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What's it like to work at the British Council as a Teacher?
Teacher's Success Story
Role Description/Purpose
The British Council Spain is a leading provider of English language education, operating a nationwide network of teaching centres that support around 30,000 students each year. Alongside our teaching centres, we run the British Council’s only school in Madrid, manage a large exams operation, provide English‑language learning support across the country, and deliver strong programmes in arts, education and society.
Most of our students are young learners in Early Years, Primary and Secondary, although we also teach a significant number of adults. At our Madrid Teaching Centre, courses are offered to the general public from 8:00 to 22:00, supported by a team of around 100 teachers. Each year, we deliver approximately 46,500 class hours onsite to learners aged 5 to 85, in addition to 9,500 class hours delivered through partner organisations such as schools, kindergartens, and corporate clients including ministries, banks and higher education institutions. Course content varies according to learners’ needs, though most classes focus on general English.
The centre is led by an experienced management team that includes the Academic Manager/Deputy, a team of Coordinators, and Customer Services staff across both Back Office and Front Office functions. We take pride in the quality of teaching we provide and are committed to recruiting high‑calibre teachers who are supported through strong academic systems and continuous professional development.
The purpose of this role is to promote and ensure high‑quality teaching and effective learning of English while contributing to the broader mission of the British Council and its cultural relations objectives.
Role Accountabilities
The British Council is seeking a dedicated English Language Teacher to support its global English strategy by delivering teaching to the highest standards of English Language Teaching, enhancing the organisation’s reputation as a world authority in ELT, and engaging in continuous professional development and the sharing of best practices. The successful candidate will ensure that teaching consistently meets learner needs and expectations, aligns with Teaching Quality standards and organisational requirements, and contributes to positive relationships with customers and colleagues while supporting the wider activities and plans of the teaching centre.
In this role, you will plan, prepare and deliver high‑quality English language lessons tailored to the needs of diverse customer groups and individual learning styles, making effective use of British Council materials to maximise learner progress. You will monitor and assess student progress, providing regular written and face‑to‑face feedback, promoting learner autonomy, and meeting individually with parents and students as part of the learning process. As an active member of the teaching team, you will contribute to the development and improvement of the Teaching Centre, while also completing essential administrative tasks such as maintaining class registers, recording classwork and carrying out break duties to the required standards.
The role also involves engaging in ongoing CPD to maintain high standards in teaching and learning and uphold the British Council’s position at the forefront of ELT practice. You will help build lasting, mutually beneficial relationships by enhancing students’ understanding of contemporary UK culture, and you will support the teaching operation through tutorials and by guiding learners and parents toward the most suitable courses and learning pathways.
A key part of the role is ensuring that safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, and health and safety standards are consistently applied and upheld. This includes ensuring that all young learner students are safe, secure and well cared for while in our learning environment.
Qualifications & Experience
Essentials
- University degree.
- Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (Cambridge CELTA) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Trinity TESOL) certification.
- A minimum of 2 years post-certificate i.e. CELTA/Trinity cert TESOL experience gained from teaching a variety of age groups and levels from young learners through to adults.
- Proficiency in English equivalent to a Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) C2 level.
Desirables
Recognised diploma in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) i.e. Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (DELTA).
Important Information:
- Start date: 1 October 2026 (next academic year).
- To ensure a consistent evaluation process , candidates are required to upload their CV in English.
- Location: Madrid Metropolitan Area. Teachers may be expected to work in more than one British Council centre. They are also likely to work in more than one location, e.g. British Council centre and a partner institution.
- Monthly gross salary: The monthly gross salary for Teachers Level 1 ranges from approximately €238,50 for a 3-hour weekly contract to €1.080 a 15-hour weekly contract. Final compensation and teacher level is determined based on qualifications and experience.
- Contracted hours per week: between 3 and 15 hours. There is a possibility of additional hours depending on operational needs.
- Working Hours: Typical teaching hours are Monday to Friday: 12:00–15:00 and 17:00–21:50; and Saturday: 10:00–13:30 and 15:00–18:30.
- Proof of Identity & Right to Work: Locally Recruited - Applications are welcomed from candidates currently in this location with a natural right to work. Applications are also welcomed from candidates currently based in other British Council country offices. However, please note candidates must have a natural right to work in the country, on a permanent basis, as immigration clearance and/or on-going visa support is not provided by the British Council for this role. Relocation support is also not provided
- Contract type: Indefinite.
- Annual leave: 45 working days per year of work, in accordance with British Council policies and standards.
- Please note: This position involves teaching Early Years and Primary groups , with the possibility of secondary or occasional adult classes. Applicants should have relevant experience working with children and a genuine interest in supporting young learners’ development.
- Benefits:
- Access to the EUNIC language class agreement, available to eligible staff.
- Opportunity to belong to a private health insurance company at reduced rates with Asisa.
Discounts at our Teaching Centres, including 100% discount on English courses for spouses and children.
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Closing date – Wednesday 2 September 2026.
A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
Safeguarding Statement
The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with. We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989. Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email [email protected]
