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Education Consultant

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Primary Secondary Post-16

An education consultant in the UK is a professional who provides expert advice and support to schools, colleges, universities, and sometimes directly to parents or students. Their primary goal is to improve educational outcomes by helping institutions develop effective teaching strategies, curriculum plans, and assessment methods. Education consultants may also assist with teacher training, school inspections, and implementing new educational policies or technologies. The role often involves analysing educational data, offering tailored solutions, and running workshops or training sessions for staff. Education consultants can work independently, for a consultancy company, or within a larger educational organisation. The job generally requires a background in teaching or educational leadership, along with strong communication and organisational skills.

Education Consultant

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📊 Statistics

Average Salary

Education consultants in the UK typically earn between £25,000 and £45,000 per year, with experienced consultants and those in senior roles earning up to £60,000 or more.

Job Opportunities

There are over 3,500 education consultant positions advertised annually across the UK, with many opportunities in both the public and private sectors.

Employment Sectors

Education consultants work in a range of sectors, including local authorities, private consultancy firms, universities, and educational charities.

🚀 Careers in this path

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University Admissions Advisor

Advises students on university applications, helping them choose suitable courses and prepare personal statements.

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Special Educational Needs Consultant

Supports schools and families in meeting the needs of students with special educational requirements.

Curriculum Development Specialist

Works with schools or education providers to design and improve teaching materials and learning programmes.

Gain Relevant Qualifications

Complete a Relevant Degree

Study for a degree in education or a related field such as psychology, English, or maths.

Most Education Consultants hold a bachelor’s degree in education or a closely related subject. This provides a strong foundation in teaching theory and practice. Some universities offer degrees specifically in education studies, while others allow you to qualify as a teacher during your undergraduate studies.

Gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Undertake teacher training and achieve QTS if you plan to work in schools or educational settings.

In the UK, most consultants benefit from experience as qualified teachers. You can gain QTS through a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or via school-based training routes such as School Direct. This qualification enables you to teach in state schools and is highly valued by employers.

Build Teaching and Education Experience

Work as a Teacher or Education Professional

Gain practical experience by working in a school or educational organisation.

Most Education Consultants have several years of teaching experience or have worked in roles such as school leadership, special educational needs coordination, or curriculum development. This hands-on experience helps develop your understanding of the challenges and opportunities in education.

Develop Specialist Expertise

Focus on an area such as curriculum development, assessment, or special educational needs.

Specialising can make you more attractive to employers and clients. You might take extra training courses, lead projects at your current school, or complete a master’s degree in a specialised area of education.

Transition to Education Consultancy

Apply for Consultant Roles or Work Freelance

Look for openings with local authorities, education companies, or set up your own consultancy.

You can work as an Education Consultant within a consultancy firm, for a local authority, or independently. Consider building a professional network, attending education conferences, and developing an online presence to attract clients if you choose to work freelance.

Build a Professional Network

Connect with headteachers, other consultants, and educational organisations.

Networking is crucial in consultancy. Join professional bodies such as the Society of Education Consultants, attend sector events, and keep up to date with the latest educational research and policy changes to remain competitive.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Education Consultant. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

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Career Progressions

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Sample Qualifications

An Education Consultant and a Higher education lecturer both involve designing, delivering, and evaluating educational programmes and strategies. They typically require strong subject knowledge, pedagogical skills, and the ability to advise on educational practices, making them closely aligned in terms of qualifications and expertise.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship

University

You'll usually need a first class or upper second class degree, relevant to the subject you want to teach.

You'll also need to have completed a postgraduate master's or PhD qualification, or be working towards one. It's common to have had academic work published.

You'll be expected to do a teaching qualification soon after you start. This is normally offered by your university and is done while working.

You may be able to get experience by taking on teaching duties while you're a postgraduate student. Some universities also offer posts as a graduate teaching assistant.

You'll need several years' relevant work experience if you want to teach vocational subjects, for example art or engineering.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

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Apprenticeship

You may be able to do an Academic Professional Level 7 Apprenticeship, which is equivalent to postgraduate study.

You can specialise in teaching or research.

To apply, you'll normally need a minimum of a postgraduate qualification in your subject area, or several years' equivalent work experience, plus the agreement of your employer.

It can take between 18 and 24 months to complete.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

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Further information

You can find out more about working in higher education from Advance HE.

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