Daily life as a Further Education teacher
You might be used to working in a trade on a building site, or you could have experience working day-to-day in a traditional office space. Teaching in Further Education can take place in many different environments, not just in a classroom.
On this page you can find information about what to expect on a daily basis as a teacher and what your workload might look like.
On this page
Working hours
Typical contracts for a teaching role will be around 35 hours a week. Although, there are options for part-time or flexible working hours too (for example, teaching night classes). This means you can teach alongside working in your chosen industry.
Your contract might be split into time for teaching and time for lesson preparations or admin work (for example: 25 hours to teach and 10 hours preparation and marking time).
During term time there might be extra obligations like open evenings and other events to attend. You will also be expected to mark coursework and plan lessons during term time.
Teaching environment
Teaching work can take place in a workshop, laboratory or classroom depending on the subject and course type. There is also the option to teach in other settings, such as community education centres or prisons.
Depending on the type of college or establishment you choose to work in, you could be teaching a diverse range of students, in terms of their age and ability.
Workload
Depending on the subject you teach, your work week can look quite different, some may require more planning before each lesson and others will require more assessments or marking.
We recommend talking to a college about what to expect from the role you want. You could also contact a head of department at your local college, as they might be able to get you a classroom taster session or work experience.
Your responsibilities in an FE teaching role could include:
- planning and preparing lessons (this could mean researching topics and creating teaching ideas for the classroom)
- teaching a syllabus or qualification chosen by the college (colleges may support you by building a teaching curriculum around your skills and expertise)
- marking and assessing students work and practical skills
- being able to work with students who have a diverse range of abilities, backgrounds and experiences
- offer additional support for students who may need it
- meeting a standard education as set by the college (for example by making sure your students meet a certain pass score in your class)
- prepare for exams and assessments
- interview prospective students
- represent the college at open days, career days or conventions
- supporting other teachers
If you’re wondering what opportunities could be in your future. You can speak to one of our specialists advisers for more information.
Our FE advisers can help answer any questions you have about moving into a career in Further Education.
Talk to an adviser