The Smart Choice

From University to the Classroom

Graduate Jobs in Schools

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Years of Experience In Recruitment

Built on Recruitment Experience. Focused on Education.

If you have just finished your degree — or you already hold Qualified Teacher Status — we help you find the right first role in a school. That might be a teaching post, a training placement, or a support role such as teaching assistant or cover supervisor. We recruit for permanent jobs and temporary cover across England, and we support candidates UK-wide.

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Smart Education Recruitment

Roles We help graduates Into

Classroom Teacher

For graduates with QTS (and, in most maintained schools in England, a post that includes the two-year Early Career Teacher Entitlement). Subject and phase must match the vacancy. Academies sometimes advertise instructor or unqualified teacher posts; we will tell you if a role does not require QTS.

Early Career Teacher (ECT)

For graduates with QTS (and, in most maintained schools in England, a post that includes the two-year Early Career Teacher Entitlement). Subject and phase must match the vacancy. Academies sometimes advertise instructor or unqualified teacher posts; we will tell you if a role does not require QTS.

Teaching Assistant

Supporting teaching and learning in class, in small groups or 1:1. A degree is not always required, but graduates are often welcomed, especially where the school wants subject knowledge or a candidate who may later train to teach.

Cover Supervisor

Supervising classes when the teacher is absent, following set work. A common first paid role in school for graduates who want classroom experience before or during teacher training.

Unqualified Teacher or Instructor

Used in some schools, particularly academies, where you teach under the school’s structure while you work towards QTS. Pay sits on the unqualified scale unless the school sets its own rate.

Other School Roles

Pastoral support, exams, technicians, tutors and similar posts where a degree and the right manner with young people matter. We treat these as education roles, not generic admin.

How We Help

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A short conversation about your degree, any QTS or training, the age group you want, and whether you need permanent work, temporary cover, or either

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Clear advice if a vacancy needs QTS and you do not have it yet

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Temporary bookings that can become a longer-term or permanent post when both sides want that

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Roles in high schools and other school settings that match what you can actually do

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Screening and compliance support so you are ready for a school’s Single Central Record

How it works – Our Process

Step-01

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Send your CV

Include your degree, GCSE grades in English and maths (and science if relevant), QTS or training status, and the work you want.

Step-02

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Onboarding conversation

We confirm phase, subject, location, contract type and when you can start.

Step-03

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Matching with schools

We introduce you where the fit is real — not every vacancy on the market.

Step-04

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Checks, start date and support

We help you through the pre-employment checks and stay in touch after you start.

What to have ready

If anything is still coming through from university, say so. We would rather time the application than send an incomplete file to a school.

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CV and ID

QTS certificate or teacher reference number, if you have one

GCSE evidence for English, maths and (for primary) science

DBS information if you already hold an enhanced certificate

Degree certificate or transcript

Training provider details, if you are on an ITT course

Right-to-work documents

Frequently Asked Questions For Graduates

Do I need QTS to work in a school?

You need QTS for most teaching posts in maintained schools in England. You do not need QTS to work as a teaching assistant or cover supervisor. Some academies advertise instructor or unqualified teacher roles; we will say when QTS is required.

I have a degree but I have not trained as a teacher. Can you still help?

Yes. We can look at support roles, cover supervisor posts and, where the school allows it, unqualified or instructor teaching. We can also talk through the main training routes to QTS.

I have QTS. What happens in my first two years?

In England you complete a two-year Early Career Teacher induction, with a mentor, time off timetable and formal assessment against the Teachers’ Standards. We look for schools that can support that properly.

Can I take temporary work first?

Yes. Supply or fixed-term cover is a common way to start, build references and then move into a permanent post.

Do I need experience in a school already?

It helps, but it is not always essential for support roles or for ECT posts. If you have no school experience, say so, we will not put you into a teaching vacancy that expects a full classroom track record.

Is there a fee to register?

No. Candidates register free.

What checks will I need?

Identity, right to work, enhanced DBS, children’s barred list where the role is regulated activity, a prohibition-from-teaching check if you will do teaching work, references, and overseas checks if you have lived or worked abroad.