A curriculum developer designs and organises educational content and learning materials for schools, colleges, or training providers. This role involves researching the latest teaching methods, understanding curriculum standards, and working closely with teachers and subject experts to create effective lesson plans and resources. Curriculum developers also evaluate existing materials and update them to make sure they are current and meet the needs of learners. The job requires strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and a good understanding of how students learn best. Many curriculum developers work for local authorities, exam boards, or education consultancies, and often contribute to national curriculum updates or specific subject areas.
Curriculum developers in the UK typically earn between £28,000 and £45,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
There are approximately 3,000 to 4,000 curriculum development roles across the UK, with opportunities in schools, local authorities, and private education companies.
Most curriculum developers hold a degree in education or a related field, and many have teaching experience or a postgraduate qualification.
Focuses on creating engaging and age-appropriate maths learning materials specifically for primary school pupils.
Develops interactive online educational resources and lesson plans for use in virtual classrooms or blended learning environments.
Designs tailored educational programmes and resources to support pupils with special educational needs in mainstream or specialist schools.
Complete your GCSEs, focusing on English and other relevant subjects, then progress to A Levels or equivalent qualifications.
Most university courses and jobs in curriculum development require good passes in English and other core subjects. Choosing A Levels in education, psychology, or your chosen subject area can help build a strong foundation.
Obtain a bachelor's degree in education, your subject specialism, or a related field.
Degrees in Education, English, Sciences, or other subjects are all relevant. Some universities offer specific degrees in curriculum studies or educational design, which are ideal for this career.
Gain classroom or training experience by working as a teacher, teaching assistant, or trainer.
Understanding how learners respond to different teaching methods and resources is essential. Most curriculum developers start their careers as teachers in schools, colleges, or training organisations.
Take opportunities to create lesson plans, schemes of work, and resources. Seek feedback from colleagues and students.
Working directly with curriculum materials gives you practical experience in what makes a lesson effective. This also helps build a portfolio that you can show to potential employers.
Consider postgraduate qualifications in curriculum design, educational leadership, or related fields.
A master's in education, curriculum studies, or instructional design can open doors to senior curriculum development roles. Short courses and professional development programmes are also valuable.
Look for curriculum developer, education officer, or learning designer jobs in schools, colleges, exam boards, or private companies.
Roles may be advertised by local authorities, exam boards, educational charities, or publishing companies. Building a strong CV and portfolio of your curriculum work will help you stand out.
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Curriculum Developer. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
A Curriculum Developer and an E-learning developer both focus on designing and creating educational content, often using digital platforms. They require skills in instructional design, content creation, and understanding learner needs, making them closely aligned in terms of qualifications.
You can get into this job through:
You can do a foundation degree or degree in:
If you already have a degree or relevant work experience, you can do a postgraduate qualification in e-learning technology.
You'll usually need:
You could do a college course, which may lead onto more advanced qualifications or a higher apprenticeship, or help you to get a trainee position with a company.
Courses include:
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
You may be able to do a Digital Learning Designer Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship.
This can take around 2 years to complete.
You'll usually need:
You could start out as a junior developer or e-learning assistant, if you've got computing A levels or equivalent. You'll also need a working knowledge of web design software.
Blackboard Learn and Moodle are used a lot by education institutions so an understanding of how these work will be useful.
You could join the Learning and Performance Institute for professional development opportunities.
You can find out more about the e-learning industry through The Learning Network.
Explore other careers or use our AI to discover personalised paths based on your interests.
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