Teaching in Wales is a respected and secure career, and the country has its own way of doing things. The school curriculum is distinct, the Welsh language has a special place, and everyone who teaches in a maintained school must be registered with a Welsh body called the Education Workforce Council. If you are thinking about teaching here, this guide explains the route in, the registration step, and how to find a job.
Teaching is not only about classroom teachers, either. Schools in Wales employ teaching assistants, learning support staff and other professionals, and they register with the same body. We will cover the main paths so you can see where you might fit.
Why teach in Wales
People choose teaching in Wales for many reasons. The work is meaningful, the holidays follow the school calendar, and there is a clear pay structure with room to progress into senior and leadership roles over time. Wales is also a great place to teach if you speak Welsh, or want to learn, because Welsh-medium and bilingual schools are an important part of the system.
There is steady demand for teachers in certain subjects and areas, particularly in secondary shortage subjects and in Welsh-medium settings. If your skills match those needs, your prospects can be strong.
How to qualify as a teacher in Wales
To teach in a maintained (state) school in Wales, you normally need Qualified Teacher Status, often shortened to QTS. This is the professional standard that says you are trained and ready to teach. There are a few common routes to get it:
University-led training
Many people take an undergraduate degree in education, which combines academic study with teaching practice and leads to QTS. If you already have a degree in another subject, you can take a postgraduate teacher training course (often called a PGCE) at a Welsh university, which includes placements in real schools.
Employment-based and part-time routes
There are also routes that let you train while working in a school, and part-time options designed for people who cannot study full-time. These mix on-the-job experience with formal study.
Whichever route you take, training in Wales is designed around the Welsh curriculum and includes time on placement in schools, so you learn by doing as well as studying.
The Education Workforce Council and why you must register
Here is the part that is specific to Wales. To work as a teacher (and in many other school roles) you must be registered with the Education Workforce Council, known as the EWC.
The EWC is the professional body, or regulator, for the education workforce in Wales. Being registered with it means:
- You are recognised as a qualified, fit professional.
- You appear on an official register that schools and employers can check.
- You agree to follow a code of professional conduct.
You cannot legally take up a teaching post in a maintained school in Wales without being registered. Registration is renewed each year and there is a fee to pay. Schools will check that you are registered before you start.
Who needs to register
The EWC register covers more than just teachers. Depending on the category, it includes:
- School teachers
- Learning support workers (teaching assistants) in schools
- Further education teachers and learning support staff
- Work-based learning and youth work practitioners
If you are applying for a school role, check whether it requires EWC registration. Most teaching and many support roles do. You can find the details at the Education Workforce Council.
The Welsh curriculum and the Welsh language
Schools in Wales follow the Curriculum for Wales, which organises learning into broad areas rather than long lists of separate subjects, and gives schools flexibility in how they teach. If you trained in England, you will need to get to grips with this approach, but support is available and it becomes familiar quickly.
The Welsh language matters in schools, and there are three broad types of setting:
- English-medium schools, where most teaching is in English and Welsh is taught as a subject.
- Welsh-medium schools, where teaching is largely or wholly through the medium of Welsh.
- Bilingual schools, which use both languages.
To teach in a Welsh-medium or bilingual school, you usually need to be able to teach through Welsh. If you speak Welsh, this opens up more opportunities. If you do not, there are still plenty of English-medium roles, and some employers support staff to learn Welsh over time.
Teaching assistants and support roles
Not everyone who works in a Welsh school is a qualified teacher. Teaching assistants and learning support workers play a vital part, helping pupils who need extra support, working with small groups, and assisting the class teacher.
These roles are a popular way into education, especially for people who want school-friendly hours. Entry requirements vary, but employers often look for good basic English and maths and experience with children, whether paid or voluntary. Many support roles also require EWC registration, so check the advert. From here, some people go on to train as teachers later.
What teaching pay looks like
Teachers in Wales are paid on professional pay ranges, with separate, higher scales for leadership roles such as deputy heads and headteachers. As you gain experience and take on more responsibility, your pay can rise. Support staff such as teaching assistants are usually paid on local government pay scales.
Exact pay figures are reviewed regularly, so rather than rely on a number you saw somewhere, always check the salary stated on the job advert itself. Alongside pay, teachers benefit from a strong pension scheme and school holidays.
Where to find teaching jobs in Wales
School jobs in Wales are advertised in a few places. The most reliable approach is to look in more than one:
- Local council websites. Councils run maintained schools, so many vacancies appear on the relevant local authority's jobs page or a shared regional education portal.
- Individual school websites, especially for larger schools that advertise directly.
- Dedicated education job boards that carry Welsh school vacancies.
Setting up email alerts on the council sites covering your area is a smart move, so new roles reach you as soon as they go live.
Before you apply, get ready
- Make sure your EWC registration is in place (or be ready to register) if the role needs it.
- Have your QTS evidence and qualifications to hand.
- Be ready to complete a criminal records check (a DBS check), which is standard for anyone working with children.
- Tailor your application to the school and give real examples of your teaching or support work.
A note before you start
This article is general information to help you understand teaching and school work in Wales. It is not formal careers advice, and details such as training routes, pay and registration rules can change over time, so always check current information on the official EWC website and on each job advert. When you are ready, you can browse education roles here on GovJobs and then apply through the official portal or school listed in the advert. We wish you every success in the classroom.
