ensure the library resource centre is multi-functional and a focal point for student learning.

Aboriginal Education Teacher (Primary)

An aboriginal education teacher (primary) teaches specially designed programmes to Indigenous primary school students.

Teacher - Primary

Primary school teachers educate primary school children by planning and conducting an education programme to develop literacy and numeracy, as well as the physical, emotional, intellectual and social growth of their students. Primary school teachers are usually trained to teach the whole curriculum. Some undertake further studies to become specialist primary teachers who develop and teach programmes for students with special needs, rural and isolated children or children for whom English is a second language. In some schools, primary school teachers teach languages other than English if they have the appropriate qualifications, skills and experience.

Average age
39
Future Growth
Neutral
Gender Share
84% female
Average full-time
45 hours
Weekly Pay
$2,000
Skill level rating
Very high skill
Unemployment
Lower unemployment
Full-Time Share
64%
Employment Size
161,700
Employment by state
ACT: 1.7%
NSW: 31.1%
NT: 1.0%
QLD: 20.2%
SA: 7.1%
TAS: 2.1%
VIC: 26.0%
WA: 10.8%
Age brackets
15-19: 0.1%
20-24: 5.6%
25-34: 28.7%
35-44: 25.4%
45-54: 20.8%
55-59: 10.2%
60-64: 6.7%
65 and Over: 2.5%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 7.1%
Bachelor degree: 68.9%
Below Year 10: 0%
Certificate III/IV: 0.3%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 22.2%
Year 10 and below: 0.1%
Year 11: 0.1%
Year 12: 1.2%
Years 11 & 10: 0%