Careers in Secondary Education
Considering a
career in teaching?
Whether you’re starting from scratch or already have a degree, there are clear pathways to becoming a qualified teacher in England.
Explore different training routes, funding options and what to expect as you begin your journey into a rewarding teaching career.
Why Teach in a
Secondary School?
Secondary education is a critical phase in a student’s academic journey, and as a secondary school teacher, you’ll have the opportunity to inspire future generations by influencing and guiding students during their formative years, helping them discover their passions and develop essential skills.
What qualifications do you need?
To teach in most Primary or Secondary Schools in England you will need QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). Here are things to consider to working towards achieving your QTS.
Gain
Experience
Before you start your teacher training it’s always advised that you get some experience in an education environment. To really see what it’s like and get a taste for the opportunity.
Minimum GCSE Requirements
You’ll need Grade C in English and Maths at GCSE level, you can retake these if required.
Undergraduate
Routes
If you don’t have a degree, you can do undergraduate teacher training or a TDA (Teacher Degree Apprenticeship). These usually take up to 4 years.
Postgraduate
Routes
If you have a degree you can apply to do a postgraduate teaching qualification like a PGCE. These can be full time for part time lasting anywhere between 9 months and 24 months to suit your availability. These courses will be a mixture of application and theory, taking place in at least 2 different schools.
What funding could be available to you?
There are lots of course options and providers to choose from, you can usually apply the year prior to your course starting but some do fill up quickly, so don’t wait to get your application completed.
- You can apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans, even if you already have an existing student loan. This won’t always be applicable for non-UK applicants.
- There are £30k tax-free allowances available to support you while you're training if you choose to teach certain subjects. This money does not have to be paid back.
- If you do not have the right to study or work in the UK, you will need a visa. Your visa will need to be sponsored by a course provider.
Starting Your Teaching Career
Once qualified you’ll be known as an Early Career Teacher (ECT), previously known as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) .
For the initial 2 years as an early career teacher, you’ll receive a package of support and training to help you develop your teaching skills. This will involve a mentor to support you in your development, able to coach you on teaching skills, tech, behaviour management and more.
Real Stories: How others like you made the jump into Teaching
Hear from candidates we’ve worked with who successfully transitioned into their first teaching roles. In these short video testimonials, they share how they navigated their pathways into teaching, the challenges they faced and the rewards they found.
