Life as a primary school teacher

Discover how Nicolas Sell, a Year 3 teacher at a school in Doncaster, got into teaching and what a typical school day is like

How did you get into teaching?

I studied music production at university and following years of ordering and expediting for a major airspace manufacturer upon graduation, I decided to take the plunge and pursue a career in teaching.

I completed my primary School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) through the Lincolnshire Training School Alliance (LTSA), gaining PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in 2018. I then completed my Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) year with a school in South Yorkshire. The NQT status has now been replaced with ECT (Early Career Teacher), which covers the first two years of a teacher’s career. There have been many twists and turns along the way but I've loved every minute.

Learn more about the routes into teaching.

What time does the school day begin for a primary teacher?

I wake up for work at 5:15am. I have two slices of toast and a cup of coffee. I get myself ready and have five minutes to myself. Contractually, I'm at school Monday to Friday, from 8.40am until 3.20pm. However, as I'm sure everyone is aware, the reality of the job is a lot different. I try to arrive at school for 7:30am. This gives me a chance to get set up, not feel so rushed and beat the inevitable queue for the photocopier.

How is a primary school teacher's day structured?

Morning lessons are from 8.40am until 12.10pm, and these focus on core subjects. I try and get some books marked during playtime so I don't take them home later. This allows me to assess any children who require further intervention. As much as I would love to assess and give feedback to every child during every activity, it is not always feasible.

Lunchtime is from 12.00pm until 12:45pm. If you can eat and mark at the same time then you're really getting the hang of it. Afternoon lessons take place between 12:45pm and 3.10pm when the children go home. During this time, we cover other areas of the curriculum such as languages, PE, art and topic work. At the end of the day I make myself available to parents who want to drop in for a chat. This is important, as I believe that a strong relationship between school and home is key for ensuring that children are ready to learn and that they are positive about their learning. Find out more about managing classroom behaviour.

What time do you leave school?

I usually leave school between 4pm and 5pm, depending on what I need to get ready for the next day, whether there is a staff meeting or if there are any phone calls I need to make. I have had a couple of really late returns from school trips as a result of bad traffic and coaches breaking down, but these instances are few and far between.

How many hours do you work as a primary school teacher?

I believe that officially there are 1,260 directed school hours to work across just under 200 school days. However, teaching hours can vary wildly and depend entirely on the experience of the teacher and their role within a school. The assumption that a teachers day begins and ends at the same time as the children borders on fallacy.

How much work does a primary school teacher do outside of standard hours?

I get some work done on weekends, but I try to ensure that at least one day over the weekend is completely free. If you can be organised, prioritise your workload and get as much done during the school day as possible then you can achieve the much sought after work/life balance, although this is easier said than done. In this regard I am pleased to say that I have been wonderfully supported by the senior leadership team at school who believe strongly in staff wellbeing. I was even allowed a day off from teaching to focus on writing my school reports.

How do school terms work?

The school year is split into the autumn, spring and summer terms. I have had many 'oh my days' moments during the first few weeks with a new class, but this is normal and the progress made throughout the year never ceases to amaze me. Not just in terms of academic ability but in the children's personal responsibility, resilience and maturity. As much as you pull your hair out during the school year, you always finish it with nothing but fond memories.

The hardest time of year for primary school teachers will differ depending on who you ask. The Autumn term is mostly spent setting boundaries and expectation. The closer you get to Christmas the less likely you are to produce your best work and nativities and plays take over. The end of the Summer term can also be tricky as it’s a transitional time and children’s behaviour can wobble.

The thing that I hear more often than not is, 'it must be great having so many holidays throughout the year'. Well, yes it is. However, a good chunk of this time is spent assessing, completing admin jobs, planning, making resources, progress tracking and writing risk assessment forms. The summer holidays are a great chance to unwind, although the new term and your new class are never far from your thoughts. After all, the seating plans aren't going to write themselves and you really do need to thumb through all the paperwork that has been passed over to you.

What curriculum does your primary school follow?

The school I teach in follows the primary national curriculum with various schemes in place to cover content. The general premise being that the children are given a hook or stimulus for learning, before developing their skills within that particular area. It is really important that the school is consistent in its approach and we have many whole-school policies in place regarding learning, but it is also nice to be able to interject some of your own thoughts, ideas and experiences to proceedings.

As an ECT it can be quite daunting to raise points during a staff meeting but don't be afraid to do so. There is no such thing as a stupid question. While we take our learning seriously, I also like to ensure that my class has lots of fun, at appropriate times, as this gives them many wonderful memories and also helps them retain information. This approach has worked particularly well for me when teaching French and drama.

What are the challenges of being a teacher?

Challenges within the teaching profession are numerous and seemingly never-ending. With all the will in the world you will never reach the end of your to do list, so don't be disheartened when this happens.

There is a lot of pressure and expectation and the hours can be long. You spend your time planning, teaching, worrying or doing a combination of all three. It really is a full-time job in every sense. At times being a primary school teacher can be very stressful. There is a lot of personal and professional responsibility. Ultimately, you are part of a team that is trying to guide and develop well-rounded and solidly-educated members of society.

If you don't have a passion for teaching or love what you do then it can become a grim situation very quickly.

What are the benefits of being a primary school teacher?

You are involved in having a direct impact on the lives of many young people and aiding the many families who make up the school community. It's a wonderful opportunity to work alongside amazing, likeminded people. You also get to go home every day confident that children's lives are being enriched as a direct result of your input. I love seeing or hearing the 'a-ha!' moment when something clicks for a child who has been struggling with their learning is priceless.

There are also lots of opportunities for career progression, job security is good and you get the chance to travel.

What advice do you have for trainee teachers?

My advice to trainee teachers would be to get organised, set high standards and expectations and aim to be a reflective practitioner, for example, think along the lines of 'if X doesn't work, next time I will try Y.'

Find out more

• Discover a primary school teacher's salary, working hours and career and development prospects.
• Read up on a how to become a teacher.
• Search for a PGCE primary course.