How to become a secondary school teacher

Inspire and educate the next generation by becoming a secondary school teacher. Through your encouragement and support throughout their exciting journey of learning, you’ll play a crucial role in their development and future successes.

Two women working on a textbook

What is a secondary school teacher?

Secondary school teachers work with pupils aged 11 to 18 years, planning and delivering lessons in-line with the national curriculum. Through facilitating, monitoring and recording their educational progress, secondary school teachers work to promote a healthy learning environment where their pupils can thrive.

how do I become a secondary school teacher?

To become a secondary school teacher, you’ll need to take an appropriate training course and also pass checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service for England and Wales. It’s worth noting that even if you already have a degree in a subject unrelated to education, you can still access teacher training courses.

  • Undergraduate entry - you can undertake a full-time, 3 year Bachelor of Education (BEd) or a BA/BSc degree with qualified teacher status (QTS) for England and Wales. Entry requirements differ, but you’ll need at least a grade C/grade 4 (grade B in Wales) in English and mathematics
  • Graduate entry - if you already have a degree (regardless of subject), you can complete a postgraduate teacher training course leading to QTS in England and Wales. Typically these are 1 year, full-time courses
  • Practical experience - whichever route you take into secondary school teaching, you’ll also be required to undertake a series of placements within a school setting, in order to gain practical, first-hand experience. This will also give you an opportunity to observe experienced teachers, build familiarity with the curriculum and see how it’s delivered in action. While you’ll most likely undertake some practical placement time via your degree course, you can enhance your experience and employability by seeking voluntary or shadowing opportunities in local schools, or by asking around friends and family who may have education links

What would I do as a a secondary school teacher?

As a secondary school teacher, your role is to motivate and educate pupils across a range of ages and abilities, preparing them for their exams and life after school.

Through ongoing research and a dedication to your subject knowledge, you’ll devise engaging new materials using a wide range of resources and equipment in order to deliver the curriculum. You’ll nurture your pupils’ understanding, offer feedback and encouragement, and maintain records of their performance.

Your communication skills are key as secondary school teacher, with parents’ evenings, department and school-wide meetings and training events to attend throughout the school year. You’ll also provide pastoral duties as part of your role, helping pupils to overcome both academic and personal issues, while managing behaviour within the classroom and across the school premises.

Some other day-to-day duties of a secondary school teacher are:

  • Lesson planning
  • Classroom organisation including displays / resources
  • Guiding teaching and learning support assistants
  • Marking pupils’ work
  • Writing reports
  • Collaborating with ancillary professionals e.g. career advisors and counsellors
  • Organising trips and other educational and social activities

Becoming a secondary school teacher could be for you if...

  1. You like and respect children

    You’ll need a genuine interest in guiding children and teenagers through their academic journey and supporting their personal development.

  2. You can talk to anyone

    Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are a must, as you’ll be working with children of all abilities, plus colleagues and parents too.

  3. You learn… FAST

    You’ll need to be able to learn quickly to keep up with changes in your subject, the curriculum and other tasks you’ll have to fulfil.

  4. You’re super organised

    With planning, teaching, assessing, pastoral and extra-curricular responsibilities to juggle for starters, you’ll need strong organisational skills.

  5. You can show as well as tell

    As a secondary school teacher, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate how things work, how to do things and how things relate to the real world, verbally and in a ‘hands-on’ way.

What are the typical working hours for a secondary school teacher?

Generally from 08:30 until 15:30 or 16:00, although you may need to arrive earlier and leave later than stated school hours.

The teaching year consists of 39 weeks with 13 weeks’ holiday. Most planning and marking is done outside of school hours, during holidays and after school.

25-36K

New teachers in England start on £25,714 rising in stages to £36,961. Teachers working in or near London earn a little more. Salaries will also differ for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

As you gain more experience, you could also progress into a head of year, deputy head or head teacher role, or become an education specialist or curriculum leader. There are also opportunities to work for examination boards, local education authorities, in further education or even as a private tutor.

Now you know how to become a secondary school teacher, why not explore our courses?

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