Last updated 11:46, Monday, 08 December 2008

A career as a secondary school teacher

A SECONDARY school teacher teaches one or more national curriculum subjects to classes of pupils aged 11-16 or 11-18. The subjects are determined by the national curriculum but how they are taught is left to the professional judgement of the teacher.

Teachers develop schemes of work and plan lessons in line with national objectives. They encourage, monitor and record the progress of individual pupils, and devise and adapt resources to suit their own students.

Secondary school teachers must also keep up to date with developments in their subject area, new resources and methods.

l planning, preparing and delivering lessons to a range of classes

l marking work, giving appropriate feedback and maintaining records

l researching new topic areas and maintaining up-to-date subject knowledge

l devising and writing new curriculum materials

l using a range of different learning resources and equipment

l undertaking pastoral duties, such as taking on the role of form tutor, and supporting pupils on an individual basis through difficulties

l preparing pupils for external examinations as well as SATs, and administering these examinations

l managing pupil behaviour in the classroom and on school premises,

l supervising and supporting the work of teaching assistants, trainee teachers and newly qualified teachers

l participating in and organising extracurricular activities

l participating in departmental meetings, parents’ evenings and whole school training events

l liaising with other professionals, such as learning mentors, careers advisers, educational psychologists and education welfare officers

l undergoing regular observations and participating in regular in-service training (INSET)

Newly qualified teachers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland start on the main salary scale, which rises incrementally from £19,161 to £28,005. The starting point depends on qualifications, prior experience and the responsibilities of the post.

Discretionary increments may be available.

After gaining experience, teachers can apply to move on to an upper scale, which rises from £31,098 to £33,444.

Secondary teachers have 13 weeks per year away from the classroom, but many work on marking, planning and preparation during this time. Parents’ evenings, preparation for Ofsted inspections, breakfast and after-school clubs, and sport, drama and field trips may all take up extra hours.

Approximately 55 per cent of secondary teachers are women, but proportionally more head teachers are male. The gender balance varies across subject areas.

Teaching can be a stressful job, with many teachers citing the heavy workload as the main cause of stress.

Unless your first degree gives you QTS, you will need further training.

A full-time, part-time or modular Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education (PGCE). PGCE courses are available at many universities and colleges of higher education, including the Open University (OU).

A graduate teacher programme (GTP). Graduates are employed by a school as unqualified teachers and paid a salary (currently around £14,400). This is a highly competitive scheme for those with considerable classroom or professional experience. Applications for GTP places are made to designated recommending bodies.

A school-centred initial teacher training scheme. This involves schools devising their own training programme in partnership with their local education authority (LEA) and institution of higher education. Applications are via the GTTR.

In England and Wales, candidates with two years of higher education may take a shortened two-year degree with QTS. You can apply via UCAS.

You can also train through the registered teacher programme, a two-year programme combining classroom work and the completion of a degree which confers QTS. Places are limited and the focus is on shortage subjects.

The Teach First scheme offers the chance of teaching for two years and then either staying in teaching or moving on to roles in the public sector or business.

You need to demonstrate you have sufficient subject knowledge to teach your chosen specialism. Some institutions offer enhancement courses for shortage subjects. Check the TDA website for current shortage areas. To gain a place on an enhancement course, you must already have been accepted onto a PGCE course.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

l classroom experience as an observer or classroom assistant. Structured work experience programmes, such as the students’ associates scheme, are available through higher education institutes and the OU

l experience with children through sports, playschemes, summer camps, youth clubs, tutoring or mentoring, for example

familiarity with the national curriculum for your subject

l enthusiasm, commitment and strong communication skills

Teacher training providers set their own entry requirements, which always include GCSE grades A-C in English and maths and satisfactory health and Criminal Records Bureau checks. Applicants without these should approach institutions before submitting an application, as some offer special tests for applicants.

Trainee teachers must also pass national skills tests in numeracy, literacy and ICT before starting their induction year.

Since September 2006, all PGCEs in England are subject to variable fees of up to £3,000 per year, although trainees may be entitled to a £1,230 non-means-tested bursary and an additional means-tested grant of £1,535.