How to Become a Secondary School Teacher

Many people think they need to study education at university to become a teacher, but this isn’t true! 

If you’re thinking of becoming a Secondary school teacher, look no further than our 11-month Initial Teacher Training course- perfect for career changers and newly graduated students.

Apply to be a Secondary Teacher today

Why teach Secondary education 

Teaching in a Secondary school, also known as a high-school, gives you a great chance to specialise and teach a subject you love, all while helping to guide young people into adulthood and making a significant impact on their lives.  

There is also a high demand for Secondary school teachers, meaning you have higher chances of being employed after you’ve obtained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). With 4,181 secondary schools across the UK, you will likely be able to choose a location to work that suits you.  

What key stages are secondary? 

In the UK, there are 3 core key stages: 

• Key Stage 3 (KS3): This key stage covers years 7-9 (ages 11-14) and focuses on a broad curriculum across all subjects.  
   
• Key Stage 4 (KS4): This key stage covers year 10 and 11 (ages 14-16) and focuses on preparing for GCSEs in multiple subject areas. 
   
• Key Stage 5 (KS5): For years 12 and 13, or Sixth Form (ages 16-18) and focuses on A-levels in specific subjects chosen by the student.  

What subjects can I teach in a secondary school? 

There are a wide number of subjects you can teach in secondary school, from the core academic subjects to creative subjects to digital and upcoming subjects. 

However, it is worth noting some subjects may not be taught in every school, especially some digital and upcoming subjects.  

Core subjects:  

• English 
• Maths 
• Science (Biology, Chemistry & Physics) 
• History 
• Geography 
• Religious Studies/ Education 
• Modern Foreign Language, such as French, Spanish and German

Creative and vocational subjects: 

• Art & Design  
• Food Technology 
• Design & Technology 
• Drama 
• Music 
• Physical Education (PE) 

Digital and upcoming subjects: 

• Computing (ICT) 
• Media Studies  
• Graphic Design  

The Benefits of being a Secondary School Teacher

There are a wide number of benefits that come with being a Secondary school teacher, from teaching a subject you’re passionate about, to seeing your students grow into young adults whilst developing your own career.

Train with a bursary 

To encourage more people to teach specific subjects, the UK Government has incentivised PGCE programmes by creating generous bursaries. This includes subjects such as maths, science, computing, languages and geography.  

You can receive a bursary of up to £29,000 for some subjects, meaning for some, you won’t have to rely on student finance or part-time work to help you reach QTS.  

Specialise in subjects you’re passionate about

Unlike in a primary school, when you teach in a secondary school, you will only teach your specified subject. This is usually something an individual is passionate about, such as music or a science. Teaching a subject that you love usually translates into your teaching and could even inspire your students to fall in love with it too.  

This is ideal for those looking for more variety in their teaching career, as even though you will only be teaching one subject, you’ll be teaching across different year groups across the week.

Practical benefits

Although having a passion for the job is a huge pull into teaching, the benefits that come with the role are also extremely enticing.  

Once you’ve finished your training, and you’re employed as an Early Career Teacher, you can earn a minimum starting salary of £32,916 (outside London). 

Once you’re employed by a school, you will also automatically be enrolled into the teacher pension scheme. Your pension contributions will be tax-free since the  scheme is registered with HM revenue and Customs and is also one of 8 schemes backed by the government.  

You’ll also benefit from more holidays than other vocations. Full-time teachers work an average of 195 days per year, compared to 227 days in other professions.  

Become a Secondary School Teacher in the North West Today 

How to become a secondary school teacher 

Before you start your teacher training journey, there are a few steps you need to take. 

Check your qualifications 

To become a Secondary school teacher, you need: 

• GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and Maths  
• A bachelor’s degree of 2:2 or higher 

If you don’t have a minimum grade of 4 in your GCSEs, you can sit an equivalency test. This is a recognised exam in the UK that provides the same qualification as a GCSE. 

If you have limited or no experience in the subject you’d like to teach, you may also be required to complete a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE). There are currently only five SKE courses available for secondary subjects- maths, chemistry, computing, languages and physics.

Gain experience in a school  

If you’re new to working in education, it’s always a good idea to gain some hands on experience before you start training. Many schools offer experience days or even volunteer roles, which can help you understand school life.  

Here at Forward as One, we can help you attend experience days by contacting the school for you. Experience days usually consist of: 

• Observing a handful of lessons through the day 
• Watching how teachers manage a classroom 
• Speak to different staff and students  
• Learn more about training to teach, including the specifics of the course 

If you’re interested in an experience day in one of our partner schools, please get in touch with the team for more information.  

Apply for Teacher Training 

The next step in becoming a teacher is training to teach! You can apply for teacher training courses from October to July with Forward as One, ready to start the course in the following September.  

We are proud to be a delivery partner for Ambition Institute, who are a UK-based charity providing training and professional development based on the most rigorous research and evidence. 

No matter whether you’re changing careers, or you’ve recently graduated from university, our full-time teacher training course will allow you to become a qualified teacher in just 11 months.  

Apply now!