Secondary school teaching

Secondary school teachers educate pupils aged 11 to 18. They teach national curriculum subjects at key stages 3 and 4. Teachers at this level plan and deliver lessons in line with national objectives, and support, observe and record the progress of their pupils.

At secondary level teachers normally specialise in teaching a subject or perhaps a couple of subjects. The Get into Teaching website explains more about the subjects you might want to teach at secondary level. For an overview of what to expect and the responsibilities as a Secondary Teacher, take a look at Prospects’ Secondary School Teacher profile .

Gaining Experience

Getting experience in schools helps you decide if teaching is right for you and strengthens your application.

You can choose to:

• Volunteer at a local school

• Join the university's Reading Scheme

• Complete an optional placement year

• Use the Department for Education’s Get School Experience programme

• Watch teaching videos from channels like Laser Learning, MediaMerge and Teachers TV to reflect on classroom practice

• Teaching internships can be applied for by STEM undergraduates, further details and information is available through the Get into Teaching website.

You can also arrange your own school experience by emailing schools directly. Use the Register of Schools to find schools and contact details.

Training routes

To become a primary school teacher, you'll need to complete ITT to gain your Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). There are a number of routes you can choose, including: 

Fees and funding

How you fund your teacher training depends on the route you take, but there are practical options available to help you get started.

Help with tuition fees

If you're training through a university-led PGCE or School Direct (fee), you can apply for a tuition fee loan through Student Finance, just like for your undergraduate degree. This loan covers the full cost of your course, and you won’t have to pay anything upfront.

Extra financial support for your subject

If you're teaching a high-demand subject like maths, computing, chemistry, or physics, you could receive a tax-free bursary of up to £29,000, or apply for a scholarship worth even more, along with subject-specific mentoring, resources and networking.

You don’t need to pay back a bursary or scholarship – it’s yours to support your training journey.

Bursaries and scholarships for postgraduate teaching

Earn while you train

Prefer to earn a salary while you learn? Choose a salaried route, like Teach First, School Direct (salaried), or a Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship. You’ll be employed by a school, get paid, and gain hands-on experience in the classroom from day one.

Once you’re qualified

After your training, you’ll begin your first teaching role as part of the Early Career Teacher (ECT) programme, a two-year support package designed to help you make a strong start in the classroom. You’ll benefit from regular mentoring, reduced teaching hours, and structured professional development. It’s all about giving you time to build your confidence, grow your skills, and feel fully supported as you step into your new role.

Your school will assign a mentor who’ll guide you through your ECT years, helping you reflect on your practice, develop your teaching style, and meet the Teachers’ Standards.

When you’re ready to find your first teaching job, start with these helpful job boards:

• Prospects: Teaching Jobs

• TargetJobs: Teaching

These platforms offer practical job search advice, listings for teaching vacancies across the UK, and guidance on what to expect during your application process.