Transitioning from Secondary to Primary

[TheSportsTeacher]

Hello everyone!!

I am a current Secondary PE Teacher and been teaching for 2-3 years. I am looking to hopefully transition into Primary School teaching from September 2022. This gives me the whole of next academic year to prepare and get myself employable to Primary schools.

Any advice on what I can do during this time to maximise my chances?

Can you do primary supply? That's the best way of deciding if primary teaching is really for you, it is VERY different to secondary. If not, any transition work you can do will help, summer school looks a definite possibility this year!
Have a good look through the national curriculum, especially English and maths, also look at some primary school websites, they usually have lots of information about different curriculum models and start practising for the inevitable " what makes you think you can teach primary" questions.

Also, Primary covers a huge range! From non reading/writing damp panted reception children who curl up on the carpet and sleep during your final story time , to bright and bushy year 6 who are champing at the bit to move into KS3.

And even if you plump for the upper levels of primary you are likely to have some children working way below expected levels across the board.

Having said that PE is often a subject that is poorly taught in primary schools , so selling yourself as a specialist teacher who is for example prepared to coach teams and run after school activities would make you stand out. You might even find your niche in a school willing to employ you to cover PPE time by taking on PE across the age range. Especially true in private schools I imagine, something to think about.

Do you have any links to feeder schools through your current job? Or could you maybe suggest building more links? In the primary where I work we have a half term block of PE visits from the secondary school we're linked with -a teacher comes over and teaches 2 lessons to ks2 classes. It helps build links but in your position it would be a great way to build a bit of primary experience.