Secondary education

Secondary education is compulsory for those between the ages of 11 and 16, but as a secondary school teacher you may be teaching young people up to the age of 18. This depends upon whether your secondary school has a sixth form or not – many secondary schools in metropolitan areas, for example, no longer have a sixth form and post-16 education is provided by separate sixth-form colleges. This can make a difference in where you choose to teach, particularly for science teachers who are required to teach all sciences to key stage 4 level and only get to specialise in their degree subject in post-16 education.

Secondary teachers need to know the national curriculum

The national curriculum sets the pattern for secondary education but there’s huge diversity in how this pattern works in schools, particularly with the increase in the number of specialist schools and academies. There are core subjects and foundation subjects. The core subjects of English, maths and science are compulsory up to the age of 16. The foundation subjects include design and technology, information and communications technology (ICT), history, geography, modern foreign languages, art and design, music, physical education and citizenship.

Recent developments in secondary schools

From this year, a new, slimmer version of the national curriculum is being implemented in England, with more emphasis on ‘key concepts’, ‘processes’ and ‘cross-curricular dimensions’. It’s meant to offer teachers more flexibility and opportunity for innovative, projectbased, collaborative work across the curriculum. For 14-19 year-olds, a new diploma framework is being introduced with ‘exit points’ at different levels (e.g. ‘intermediate’ for those aged 16 and ‘advanced’ for 18 year-olds). Students will be able to combine traditional, academic school-based subjects with more vocational or applied courses of study.

The priority subjects for secondary teaching are currently maths, science (particularly physics and chemistry), ICT, modern languages, design & technology, music and RE.

You have to like teenagers to teach at secondary level and not feel intimidated by them.

Skills for secondary school teachers

Qualified teacher status (QTS) is required to teach at secondary level. You have to like teenagers to teach at secondary level and not feel intimidated by them. Empathy and sympathy are important, as well as organisational and time management skills. It’s also vital to be calm as you will come up against both teachers and pupils who will test your patience.

Energy and enthusiasm are really useful but this doesn’t mean you have to be like Robin Williams in Dead Poet’s Society – some of the best teachers are quiet people who love their subject and can transmit this enthusiasm to children.

Keep on learning while teaching others

There is still an emphasis on exam success and this can put pressure on teachers. You can have days that are frustrating and distressing, especially if you work with children who have difficult backgrounds. However, it can be rewarding to know that you can really make a difference. You get a chance to pursue a subject you really love and keep on learning while teaching others. It’s also never dull working with children.

We would like to thank Anton Franks, a senior lecturer in education and PGCE course tutor for English and drama at the Institute of Education, University of London for his help with this article.