Teacher Discounts (UK)

If you’re a teacher, retired teacher, or work in an educational setting, there are some fantastic teacher discounts in the UK, created just for you. Find out how you can save hundreds of pounds and more right here…

Health workers have their Blue Light Card discounts – a wonderful way to reward key workers and help them save money – but what do teachers have?

A lot, is the answer. From discount cards, to vouchers, to teacher discount membership sites, to local council discounts, and more, you could cut your spending by hundreds and more each year.

Taking 10 minutes to read this article during a free period or while sipping a coffee in the staff room could be the most profitable thing you do this year.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

The ABCs of Teacher Discounts

You work hard to help shape the future. As a small token of appreciation, hundreds of businesses have stepped up to the mark to offer exclusive discounts to all those who work in our education system.

This is for not only teachers, but dinner staff, caretakers, nursery staff, domestics, and those retired from the education system, too.

From bookstores to digital resources, electrical gadgets, clothing, gym memberships, travel, dining, and more, these discounts will help you make your hard-earned money stretch further.

To take advantage of these discount opportunities, the first step is to understand what types of discounts are available to you. Let’s start with teacher discount cards.

Online Teacher Discount Sites

Teacher discount sites are the keys that unlock the gateway to exclusive deals and discounts. But which should you join?

Some deliver savings across hundreds of retailers and services, while others are more niche, focusing on specific products or resources.

Discounts for Teachers

One of the older and more established teacher discount sites, Discounts for Teachers claims its members can save more than £2,250 per year. It has more than 820,000 members, and has been partnering with brands for more than 20 years.

Not only can you save money by using discounts at retailers such as JD Sports, New Look, Hotpoint, and Clarks, but you can also access exclusive discounts on travel, motoring, mobiles phones, finance, and more.

As if this isn’t good enough, register for the exclusive ode cashback card, and you could receive cashback at retailers such as Boots, Argos, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Five Guys – with cashback rates typically around 2.5% to 4%.

Teacher Card

The new kid on the block, Teacher Card has already made a splash after diving into the teacher discount market in July 2023. It’s operated by an Assistant Head Teacher and her husband, and maintains a list of brands and discounts that is updated every month.

Hundreds of brands offer Teacher Card members discounts of up to 50%, and you can also download discounted gift cards for a vast number of brands, including the likes of Argos, Boots, Foot Locker, Vintage Inns, Tesco, Costa, and more.

Membership is £7.99 per year, a fee that can be more than recouped with a single discount.

Teacher Perks

Teacher Perks is free to join, and works with some of the most important education organisations in the UK, offering an entire range of perks for anyone who works in education.

Not only can you use its discounts to save money, but you can also access a wealth of free resources (including lesson plans), and even earn extra money by filling out surveys or taking part in focus groups.

You’ll have dozens of perks made available to you, with discounts on activities like shopping, entertainment, and travel. (At the time of writing, discounts include 30% off gym membership at Nuffield Health; 20% off meals at TGI Fridays; thousands off a new car financed via Motor Source; and up to 30% discount on stays at Hilton Hotels.)

Public Sector Discounts

Sign up for a free membership at Public Sector Discounts (PS Discounts), and you can access more than 7,000 discounts, including from supermarkets and local shops.

You can use the PS Discounts Black Card to take advantage of exclusive discounts online or in store, from retailers including Marks & Spencer, Boots, Thorntons, and Waterstones. There are cashback offers of up to 5%, too, or you could use exclusive voucher codes at big brand names across the country.

Boundless

First established in 1923, Boundless is the UK’s premier club for public sector workers, including teachers. Membership is £40 per year, but this provides exclusive discounts and access to some of the UK’s top attractions, including Kew, WWT centres, and more.

You can also benefit from savings on the high street and in supermarkets, as well as discounts on Boundless holiday properties and motoring and insurance deals.

CSSC Sports & Leisure

Especially for public sector employees, CSSC is a scheme that offers discounted gift cards for many of the UK’s major retailers. But it doesn’t stop there. You can also access cheap days-out deals, discounted cinema tickets, and earn up to 10% cashback.

It boasts more than 130,000 members, with more than 4,000 ways to save money. All you need to do is show your membership card to receive exclusive discounts of up to 70%.

Included with your membership is unlimited family entry to English Heritage and Cadw sites. All this for £4.99 a month.

Education Organisations With Discounts

Membership of a teachers’ union or other educational organisation does more than simply help you in pay bargaining, workplace disputes, and educational resources. It delivers discounts and money saving offers, too.

National Education Union

Are you an NEU member? Apart from the tremendous work it does on behalf of its members, you can also benefit from the rewards it offers.

These include deals on gym membership, mobile phones, car hire, dining out, takeaways, cinema tickets, magazine subscriptions, travel and holidays, financial advice, and discounts at high street retailers.

Exclusive offers are updated regularly, and you’ll also receive complimentary insurance protection.

The International Teacher Identity Card

The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) is designed for teachers. Sign up, and you open a world of discounts.

These include offers on travel, accommodation, transport, and food. The virtual card costs £12, and you can request a plastic card for an additional £3.

Is it worth it? With discounts such as 20% off National Express travel, 50% off breakdown insurance, 15% off Samsung smartphones, and 40% off a Fitness First membership, the answer is yes.

Direct Discounts for Teachers in the UK

As well as becoming a member of a discount site for teachers or paying your union fees, there are many UK retailers who will give you a discount at the checkout. Each company has its own process for doing so.

Therefore, it’s best to check with the retailer before you shop. As a general guideline, though, be prepared to show documentation such as proof of employment, a pay slip, or union membership card.

These discounts are subject to change, but here’s what we consider to be some of the schemes available today:

Apple

Not a direct discount scheme, but as a member of UNiDAYS (yes, as a teacher you can sign up), you’ll get access to the Apple Education Store, with some great deals available (though these do change regularly).

Dell Advantage

If you’re not an Apple fan, it could be worth considering Dell Advantage to receive a 20% discount on items such as desktops and laptops, as well as great deals on accessories and monitors.

Microsoft

You may know that teachers can get free access to Microsoft Teams, but did you know that you can also receive a 10% discount on many devices and accessories from Microsoft too?

This could save hundreds of pounds over the course of a year.

Morrisons

Morrisons may not offer a general teacher discount any longer, but you can join its Morrisons More for Teachers Club.

You can join online or instore, and immediately receive up to 30% off selected groceries and other items. You’ll receive these exclusive deals on the Morrisons More app or the Morrisons website.

You’ll need to monitor your club membership to keep abreast of the best deals as they change regularly.

O2 Open

Receive up to 25% discount off the O2 Airtime Plan (data, minutes, and texts). That’s like getting three months of free mobile access every year!

EE Discounts

Offered via Beans iD, you can get 20% off Airtime Only with Flex Plans or any 12/24-month SIM only plan.

Carphone Warehouse

Carphone Warehouse operates a voucher scheme for key workers, including teachers.

Discounts at the time of writing this article include a £12 Currys Gift Card when you buy a 12-month Vodafone SIM only contract, and a £40 Currys Gift Card with any pay-monthly handset contracts.

Benefit Cosmetics

Benefit Cosmetics offer a 15% discount in its Benefit shop. All you need to do is verify your employment.

Tier1

If you fancy a wider choice of technology products than shopping at Apple Dell or Microsoft, then you could get 10% off when you spend £300 or more at Tier1 Online.

Vision Express

Shop online with Vision Express and receive a 20% discount on all your eyewear, including prescription sunglasses and contact lenses.

Motor Source

Do you need a new car? Check out Motor Source for exceptional deals on new and used cars, and lease cars.

You can save thousands on new cars, and with an easy-to-use search screen you can see just how good the deals are in seconds. They also offer finance, though you might get a cheaper APR by shopping around for a loan.

Taylor Wimpey

Just when you thought you’d come to the maximum savings possible, we come to the teacher discount that owns them all! Taylor Wimpey will give you up to £15,000 off a new home, though this doesn’t apply to all its developments.

Local Council Discounts

Many local councils run discount schemes for their employees. You could use council facilities at knock-down prices, as well as access discounted deals that councils have negotiated with suppliers.

You’ll need to speak to your council to find out if they run a discount scheme.

9 Tips to Maximise Your Teacher Discounts

Recently, I was speaking to someone about teacher discounts, and they told me that they don’t make as many savings as they thought they might from their discount memberships. When I asked why, they told me that they forget to check the discounts before they shop!

Incredibly, they had booked a holiday at full price, and then realised they could have got the same holiday with a 30% discount! That’s quite a chunk off the balance due.

To avoid making a similar costly mistake, I’ve put together this list of tips to help you maximise the teacher discounts available to you:

1. Join Multiple Teacher Discount Sites

Sign up to as many teacher discount platforms as you can. Many are free, and the more choice you have, the more potential there is to take advantage of the best discounts.

2. Consider Teacher Discount Member Clubs

Membership clubs like Boundless and CSSC offer a vast range of discounts, not only on shopping but on many leisure activities, too.

3. Take Advantage of Your Education Organisation Memberships

Your membership of a teachers’ union or other educational organisation could be worth hundreds in discounts and savings.

4. Leverage Online Shopping

Some of the best discounts will be found online, so waiting a few days for delivery can really pay. Always check for the best deals available by doing an internet search.

5. Compare Discounts Between Memberships & Discount Sites

Before you make a purchase (especially the big-ticket items), compare the discount available from your different memberships and teacher discount sites. A few minutes could make a significant difference to how much money you could save.

6. Get Involved with Discount Forums

People love to share their money-saving tips through social media and discount forums. Stay tuned to these to learn about the latest high-value discounts available.

7. Plan & Prioritise Your Spending

Keep abreast of the best deals for teachers and plan your spending to prioritise for these. This may mean using a variety of supermarkets or bringing forward a major purchase to beat a discount expiry.

8. Always Ask!

Get into the habit of always asking a shop or service if they give a discount for teachers. The worst answer you’ll get is a no. Many shops who don’t officially give a discount for teachers may offer a discount if you ask.

9. Review Your Membership Regularly

Finally, review your memberships regularly – I’d recommend at least every six months. If you aren’t making use of a paid membership, it’s a waste of money!

The Bottom Line

As a teacher (or other worker in the UK’s education system), you have an array of discount opportunities available to you. These range from membership sites and direct retailer discount schemes, to benefits provided by education organisations and local councils.

It only takes a little effort and strategic planning to maximise the savings potential of multiple teacher discount memberships. Use this article as the springboard to saving hundreds, or even thousands, each year.

You’re helping to shape our future – don’t you deserve a little extra reward today?