Get the best of both worlds.
Part-time or flexible contracts are available, so you can continue to work in the industry you love whilst sharing your skills in further education.
Learn to teach, while you teach.
You don’t always need a prior teaching qualification or an academic degree to get started. Plus you can complete teacher training on the job, so you can start earning right away.
Train up the next generation of workers.
Passing on your knowledge and experience to future talent can be hugely rewarding and give you the opportunity to shape the future of your industry’s workforce.
What is further education?
Further education is any formal learning for those aged 16 and over that is not an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. This includes a huge range of courses and qualifications, from work-based training in plumbing, manufacturing or health care, to academic qualifications in subjects like English or maths.
Learners can range from those who have just finished their GCSEs to adults of all ages looking for a career change or to follow a passion. Lessons don’t just take place in the classroom. Instead, teaching in further education is varied and can take place in workshops, on-site or anywhere that allows learners to get hands-on experience in their field.
What can I teach?
Select a sector below to get an idea of what you could teach.
Accounting, Business & Law
Your skills could help shape the next generation of accountants, entrepreneurs or lawyers. Combined with your own unique, real-world experience, you’ll give your learners the core skills and knowledge they need to enter their chosen profession.
From teaching the fundamentals of law or business to helping your learners develop their skills in project management, research or data analytics, your industry experience can be applied to a wide range of different topics. You’ll even help your learners to gain a good understanding of the business environment, professionalisms or industry regulations.
Courses include:
- Accounting & Finance
- Business Studies
- Management & Administration
- Law & Legal Services
Construction
Teaching construction courses within further education is far from a traditional classroom experience. You could teach in workshops or on-site locations, helping your learners to develop the hands-on, practical skills you’ve gained within your trade – whether that’s in bricklaying, plumbing, carpentry or other areas of construction.
You could even teach courses in specialist topics such as bathroom installation or shop fitting, as well as more general skills such as on-site health and safety.
Courses include:
- Carpentry
- Electrical Installation
- Plastering
- Plumbing
Digital & IT
Whether you’re a software developer, web designer or IT technician, you could teach a wide range of digital courses. From teaching specialist skills like coding, software design or network cabling, to helping learners analyse problems, plan digital projects or work collaboratively in a digital environment, your skills are valuable within further education.
You could also help learners gain a broader understanding of the digital world, such as how technologies impact business, emerging digital trends, or the ethical implications of tech advances. Courses in basic IT skills are also available, helping people in your local community to gain the essential digital skills they need for work and everyday life.
Courses include:
- Basic IT User Skills
- Coding
- Computer Science
- Data Analysis
- Software Development
Engineering & Manufacturing
Teaching engineering or manufacturing within further education is hugely varied. You could teach a wide range of occupation-specific, practical courses like mechanical or electrical engineering, fabrication or welding technologies or vehicle maintenance. There are even more specialised courses like watch repair, dairy manufacturing, or aeronautical engineering.
In addition to core skills, you could also help your learners to develop a broad understanding of your relevant sector, including what it’s like to work in engineering or manufacturing, how materials and conditions can influence designs or processes, essential mathematics, or business and commercial awareness.
Courses include:
- Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
- Fabrication and Textiles
- Food Manufacturing
- Motor Vehicle Maintenance
- Welding
Health & Social Care
From teaching human anatomy in the classroom to developing your learners’ bedside manner in a simulated workplace, there are lots of opportunities to bring your experience of working in health and social care into further education.
Your skills and knowledge will help prepare learners for work in a range of different health specialisms, including working in adult social care, in a midwifery team or as ambulance support. You could also share your expertise on how to handle personal information or support health and wellbeing, or give real-world insight about what it’s like to work in the sector.
Courses include:
- Child or Adult Social Care
- Counselling and Mental Health
- Dental Nursing
- Emergency Care
- Sports Therapy
Other
Whether it’s the likes of agriculture, hospitality or childcare, there are hundreds of other work-based courses available in a wide range of different sectors. If you’ve got industry experience and a passion for sharing your skills, there’s likely a course out there for you to teach.
You can also teach academic subjects in further education like English and maths, as well as subjects like languages, art or science.
To view the full list of subject areas you can teach in FE, visit gov.uk
Courses include:
- Agriculture
- Catering and Hospitality
- Childcare and Education
- Creative and Design
- Maths and English
Join one of the many part-time teachers in further education.
Teaching on a part-time contract is quite common in further education. Whatever your schedule there’ll be an option that works for you, whether that’s full-time, part-time alongside your current job, or a few hours a week.
The Basics.
Often teaching in further education is far from your traditional classroom set-up, taking place in workshops or on-site locations that replicate real working environments. As a further education teacher you could teach a diverse set of learners, from young people to adults.
For more information on the different types of further education providers, visit gov.uk/guidance/teach-in-further-education
Further education providers are independent, so salaries and benefits vary depending on the provider, course or local area. Every provider will have their own unique benefits package to offer, however an average salary for a further education teacher ranges from £24,000 to £40,000.
For more information on financial benefits, holidays and working hours visit gov.uk/guidance/teach-in-further-education
Yes, absolutely. You can teach in further education alongside your current job. Flexible contracts are readily available with opportunities to teach part-time, in the evening or even at the weekend
Find out more about what it’s like to teach in further education and how industry professionals like you have taken advantage of the flexibility it brings.
Some providers may give you the opportunity to do funded training while you work for them. This would mean that you get paid while you complete your further education teacher training.
- For more information on training whilst on the job, visit gov.uk/guidance/teach-in-further-education
- If you want to train to be a further education teacher before you apply for a job, then you may be eligible for financial support whilst training.
For more information on financial support whilst training, visit gov.uk/guidance/teach-in-further-education
Contact our advisers
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our dedicated support team. They’re on hand with any information you need on teaching in further education, as well as one-to-one advice on how to get there. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm.
