How to Become a Secondary School Teacher

October 29, 2024
To become a secondary school teacher, you need to have many specialisations and teach children from 11 to 18 or Years 7 to 13.
How to Become a Secondary School Teacher

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How to Become a Secondary School Teacher

What Are the Main Types of Secondary School Teachers?

To become a secondary school teacher, you need to have many specialisations and teach children from 11 to 18 or Years 7 to 13. However, there are many types of secondary school teachers, depending on their specialisations. Depending on the subject, the main types of secondary school teachers are listed below.

How to Become a Secondary School Teacher
  • Core Subject Teachers: Teachers who specialise in the core subjects of English, Mathematics, and Science. An important part of a teacher’s role is to build up the basic skill levels so the child can be prepared for the core exams at the end of a year, usually the GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) and A-levels.
  • Humanities teachers: Teachers of history, geography, and religious studies who help students understand cultural, social, and historical contexts and encourage critical thinking and analytical skills through discussion, research, and essay writing.
  • Modern Foreign Language (MFL) Teachers: teachers of languages such as French, Spanish, and German who help students learn languages, improve their communication skills, and appreciate other cultures, often in preparation for taking language proficiency exams.
  • Creative Arts Teachers: Art, drama, and music teachers help pupils develop their creativity and self-expression, often working with art club members on projects, performances, and exhibitions.
  • PE teachers: Physical education teachers promote fitness and health through a variety of sports. They design and conduct activities to maximise physical fitness for all students. They teach and promote the science behind sports activities to make the experience fun. They also help students learn to keep fit for the rest of their lives.
  • Technology and Computing: Technology teachers teach about design, technology, and engineering principles. Computing teachers teach about computer science, coding, and IT. These subjects might involve hands-on tasks and lessons about using technology in the modern world.
  • Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teachers: This type of teacher works with students with disabilities or learning difficulties. They break down lessons into manageable chunks, provide students with resources, and work with them using specialist teaching methods.

Different types of secondary school teachers have different roles and consequently need different subject knowledge, so it is important to choose to train in an area that plays to your strengths and interests.

What Does a Secondary School Teacher Do?

Secondary school teachers teach all the science subjects in different classes. They prepare the students for exams and their whole life. Let’s have a look at the main duties of a secondary school teacher:

  • Lesson Plan: Lesson plans are written by teachers to ensure that the curriculum is met and that the educational standards and the needs of the students are being fulfilled. Planning also encompasses preparing all corresponding activities, assignments, and materials to support the student’s learning objectives.
  • Delivery of Instruction: Teachers provide clear instruction on subject content through various methods that might include lectures, question-and-answer sessions, case studies, role play, and practical exercises. They also use visual aids, materials, and technology to assist students’ understanding of the subject.
  • Assessment: Students will be assessed on their understanding of the information presented through assignments, quizzes, and exams. Teachers monitor progress, provide feedback, and report on learning outcomes as students learn to identify strengths and weaknesses.
  • Classroom Management: Good teachers ensure their classroom is orderly and respectful by managing student behaviour so that it neither gets out of hand nor hinders learning. Classroom management skills enable the teacher to maintain order and support a productive learning environment.
  • Supporting Students’ Emotional and Social Well-Being: Besides their role as subject-matter experts, teachers help support students’ emotional and social well-being. They act as mentors to students, helping them deal with academic and personal challenges and referring them to school counsellors when appropriate.
  • Communicating with Parents and Guardians: Teachers keep in touch with parents and guardians about their children’s progress and behaviour and what they can do to help, for example, with parent-teacher meetings and reports.
  • Continuing Professional Development: Teachers should attend courses and workshops to keep up with educational trends, the best teaching methods, and the most up-to-date subject matter. Teachers can never stop learning if the curriculum changes.

Secondary school teachers have an important role to play in the lives of their students, helping guide them through important stages of their education and personal development.

Average Secondary School Teacher Salary

The salaries of secondary school teachers in the UK, which depend on their experience, their place of work and their responsibilities. Below is an overview of the average salary for teachers in secondary schools in the UK.

  • Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs): NQTs typically earn between £28,000 and £30,000 annually. Salary can vary slightly depending on the school’s location, with teachers in London sometimes earning slightly more as the London weighting scheme is sometimes applied.
  • Experienced Teacher: Teachers qualified for more than a few years can expect to earn up to £40,000. Each time a teacher moves up a step on the main pay scale (MPS), their salary increases.
  • Upper Pay Scale (UPS) Teachers: Each added responsibility or experience gained qualifies a teacher to enter the upper pay scale, which can pay between £40,000 and £50,000 a year.
  • Head of Department or Leadership Roles: High-paid senior jobs in secondary schools include Head of Department, Assistant Headteacher, or Headteacher, with salaries normally ranging from £50,000 to more than £100,000 for the senior leadership roles.
  • Supply and Part-Time Teachers: Supply teachers are paid daily rates, and many command between £120 and £180 per day. They are classed as ‘bank staff’, and part-time teachers’ earnings are prorated daily about the number of hours worked, a fraction of the full-time equivalent salary.

Secondary School Teacher Skills

You need various skills to be a good secondary school teacher to keep students and lessons running smoothly. These include:

  • Subject knowledge: Teachers need to be experts in the subject they teach. This includes keeping up-to-date on current affairs, following the curriculum, and the standards for examinations. This enables the teacher to teach well from knowledge and authority.
  • Interpersonal communication: Teachers need to be able to explain things, give feedback, and build relationships with students, parents, and colleagues.
  • Organization and Planning: Teachers plan lessons and assignments and assess students’ work. Good organisation can help teachers design engaging lessons and manage time well.
  • Classroom management: Teachers need ways to keep a positive classroom atmosphere, manage student behaviour, and encourage participation. Classroom management techniques are useful in setting up a learning space.
  • Empathy and Patience: Teachers must work with students from all walks of life, with different learning needs and personalities. Teachers must understand and empathise with students to help them, whether they face academic or personal struggles.
  • Flexibility: Teaching necessitates the ability to improvise. For example, as with any job, schedule changes and unusual circumstances always arise. In addition, students sometimes have various needs and backgrounds that are not always known in advance. Flexible teachers can adapt on the fly when needed.
  • IT and Technology Skills: These days, technology plays an important role in teaching. A modern teacher uses IT tools, interactive whiteboards, online learning platforms, and digital materials to enrich lessons. A good teacher should feel comfortable using the technology to support learning.

Secondary School Teacher Tips

Here are some essential tips for becoming a successful secondary school teacher:

  • Create a Positive Climate: Address disruption and conflict within a positive and respectful climate. I helped create positive relationships between staff and students by being friendly, approachable, and considerate.
  • Be prepared and organised: Spend some time lesson planning and being organised. Have all your resources ready, and plan activities and questions so you know what to say and how to say it.
  • Promote Active Participation: The most effective way to help students learn is to involve them in their learning by asking them questions, encouraging them to ask questions, engaging them in discussions, and conducting group activities. This makes them active participants in their learning.
  • Try Out Classroom Management Techniques: Play around with classroom management techniques to discover what works for you. Establishing clear expectations, enforcing consistent rules, and providing positive reinforcement will keep things under control.
  • Giving feedback: Let students know where they can improve. Never tell students they are wrong; show them why their answer is incorrect and how they could have approached the problem differently.
  • Do Professional Development: Take advantage of training and development opportunities to stay current. Many schools offer workshops and online courses on strategies to improve teaching, classroom management, and content knowledge.
  • Take Care of Yourself: Teaching is a demanding profession, so nourish yourself. Make a healthy work-life balance and chat with colleagues or mentors about how to find balance and support.

Secondary School Teacher Requirements

To become a secondary school teacher in the UK, you will need some qualifications and experience. Here is an overview of the typical requirements.

  • Relevant Degree: The most important requirement for teacher training is a degree in a relevant subject. For example, if you want to teach English, you need a degree in English literature, language, or a related subject.
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE): Most teachers in training do a PGCE. This one-year postgraduate qualification is more focused on teaching than academic study. PGCEs combine training in the classroom with educational theory.
  • Qualified Teacher Status (QTS): A mandatory qualification required to teach in most UK state schools. Normally obtained by completing a teacher training qualification, like a PGCE or school direct training.
  • Initial Teacher Training (ITT): School Direct, Teach First, or SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training); these programs involve training in a school and are designed for candidates who want a more practical path to qualification.
  • Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE): If your degree doesn’t cover the subject you want to teach, you may need to take an SKE course—a program to help you develop the subject knowledge necessary to teach at the secondary level.
  • DBS Check: They were required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, formerly known as a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), which any person wanting to work with children in the UK must pass to demonstrate their suitability to work with children. This was, of course, one of the stipulations put in place by the school during the recruitment process.
  • Continuous Professional Development: Once the qualifying period is over, teachers continue their professional development (CPD) through workshops, training sessions, or further qualifications.

How to Become a Secondary School Teacher

If you’re interested in becoming a secondary school teacher, follow these steps:

  • Obtain a Relevant Degree: Start with a degree in the subject you want to teach. If your degree isn’t directly related, consider taking a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course to bridge the knowledge gap.
  • Finish a Teacher Training Program: Take a PGCE, a School Direct, a Teach First, or a SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training) program to equip yourself with teaching skills and on-the-job experience. Such programs are generally a year-long mixture of practical training and academic learning.
  • Get qualified teacher status (QTS): You must complete a program that awards QTS; otherwise, you won’t be able to teach in a state school. QTS will be awarded at the end of your program after you have passed all your assessment days.
  • Classroom experience: Make sure you have plenty of it! This is the best way to develop your teaching skills. Try to go on a training placement with an experienced teacher who will observe you and give you feedback.
  • Apply for Jobs: Apply for secondary school teaching positions. Prepare a strong CV and application conveying your teaching and subject knowledge commitment.
  • Develop classroom management skills: Classroom management is an important part of teaching. Try to establish rules and expectations for your class, encourage respectful behaviour, and reward good conduct.
  • Continuous Professional Development: Take up any CPD opportunity that’s available. Many schools run their training events, and plenty of online courses refresh your knowledge on particular teaching skills or keep you up to speed with new educational trends.

Get Qualified as a Secondary School Teacher 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should You Become a Secondary School Teacher?

Becoming a secondary school teacher offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on young people’s lives. Teachers guide students through important academic and personal development stages, helping them reach their potential. It’s a rewarding career for those passionate about education and interested in supporting young minds.

Is Secondary School Teaching a Good Career Choice for You?

If you enjoy working with young people, have a passion for your subject, and can manage a classroom, teaching could be a great fit. It’s a fulfilling career that combines academic, personal, and social engagement, making it suitable for those who value helping others.

What Are Typical Secondary School Teacher Salaries?

Salaries vary depending on experience and location. Newly Qualified Teachers earn around £28,000 to £30,000 annually, while experienced teachers earn £30,000 to £40,000. Senior roles, such as Head of Department, offer salaries ranging from £40,000 to £50,000+.

Which Qualifications Can Help with a Career in Teaching?

A degree in the subject you want to teach and a PGCE are the most common qualifications. QTS is mandatory for teaching in UK state schools, and CPD courses help teachers continue developing their skills throughout their careers.

Do I Need to Be Experienced to Get Started?

Teacher training programs, like PGCE or School Direct, include hands-on teaching experience. You don’t need prior experience to begin, but building classroom confidence during training is essential for career success.

What Is the Secondary School Teacher Career Outlook?

The demand for qualified secondary teachers remains strong, especially in subjects like science, maths, and modern foreign languages. Career progression opportunities include senior teacher, Head of Department, and leadership roles such as Deputy Headteacher or Headteacher.

Secondary School Teacher Hierarchy and Progressing Within the Role

Secondary teachers can advance to senior teaching roles, such as Head of Department, or take on pastoral roles as Year or Key Stage Leaders. With experience, they may progress into school leadership roles, such as Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, or Headteacher.

Secondary School Teacher Exit Options and Opportunities

Experienced teachers can transition to roles in educational consultancy, curriculum design, or teacher training. Many also pursue positions in educational policy, school administration, or work with exam boards and educational publishers.

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