What is the Times Educational Supplement?
Origins and history of TES
The Times Educational Supplement launched in September 1910 as a supplement to The Times newspaper. This publication quickly established itself as a leading voice in education policy and pedagogy. Over more than a century, TES has evolved from a simple paper insert into a comprehensive digital platform serving millions of education professionals globally.
The magazine was acquired by TES Global Limited, transforming it into an international company with headquarters in London. This acquisition marked a turning point, expanding services beyond traditional publishing to include software solutions, online resources, and digital tools for schools.
How did a simple weekly supplement become the cornerstone of educational journalism? The answer lies in its consistent commitment to covering the issues that matter most to teachers, school staff, and education leaders across England, Bristol, Sheffield, and internationally.
The mission of the educational magazine
TES exists to support teachers and staff throughout their professional journey. The magazine provides in-depth coverage of national policy changes, educational reforms, and pedagogical innovations. Whether you teach primary or secondary level, work in leadership roles, or contribute as specialist staff, TES offers content tailored to your needs.
The publication maintains a sharp focus on school management, classroom practice, and the evolving landscape of teaching. From safeguarding protocols to behaviour management strategies, TES addresses the practical challenges educators face daily.
Key areas covered:
- National education policy and reform analysis
- Leadership development and management insights
- Classroom teaching strategies and learning methods
- Professional development opportunities
- International education trends and comparisons
Services and resources provided by TES
Employment platform for the education sector
TES operates one of the largest education job platforms in England and internationally. Schools post thousands of positions annually, ranging from classroom teacher roles to senior leadership appointments. The platform connects institutions with qualified candidates across all education levels.
Primary schools find early years specialists and key stage teachers. Secondary institutions recruit subject experts in arts, sciences, and humanities. School leadership positions attract experienced professionals seeking headships and management roles.
| Position Type | Examples | Typical Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Staff | Subject teachers, specialists | Primary/secondary schools |
| Leadership | Heads, deputies, coordinators | All school types |
| Support Roles | Administrative staff, technicians | Schools, academies, trusts |
| Specialist Posts | SEN coordinators, literary specialists | Varies by provision |
Geographic coverage extends throughout England, with concentrated opportunities in London, Bristol, Sheffield, and other major cities. International positions appear regularly, reflecting TES's global reach.
Pedagogical resources and teaching materials
Teachers access thousands of resources designed to enhance classroom practice. These materials include lesson plans, worksheets, assessment tools, and multimedia content covering every curriculum area. Contributors share their best work, creating a supportive community where educators learn from each other.
The resources section offers filtering by subject, age group, and resource type. Whether you need a single lesson activity or a comprehensive unit of work, the platform delivers quality content. Many resources are available free, while premium materials require subscription access.
Arts educators find visual resources and project ideas. Literary teachers download texts, comprehension exercises, and creative writing prompts. Science and mathematics resources include practical experiments and problem-solving activities.
Software solutions and edtech tools
TES Global Limited has expanded beyond publishing into education technology. The company offers software for school management, timetabling, and administrative tasks. These digital tools help schools operate more effectively while reducing staff workload.
Safeguarding software stands as a flagship offering. Schools use these tools to track concerns, manage records, and ensure pupil protection meets national standards. The platform provides a single system for logging incidents, sharing information with relevant staff, and maintaining compliance with Ofsted requirements.
Behaviour management software helps schools create supportive environments. Staff log incidents, track patterns, and implement interventions effectively. The data-driven approach enables leadership teams to identify issues early and celebrate positive achievements.
Timetabling solutions address one of school management's most complex challenges. The software considers staff availability, room allocation, curriculum requirements, and student needs to generate optimal schedules.
The Times Educational Supplement historical archive
Accessing TES archives (1910-2000)
The Times Educational Supplementhistorical archive contains over 4,300 issues spanning nine decades. This collection, available through partnerships with institutions like McMaster University Libraries and Sheffield Institute, provides unprecedented access to education history.
Researchers explore how teaching methods evolved throughout the twentieth century. Policy analysts examine historical reforms to understand contemporary debates. The archive documents everything from Victorian-era pedagogy to the introduction of comprehensive schools and national curriculum development.
Access typically requires institutional affiliation or subscription. Universities and research institutes offer their students and staff entry to this valuable resource. Individual researchers may request access for specific projects.
Value of archives for educational research
Why do historical publications matter for today's educators? The archive reveals cyclical patterns in education policy. Reforms anticipated as groundbreaking often mirror initiatives from decades earlier. Understanding this history helps current professionals contextualize policy changes and avoid repeating past mistakes.
The archive documents women's increasing participation in teaching and education leadership. Early issues show how the profession transformed from male-dominated to primarily female-staffed. This gender history intersects with broader social changes documented throughout the publication's run.
Twentieth-century educational thought emerges vividly through these pages. The archive captures debates about grammar schools versus comprehensive education, streaming versus mixed-ability teaching, and traditional versus progressive methods—discussions that remain relevant in contemporary education.
| Research Area | Archive Coverage | Key Insights |
|---|---|---|
| Policy Evolution | 1910-2000 | Cyclical reform patterns |
| Gender in Teaching | Throughout | Feminization of profession |
| Pedagogical Debates | All decades | Traditional vs. progressive methods |
| Curriculum Development | Post-1944 | National standards emergence |
Editorial content in TES Magazine
News and sector analysis
Each week, TES publishes comprehensive coverage of education developments. The magazine's journalists investigate breaking stories, analyze government policy, and provide expert insights on sector challenges. From budget announcements affecting school provision to changes in assessment frameworks, TES keeps professionals informed.
The publication maintains editorial independence, offering critical analysis rather than simply reporting government positions. This approach has established TES as a trusted source where teachers and leaders find honest assessments of policy impact.
October and November typically bring coverage of budget allocations and spending reviews. These articles help school leadership teams plan for the coming academic year and understand funding implications for their institutions.
Practical advice for teachers
Beyond news coverage, TES offers actionable guidance for classroom practice. Articles address common challenges: managing pupil behaviour, differentiating instruction, incorporating technology effectively, and maintaining work-life balance.
Regular advice columns cover:
- Effective classroom management techniques
- Professional development pathways and courses
- Strategies for supporting pupils with additional needs
- Time management and workload reduction
- Building positive relationships with parents and community
- Navigating career progression from NQT to leadership
Contributors include experienced teachers, school leaders, and education specialists. Their insights come from real classroom experience rather than theoretical ideals. This practical focus makes the content immediately applicable.
The TES Awards: celebrating educational excellence
What are the TES Awards?
Each year, TES hosts an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding achievements across education. The event, typically held in October or November in London, brings together hundreds of education professionals to celebrate excellence in teaching, leadership, and innovation.
Awards span multiple categories addressing different aspects of education provision. Teachers compete for recognition of outstanding classroom practice. School leaders are celebrated for transformational management. Institutions receive accolades for exceptional whole-school approaches to challenges like safeguarding or pupil engagement.
The panel of judges includes education experts, sector leaders, and previous award winners. Judging emphasizes demonstrable impact rather than just innovative ideas. Winners show measurable improvements in pupil outcomes, staff development, or school culture.
Impact of awards on professional careers
Winning a TES Award significantly boosts professional status. Laureates gain national recognition, media coverage, and speaking opportunities. Many award winners report career advancement following their success, with leadership positions opening up due to enhanced visibility.
The awards also provide networking opportunities. Finalists and winners connect with other high-performing professionals, sharing practices and building relationships that support ongoing professional growth. The event creates a community of excellence within the education sector.
| Award Category | Focus Area | Recognition For |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Excellence | Classroom innovation | Outstanding teaching practice |
| Headteacher of the Year | School leadership | Transformational leadership |
| Safeguarding Initiative | Pupil protection | Comprehensive safeguarding approaches |
| Edtech Innovation | Digital learning | Effective technology integration |
| Behaviour Management | Positive environments | Supportive behaviour strategies |
TES as a networking and community platform
Joining the TES community
Beyond reading the magazine or browsing jobs, education professionals create profiles on the TES platform. These profiles enable networking with colleagues globally, sharing resources, and participating in discussions about teaching practice and education policy.
The community aspect transforms TES from a content provider into an interactive platform. Teachers share successful lesson plans, exchange advice on challenging situations, and offer mutual support. This peer-to-peer interaction complements the magazine's professional journalism.
How active is the TES community? Thousands of educators contribute resources monthly. Discussion forums attract participants from primary and secondary schools, special provision, and alternative settings. The diversity of participants enriches conversations and broadens perspectives.
Events and professional courses
TES organizes live events throughout the academic year. These include conferences on specific educational themes, professional development workshops, and networking sessions. Events occur in major cities like London, Bristol, and Sheffield, with some offered online for broader accessibility.
Professional courses cover essential areas of teaching practice. Safeguarding training helps staff stay current with protection requirements. Behaviour management courses provide evidence-based strategies. Subject-specific sessions support teachers in delivering curriculum content effectively.
Benefits of participating in the TES community:
- Access to thousands of peer-created teaching resources
- Opportunities to share your own successful practice
- Support from experienced educators facing similar challenges
- Professional networking with teachers and leaders nationwide
- Updates on latest educational research and policy
- Discounted access to professional development courses
- Recognition for contributing quality resources and insights
How recruiters use TES effectively
TES for educational recruitment
Schools and academy trusts rely on TES to fill staffing vacancies. The platform's education focus ensures job postings reach qualified candidates actively seeking teaching positions. Unlike generic employment sites, TES attracts professionals specifically interested in education careers.
Recruiters create detailed job advertisements specifying subject areas, key stages, salary ranges, and institution characteristics. The platform's filtering allows candidates to search by location, school type, position level, and other relevant criteria. This targeted approach improves match quality between institutions and applicants.
The application management system helps recruitment teams organize responses efficiently. Schools track which candidates have applied, manage interview scheduling, and communicate with applicants through the platform. This centralized approach reduces administrative burden on already-busy school staff.
Best practices for educational recruiters
Successful recruitment through TES requires strategic approach. Job descriptions must clearly communicate role expectations, school culture, and growth opportunities. Vague or generic postings attract fewer quality candidates.
Effective recruitment strategies:
- Write detailed position descriptions including key responsibilities
- Highlight unique aspects of your school or institution
- Specify required qualifications and desirable experience clearly
- Indicate salary range and additional benefits honestly
- Include information about professional development support
- Describe the school community and local area
- Respond promptly to candidate inquiries and applications
- Provide constructive feedback to unsuccessful applicants
Primary schools emphasizing early years expertise attract specialists in child development. Secondary schools highlighting subject-specific resources and departmental support appeal to subject enthusiasts. Leadership positions benefit from describing school vision and improvement priorities.
Multi-channel recruitment approaches
While TES remains a primary recruitment channel for education, successful hiring often combines multiple strategies. Schools supplement TES postings with social media promotion, direct approaches to teacher training providers, and recommendations from current staff.
Geographic location affects recruitment difficulty. Schools in London and other major cities typically attract more applicants than rural institutions. Schools facing recruitment challenges might emphasize unique benefits: smaller class sizes, innovative teaching approaches, or exceptional professional development opportunities.
Timing matters significantly in education recruitment. Posting positions in January through March aligns with teachers' contract consideration period. Later postings may attract fewer candidates as professionals finalize plans for September starts. However, mid-year vacancies still receive applications from teachers seeking immediate moves.
TES evolution in the digital era
From paper publication to digital media
The transformation from weekly paper magazine to comprehensive digital platform represents TES's most significant evolution. While print edition continues, online content now dominates how educators access TES resources. The digital shift enables immediate news updates, interactive resources, and personalized content delivery.
The TES Magazine mobile application brings education news and resources to smartphones and tablets. Teachers browse articles during commutes, download resources for immediate classroom use, and receive notifications about relevant content. The app's convenience increases engagement with TES content.
Online publication allows multimedia integration impossible in print. Video demonstrations of teaching techniques, podcast interviews with education leaders, and interactive data visualizations enrich the content experience. These formats cater to different learning preferences and increase accessibility.
Recent innovations and future outlook
TES continues investing in technology to improve services. Enhanced search functionality helps users find relevant resources quickly. Personalization algorithms suggest content based on teaching phase, subject specialization, and previous engagement patterns.
The platform explores artificial intelligence applications for matching job seekers with suitable positions. Machine learning might analyze candidate profiles and job requirements to suggest optimal matches, reducing time schools spend reviewing applications and helping teachers find positions aligned with their skills and preferences.
International expansion represents a growth priority. While historically England-focused, TES increasingly covers global education developments. International schools use the platform for recruitment. Teachers worldwide access resources adaptable to various curriculum frameworks. This globalization reflects education's increasingly interconnected nature.
TES Global Limited: the company behind the platform
Structure and ownership
TES Global Limited owns and operates the Times Educational Supplement and associated services. The company, headquartered in London, employs journalists, software developers, education specialists, and support staff. This diverse team delivers the magazine, maintains digital platforms, and develops educational technology products.
The company has grown through strategic acquisitions and service expansion. What began as magazine publishing now encompasses job platforms, resource sharing, software provision, and event management. This diversification creates a comprehensive ecosystem serving multiple education sector needs.
TES Global maintains editorial independence despite commercial operations. The magazine's journalism remains free to critique government policy, highlight sector challenges, and advocate for teachers and pupils. This editorial freedom distinguishes TES from publications more closely tied to government or commercial education providers.
Vision and commitment of the group
TES Global's stated mission emphasizes building trusted education solutions. The company positions itself as serving educators rather than merely selling to them. This service orientation shapes product development, content creation, and platform design.
Supporting the global education community involves understanding diverse contexts. Primary school teachers face different challenges than secondary colleagues. Leadership roles require distinct resources from classroom teaching positions. International educators navigate systems unlike England's framework. TES aims to address this diversity through varied content and adaptable tools.
Investment in innovation reflects TES Global's forward focus. The education sector changes constantly—new technologies emerge, pedagogical understanding evolves, policy frameworks shift. TES commits to helping education professionals navigate these changes effectively while maintaining focus on core mission: improving outcomes for pupils and supporting those who teach them.