Work for Now Teach
Introduction to Now Teach
Are you looking for a new challenge and a way to give something back? Changing career to teaching could be for you.
Now Teach are looking for people who have spent years becoming great at their job and who are now ready for a change.
They support experienced professionals to change their career and retrain as secondary school teachers, who then take their unique experiences into the classroom – benefiting children across the UK.
Now Teachers values and skills:
- Experienced: You’ve worked hard, achieved lots and can talk about the impact you’ve made.
- Driven: You care about your work and are committed to delivering quality.
- Self-aware: You’ve faced tough challenges and know how to overcome them while staying balanced and effective.
- Clear: You know how to explain new ideas and make complicated things seem quite simple.
- Committed: You want to teach and develop young people’s potential.
Changing career with Now Teach provides you with expert advice and guidance as you apply for teacher training courses, and then two years of continuous 1-1 support and development as you train and qualify as a teacher.
Additionally, you will have access to the Now Teach Network – a community of like-minded career changers who are going through or have been through the same process as you, providing each other
with support and sharing experiences.
Read about successful Now Teaches and their journeys here.
A typical week as a trainee teacher in the Now Teach Network would include:
- Teaching your chosen subject to a full class
- Lunch and breaktime duties around the school
- Marking and preparing lessons
- Out of school training sessions
- Evening network session with your fellow Now Teachers
Changing career isn’t for everyone but if you know someone who is ready for a new challenge and would make a great teacher, let them know about Now Teach.
Find out more about Now Teach and how they can help you here.
Why we’re working with Rest Less
‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ We probably all remember being asked this when we were children.
It’s a reasonable question but it implies two things. It suggests that we reach a point when we have ‘grown up’ and that once we get there our careers are suddenly secure, stable and fulfilling.
However Now Teach is based on the idea that this is an outdated view of the way our lives pan out. We are all living longer. We all know the problems of an ageing population, but we forget to tell ourselves the good news: we are astonishingly lucky in that we can expect so many more years of life than our ancestors.
A whole new generation has silently appeared. They are not young, but they are most certainly not old. We want these people to embrace the idea that after decades in one line of work, it is desirable to retrain. We want to bring their skills and experience to those who could most benefit from them.
Through our work with Restless, we aim to realise this vision to attract and retain teachers in the UK.
Find your perfect opportunity at Now Teach today
Ready for change? Hear what Now Teachers have to say
David Butler - 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. Before that, I’d worked for a large consultancy, been in the military, studied for an MBA and a Masters in Finance.
I was half-enjoying what I was doing, but I wanted to do something different. I read about Now Teach in a FT article and that kicked it all off for me.
Making a difference
I teach physics so I like doing the whole mad scientist thing and introducing kids to science. I get nice little notes from them about how much they enjoyed the class and some of the comments are just brilliant, but that was a standout moment for me.
Being a positive role model
The greatest value I get from teaching is 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.
I’m a role model. I’m mixed race and 80% of the people at Walworth are ethnic minorities. They’re looking for people who look like them and can tell a similar story to them who have been successful. They can grab onto that. And I make no bones about it, I am strict. Kids need to have boundaries and they like having them, although they will push them!
Emma Barker - from Journalist to Now Teach Trainee
At 51, I was diagnosed with the neurological condition attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This made me look back at my career choices and I realised I wanted to find a job that gave back in some way. I’d been a lifestyle editor on The Times and then a freelance journalist and author.
Finding support from your peers
In my first placement, I found teaching impossible to pick up. But in my second, I had a really good tutor, which made all the difference.
Meeting other Now Teachers leaves you invigorated as you realise everyone’s dealing with some sort of challenge. Only they can understand what you are going through and I’ve made some good friends.
The teenage years are such an important development stage, so you realise your role as a teacher is vital. It’s hugely rewarding and working with young people is very energising. After working in an office for years I was attracted by the fact I’d be up on my feet for five periods a day.
Giving children the best opportunity in life
Down the line, I hope to get more involved in careers. While it’s important to get the best exam results, in the world of work character, politeness, respect for others are of equal importance if they’re to get good jobs. I want all my pupils to have the best opportunity in life through education or work.
Jane Leighton - changing careers at 50
It was turning 50 that made me reconsider my career. My children had grown up, and I’d been working in local authorities running cultural and regeneration projects for many years. I couldn’t see myself doing it for another 20 years – I needed a fresh challenge. There were lots of adverts around for teacher training so it started an internal niggle.
Initially I really lacked confidence in believing I could actually be a teacher, so the support from Now Teach during the application process was fantastic. When someone said, “We think you can teach,” it was brilliant and gave me the confidence to go on.
Learning how to be a teacher
It’s very early days with teaching, as I’ve only taught a handful of classes so far, but I’m enjoying it. I’ve got a Year 8 class and they’re being very kind and obedient with me. But it’s far more complicated than it looks! Good teachers make it look easy, but I’ve got a great mentor and tutor who give me a lot of their time and support.
Rediscovering love of a subject
Another thing that’s been brilliant is rediscovering Maths. I wanted to teach Maths because it’s a really important subject and having the opportunity to go back to something I dropped 30 years ago, I feel very lucky.
To anyone considering teaching, I’d say don’t be put off by certain subjects just because you didn’t do a degree in that subject. If there’s something you particularly want to teach, find out how you can go about it. And I completely recommend Now Teach.
Now Teach brand values
People who join the Now Teach programme will:
- Believe that every child deserves a great education regardless of their background.
- Want to do something that matters, and be prepared to spend a lot of time and energy doing it.
- Want to teach a subject that you love and re-immerse yourself in it; teaching children to like it as much as you do.
- Be open to working with colleagues who may be twenty or thirty years younger than you, and be able to take instruction from them.