Sector Guides: Teaching and Education: Building your experience

How to develop your experience

Practical experience in a classroom or experience working with children or young people can help you find out whether teaching is for you. It will also support your applications when you apply for teacher training.

Some graduates choose to gain experience as a teaching assistant before undertaking their initial teacher training.

Work experience at a school or education provider

Find a school
Research what schools are in your area. Visit their website, and contact them to see if you can arrange work experience
School Experience Programme
From 2 days to up to 3 weeks at a local school
Teach First taster
Two-day taster of the Teach First scheme. Attend skills workshops and meet pupils from Teach First schools
The Scholars Programme
Tutor pupils from under-represented backgrounds and share your academic expertise with state schools. For PhD students. Run by The Brilliant Club.

Work experience with children and young people

Student Ambassador
Apply to be a Student Ambassador at Sussex and you can gain experience working with children and young people
Role Models Project
Volunteer with the Students' Union and work with young people in the local community around personal, social and political issues
National Citizen Service
Work for NCS in a seasonal role and gain experience working with and leading young people on educational and activity camps
Action Tutoring
Work as a volunteer to help pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve a meaningful level of academic attainment

Mentoring at Sussex

Student mentor
Apply to be a student mentor and help other Sussex students with their academic work in this paid role. Search CareerHub for opportunities or ask at your School office

DBS checks

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required to work with children or vulnerable people. A school will ask you to complete one before working with pupils

DBS checks