What is secondary education?
Secondary education involves teaching children between the ages of 11 and 16 – or up to 18 if the school has a sixth form – which in England equates to Year 7 up until Year 13. Becoming a secondary school teacher means planning, teaching, and assessing students from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities in one or two subject specialisms, in line with the national curriculum.
Why be a secondary school teacher?
If you’re thinking of studying for a degree in education, becoming a secondary school teacher comes with lots of benefits and is a highly rewarding career choice. Here, we’re exploring just a few of the great reasons you should consider choosing secondary education.
1. Specialise in the subject you're passionate about
Unlike primary education where you’ll teach across a whole range of subjects, being a secondary school teacher gives you the opportunity to specialise in just one subject you’re passionate about, which could be anything from maths to music. This means you can tailor your secondary education degree to what you want to teach.
The main benefit of having a subject specialism is that it’ll offer more variety, as you’ll be teaching multiple classes and students across different year groups during the school week. Having enthusiasm for your own subject will also translate into your teaching and could inspire your students to fall in love with it too.
2. It's rewarding
It might sound like a cliché but becoming a teacher – while challenging – is incredibly rewarding. No two days are the same and secondary schools provide a dynamic and diverse working environment. You’ll be inspiring the next generation, shaping the lives of young people, both academically and personally, and teachers are often people students will remember positively long into their adult lives. Having a real desire to see your students succeed will require offering support in the best ways you can, and there’s no better feeling than knowing your hard work has paid off.
Teaching at secondary level, especially beyond Year 9, can also mean many students will have chosen the subjects they have a genuine interest in, so the learning experience can be more enjoyable for both teacher and student.
3. Generous bursaries are available
To encourage more people to teach certain subjects, there are some generous bursaries and scholarships available to those pursuing a postgraduate teacher training degree, covering subjects such as maths, science, computing, languages, English, and religious education.
For certain subject areas, there are also scholarships on offer to help you with the cost of your studying. You can find out more about teacher training funding here.
"I left my job to complete my PGCE, so receiving the teacher training bursary has been a fantastic help, as it meant I didn’t have to worry about money during my studying. I now work as a full-time maths teacher in a secondary school, a role which I secured at the end of my first placement. I’m putting everything I learnt into practice and I’m now able to discover my own teaching style. I’ve grown not only as a teacher, but as an individual."
Megan Dixon
PGCE Secondary Education in Mathematics
4. There are clear career progression opportunities
Working in secondary education will offer plenty of opportunities for career progression should you wish to take them. Once you’ve gained the relevant skills and experience, you could advance to roles including head of department, head of year, or even headteacher. Alternatively, you might decide to move into a different area of education entirely, such as pastoral care or Special Educational Needs an Disabilities (SEND).
The starting salary of a secondary school teacher in England is currently £31,650 a year, which rises in increments until you reach £49,084. Headteachers have the potential to earn in excess of £130,000, depending on the size of the school, your location, and your experience.
5. You'll be in demand
With the ongoing teaching shortage in the UK, compared to other degrees, you probably won’t find it difficult getting a job once you graduate. There’s always high demand for good secondary school teachers and having your qualification will mean you’re ready to go straight into work after university. With teaching positions available all over the country, it’s also a career where you can find something to suit your location.
Having an education degree is also recognised internationally, with many countries favouring those with the skills and knowledge gained from an English teaching qualification, so there may be opportunities to travel if that was something you’re interested in.
6. Continue your training and development
Becoming a secondary school teacher will provide lots of training and professional development prospects, so you’ll always have the chance to learn something new. Continually enhancing your own subject knowledge will be vital, as you’ll need to keep up to date with the latest developments and research new topic areas. You’ll also have the chance to focus on your personal growth and improve on transferable skills in areas such as technology, leadership, and more.
7. Benefit from school holidays
Finally – and what’s perhaps one of the most appealing benefits of working in education – you can make the most of the generous holiday allowance teachers receive. Secondary teaching takes place over 39 weeks of the year, and you’ll work to a term-time schedule, which can be advantageous if you have your own family to support or any other commitments.
Although teachers are still expected to carry out some marking and lesson planning during the holidays, you’ll probably still have more time off than what most jobs can offer, particularly when it comes to the extended period of leave over the summer.
Have we convinced you that becoming a primary school teacher is a fantastic career choice? Find out more about our Teacher Training and Education courses.
Published: 5 August 2024