Become a Community Teacher

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Join our dedicated team of Community Teachers, as part of our innovative Community Learning Programme, to support young people who are facing significant barriers to education, preventing them from attending a physical school site.

You will work closely with a small group of students, providing tailored support and guidance. By overcoming challenges and building resilience, we aim to empower these young individuals and pave the way for their reintegration into a physical school setting.

What is a Community Teacher?

A Community Teacher is an innovative educator who provides personalised, high-quality learning to small groups of up to five students. This role is designed to break down barriers to education, offering tailored support that meets each student’s unique needs.

Unlike traditional teaching roles, Community Teachers step beyond the classroom, working within local communities, alongside families, and through hands-on activities that support students’ personal growth and wellbeing. Whether it’s building confidence, developing life skills, or simply making learning more engaging, this role is all about transforming education where it matters most.

If you’re passionate about making a real impact on young lives, this could be the perfect role for you!

Community Teacher

To us, it’s more than a job

Curious about the Community Teacher Initiative and what this role involves? In this video series, our Managing Director, Charlotte Barton, breaks down everything you need to know—from the vision behind the initiative to what it means to be a Community Teacher.

Discover how this unique role is transforming education, supporting students beyond the classroom, and making a real difference in their lives.

What is a Community Teacher?

How is the role of Community Teacher different from traditional teaching roles?

What qualifications do I need to become a Community Teacher?

“Becoming a Community Teacher has been very rewarding. I find my weeks teaching to be varied and interesting with the ability to tailor my teaching to the interests and needs of my students. That quality time I have teaching one-to-one allows me to instantly see the difference I am making as new skills are learnt. I really enjoy the role and feel I am part of something special that puts the students first.”

Naomi Miller, Community Teacher
Being a Community Teacher has been an incredibly rewarding experience. This programme is making such a difference for children who haven’t always found the right support in their education. The hybrid approach allows us to tailor learning to their individual needs, combining face-to-face and online support to help them re-engage and build confidence. I’d definitely recommend the role—it’s so fulfilling to see the progress that students make, both academically and personally, in such a supportive environment.
Lucy Price, Community Teacher

“Transitioning from traditional teaching to community teaching has sparked a new flame in my passion and commitment to inspiring young people to achieve their potential. This initiative provides an invaluable opportunity to bridge the gap in learning for those who have struggled to engage in mainstream education. In a more flexible and supportive environment, I have found that these young people are able to express themselves openly in ways they wouldn’t normally do in a traditional classroom. Witnessing their growth, as they build confidence in their learning and personal development, has been an incredibly rewarding and satisfying experience.”

Claudio Mbai, Community Teacher

Allow us to answer your questions…

The Role of Community teacher takes you outside of the classroom, bringing learning to the students doorstep. With no two days the same, as your learning plans will focus on the individual needs of each student on a case by case basis, tackling the specific barriers that are preventing that young person from engaging in education and attending a physical school site.

Overall, your role will include:

  • Conducting home visits and assessments
  • Developing bespoke learning plans
  • Delivering engaging face-to-face and virtual sessions
  • Collaborating with families and professionals
  • Supporting students in transitioning back to school

To become a Community Teacher, you must be a qualified teacher or have achieved Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). However, if you do not have QTS, relevant experience in education, youth work, or supporting young people in an alternative learning environment will be considered.

This role requires adaptability, resilience, and strong interpersonal skills, as you will be working with students who face barriers to mainstream education. Experience in teaching, mentoring, or youth support services would be highly beneficial.

As a Community Teacher, you will be out in the community, visiting students in their homes or other designated learning spaces. Therefore, access to reliable transport is essential.

Most importantly, one of the main attributes required of a Community Teacher is a deep passion for making a difference in young people’s lives. Your role is to help students rebuild their confidence in education, providing them with the support they need to re-engage with learning and, ultimately, regain access to a physical school environment.

If you believe you have the skills, experience, and passion for this role, explore our vacancies below. We’d love to hear from you!

The role of Community Teacher differs from traditional teaching roles as it expands the reach of the classroom, allowing education to be accessible to students facing barriers preventing them from attending a physical school site. You will bring the classroom to the student, whether this is within their home or a community space such as a library.

You will follow a curriculum, however the priority of a Community Teacher is to re-engage students and tackle any issues each individual is facing. By working towards removing these barriers, you are giving a young person the chance to re-enter education, whether to a mainstream school or joining us in Alternative Provision.

Compared to traditional teaching roles, your class size will be limited to a caseload of up to 5 students. This will give you the opportunity to get to know each individual  and determine the appropriate learning plan to support them.

Community teachers are essential to ensuring that every child has access to education, particularly those in alternative provision or at risk of disengagement.

With rising numbers of children missing education and an increase in elective home education, in-school provision alone does not have the resources to address the complex barriers preventing attendance.

Community teachers provide flexible, specialist support, helping students stay on a school roll and transition back into education when ready. They enable access to public examinations and structured learning, reducing lost learning time.

By working alongside welfare and engagement officers, community teachers offer targeted support that improves student outcomes and ensures no child is left behind.

Community Teacher
Community Teacher

Explore Our Community Teacher roles

Are you ready for a new challenge?

Join us at Progress Schools, where you’ll be part of a culture that celebrates success, values growth, and is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of young people. Explore our vacancies below and take your first step towards your new role.