For some who want to start a career in teaching, they might have a clear picture of what their future role as educators will look like. However, others might have trouble deciding between pursuing a career in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), primary or secondary education.

So, when asking yourself ‘what age group should I teach?’, you will want to decide early on in your teacher training. Different age groups provide very different teaching experiences. For this reason, to help you answer this fundamental question, we have compiled a guide to outline some of the differences you are likely to find between teaching the different age groups available in nurseries and schools.

 

Which age group should I teach? It depends on whether you like to teach one subject or multiple ones

This is a big one, and can really help determine what direction you want to go in.

As a teacher in secondary education, you will teach one subject only, but you will focus on it thoroughly. If you have a real passion for one field and want to teach it to a slightly more advanced level, then this could be the path for you.

Primary education together with the EYFS, on the other hand, offers a wider variety in what you get to teach, which can be very appealing for some. You will be teaching the fundamentals of multiple subjects each day, although there are still excellent subject-specific PGCE courses in primary education.

In fact, as a primary teacher, you could still maintain a specialist field and utilise your expertise to build knowledge in primary students, thanks to courses focusing on subjects like English, Maths, Science, and more.

 

What age group should I teach? It depends on if you prefer introducing new concepts or teaching ideas built on existing knowledge

Another beneficial way to establish which age group you should teach is by thinking about how you prefer to teach.

Primary education and the EYFS involve presenting brand-new concepts to young children. This means you often get to build their knowledge from scratch, which can be highly rewarding as a teaching experience.

With secondary education, you will often be building on the knowledge that your students already have. This can be challenging at times since you work to identify different ability levels and fill in gaps in their understanding, but it also means you get to teach more advanced ideas too.

 

Which age group should I teach? It depends on if you wish to work with one set of students or different students every day

The flow of who you will be teaching and when is a determining factor that is often missed when comparing the EYFS, primary and secondary education.

As a teacher in secondary education, you will see students moving to a new class every one or two hours. This means that you will be dealing with a new set of students quite often, which can be challenging as you get each new class to settle and focus. You will also have more names and individual needs to remember too. However, it’s worth noting that you will get the chance to teach and inspire a greater number of students’ lives by working this way.

As an Early Years educator or primary teacher, on the other hand, you will most likely work with the same class of children all day, every day. It’s also common for primary teachers to move up through school years with their class of children too, so you could be teaching the same class for years. The opportunity to build a strong relationship with the children you teach over this time is seen by many primary teachers as one of the most rewarding parts of their job.

 

Which age group should I teach? It depends on whom you feel most comfortable dealing with on a personal level

As a teacher, dealing with your students on a personal level is crucial to provide them with lifelong confidence and skills. For this reason, it is essential you feel comfortable around your preferred age group.

EYFS and primary school-aged children (birth – 11 years old) are likely to have fewer complex needs. As an Early Years educator or primary teacher, you will be dealing with young children, so most personal issues can be overcome with encouragement and sympathetic support. You will need to be able to communicate with them on a level they understand too, creating a safe space that builds confidence and trust.

Secondary education (11-18 years old) is significantly different. Many of the students you will teach are better described as young adults rather than children, and with this can come more complex needs. Examples of these can be relationship issues, bullying, social problems, or mental health matters – you will need to be comfortable with the potential for being presented with a variety of challenging situations. Many of these topics can be serious in nature, which is why you will need to be approachable to students and confident in your handling of them. Of course, before you get too concerned, the school you work for should always be available to support you with these responsibilities in turn.

 

Which age group should I teach? Here is what you can do to decide

If the above considerations have not quite helped you make up your mind about which age group you should teach, there are further steps you can take. Finding a way to volunteer or undertake some work experience, so you can spend time with each age group, can be a valuable investment of time for anyone still confused about the options.

If, on the other hand, this guide has helped you, and you are ready to take the next step, you can contact our friendly team to learn more about teaching jobs available in gender-inclusive nurseries and schools.