Return to England after teaching overseas
Get support if you’re a UK citizen thinking about returning from overseas to teach in England. The skills, experience and perspective you’ve gained outside the UK are highly valued by schools and headteachers.
If you’re a non-UK citizen, read our guidance for international trainees and teachers.
Check your qualifications
Before you start looking for teaching jobs, check which qualifications you need to teach in England.
Qualified teacher status (QTS) is a legal requirement to teach in many English schools. Even where QTS is not a legal requirement, many schools use it to assess the quality of candidates.
If you trained in the UK
If you completed your teacher training in England, you should already have QTS. You can check this with the Teaching Regulation Agency.
If you do not have QTS
If you trained as a teacher or have gained teaching experience outside the UK, you can learn more about the best route to QTS for your circumstances.
Get help and support
Find out:
- how to sign up for a dedicated adviser for one-to-one support with returning to teach in England
- what the Department for Education is doing to reduce teachers’ workload, manage pupil behaviour and support wellbeing
- how teaching fosters diversity and inclusion with networks including WomenEd, BAMEed, LGBTed and DisabilityEd
Before you apply for teaching jobs in England
Get ready to apply by:
- collecting evidence of your performance and experience overseas (this can include video recorded lessons and testimonials from your headteacher)
- obtaining a police clearance certificate or letter of good conduct
- arranging your references
- getting information about schools
- researching family visas for non-UK spouses and children