Teacher - Secondary school - Design and technology
Career outlook for teacher - secondary school - design and technology
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£30,000
£30,000
Experienced
£47,000
£47,000
Currently employed in Scotland
28,900
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
As a design and technology teacher, you’d encourage, motivate and inspire your students to design and make objects that have a practical use, using a variety of techniques. Design and technology is a broad subject covering topics such as craft skills, use of tools, graphic communication, computer-aided design and mechanical systems.
You’d work to guidelines set up by the Curriculum for Excellence and prepare pupils, aged 11 to 18, for national exams.
What you might do:
- Prepare teaching materials and lessons
- Teach students individually, and as a class, to work with computers, wood, and metal work tools and machines
- Assess students’ progress and mark their work
- Set and mark homework
- Manage classroom behaviour
- Discuss students' progress with parents and carers
- Organise study trips, social activities and sports events
Things to think about
- Sometimes you will need to deal with challenging behaviour. It may be difficult to get some teenagers to study so you’d need to be imaginative and enthusiastic to keep them interested.
- As well as teaching, you’d also attend meetings and regular in-service training courses as part of your professional development. You’d work closely with colleagues to plan the school’s timetables, and work with other professionals, such as education psychologists and social workers.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
72%
Part-time
26%
Self employed
2%
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- Mediating
- Verbal communication
- Working with technology
- Written communication
- Social conscience
- Developing a plan
- Time management
- Ethical
- Mentoring
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Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Qualifications
Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you’ll need.
There are 3 routes into teaching design and technology.
You can study a 4 year degree that combines education with technology (such as BTechEd Technological Education, which includes a teaching qualification - University of Glasgow) or take a one-year PGDE course following an undergraduate degree in an engineering or technological subject. You could also apply to an Honour's degree (SCQF level 9/10) in Education and Curricular Studies with Teaching Qualification at Strathclyde University. This is a 2 year course for which you would need a relevant HND. You would be able to go into a one-year work placement after graduation.
Whichever route you take, you must study at least 2 of these subjects to be able to apply for jobs as a design and technology teacher:
- mechanical, electrical or electronic engineering/sciences
- mechatronics, architecture, building services or construction technology
- Design and graphics related subjects such as graphic design, computer-aided design, computer-aided design manufacture, industrial design or product design
- Any subject area relevant to the design and technology curriculum in Scottish schools
Experience that demonstrates your ability to work with young people would also be desirable
Alternative Training Options
Some courses have been developed to offer flexible routes into the teaching profession, including:
- Distance Learning can allow you to study part-time, usually over 18 months, with a placement in a partner local authority school (University of Aberdeen - Primary and Secondary)
- Learn to Teach Primary programme (for staff employed in all local authorities in Scotland)
- Secondary with a focus on STEM subjects - PGDE (University of Dundee)
- MSc Transformative Learning and Teaching programme (University of Edinburgh)
- Returning to Teaching course (University of Edinburgh)
- Combined PGDE with integrated Master’s year in Secondary STEM subjects (University of Strathclyde)
Useful subjects
Many colleges and universities will have required subjects that you must have for entry. In addition, they may also highlight additional subjects that they would value. (See individual institutions websites for specific entry information).
Useful subjects would be:
- Higher English (essential)
- National 5 maths (essential)
- Design and manufacture
- Woodwork
- Physics
Helpful to have
While not all employers list specific qualification requirements they do ask for relevant experience, usually work based, that demonstrates a range of transferable skills. You should also be able to demonstrate that you have practical craft skills.