6 Tips for a Teaching Job in a New School

Starting a new teaching job soon? With our top tips for preparing to enter your new school you can wave goodbye to first day jitters knowing you’ve got everything in hand! From prepping your classroom to making new teaching friends, there’s plenty to think about before you even step foot in the school. 

Table of Contents:

• Start Lesson Planning 
• Familiarise Yourself with Your New Surroundings 
• Meet New Colleagues 
• Get to Know the School Rules 
• Prep Your Classroom 

Get Ahead on Lesson Planning

By now you’ll likely know what year group you’re teaching and what the curriculum is for the year. Which means you can start lesson planning before September even begins! With Pango your lesson plans are made easier than ever before. Find the perfect teaching resources to tailor your lessons to your new students. 

Get Familiar with Your New Area

If your new school is in an area you haven’t worked or lived in before, it’s time to get to know your surroundings! From how you’ll get to school in the morning, whether that’s driving and parking in the staff car park, or taking a local bus - knowing how you’re getting from A to B will help ease your mind. 

The school itself will also be a new environment for you, take time before the kids arrive to wander around. Learning where all the classrooms are, the toilets, reception, play areas, and the canteen! 

Reach Out to Your New Colleagues

Whether you’re a new teacher or not, starting a new job can be scary. Make the first day a little less daunting by reaching out to your new colleagues ahead of time. Whether you get to know the other teachers in your department or wider school staff - getting a coffee before term starts could help you have familiar faces when you step into the building. 

Familiarise Yourself with School Rules & Values

Whilst every school has similar rules there may be some unique to your new employer. Make sure you understand what standards are expected of students e.g. uniform rules, before the start of term so you can provide your new kids with consistency across their school experience. 

Many schools also have values that they try to instil in their students - if your school has these, make sure you know what they are and reward your children when they meet these expectations.  

Prepare Your New Classroom

It’s exciting to have a brand new classroom when starting a teaching job. From organising your resources and making sure you have enough pens, pencils, workbooks, and reading books for your kids. To decorating your classroom in a way that will inspire students to enjoy learning. 

This is also a great time to think about how you want your classroom tables to be set out and make a seating plan for your students based on this. 

Get Familiar with the School’s Software & Equipment 

Whilst most schools have standard equipment - think interactive whiteboards - there may be slight differences. Make sure you know how to use things like the electronic register, email system, and any learning platforms your new school uses ahead of the first day the kids are in!

Be Lesson Ready with Pango

Pango makes lesson planning easy, made by teachers, for teachers. Our library of resources span the whole national primary curriculum, helping you plan lessons efficiently. From history resources, to geography activities and PSHE worksheets, our high-quality teaching materials are just a click away. Why not try our premium resources? Sign-up today and receive a free 7-day trial.