Secondary School Teacher

Typical Salary

£25,714 To £41,604

Typical Hours

37 to 45 term time

evenings attending events or appointments

How To Become a Secondary School Teacher

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role

College / University

You can do an undergraduate degree that leads to qualified teacher status (QTS), for example:

Bachelor of Education (BEd)
Bachelor of Arts (BA) with QTS
Bachelor of Science (BSc) with QTS

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

a degree in any sub

Apprenticeship

You can get into this career through a postgraduate teaching apprenticeship, if you have a degree and want to teach in a secondary school.

GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths

a degree for a teaching apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You could start as a teaching assistant or learning mentor and do a part-time degree. You could then move onto a postgraduate teaching course to qualify as a teacher.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
leadership skills
to be flexible and open to change
excellent verbal communication skills
maths knowledge
administration skills
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day To Day Tasks

You will:

plan lessons and prepare teaching materials
set up the classroom, organise displays and resources
teach whole class lessons, work with small groups and do practical activities
direct the work of learning support and teaching assistants
mark and assess pupils' work
provide a safe and healthy environment and follow safeguarding procedures
update records, take registers and write reports
talk to parents and carers about their children's progress

You might also:

work with other professionals like education psychologists, careers advisers, counsellors and social workers
attend meetings and training
organise subject outings, after school clubs, exam revision classes or school social activities
attend meetings, training, appointments outside of normal working hours

Working Environment

You could work at a school, at a college, at a pupil referral unit or at a special needs school.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

Career Path & Progression

You can take on extra responsibilities, such as supporting pupils with additional needs, departmental or careers leadership, or pastoral support. You may receive extra pay allowances to do this.

With experience, you could become a specialist leader of education, supporting teachers in other schools. You could also be a curriculum leader, head of year, deputy head or headteacher.

You can work for an exam board, a local education authority, in further education, or with a gallery or museum as an education officer. You can also work freelance as a private tutor.

Volunteering Opportunities

You'll find it helpful to get some experience of working with young people though this is not essential. You can do this through paid work or by volunteering at a school, doing youth work or helping on a holiday scheme.

Tips & Information

Registration

you'll usually need qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in a state school in England

Career tips

You can do a subject knowledge enhancement course to improve your understanding of the subject you want to teach.

You can also attend teacher training events before you apply to get advice about the profession, the different training routes and funding. You can attend events in person and online.

Further information

You can discover more about how to become a teacher from Get Into Teaching.

You can also search for jobs through the Teaching Vacancies service.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks