Teacher - Secondary School

You’d inspire and motivate young people to study and learn. You’d help them get the knowledge, skills and attributes they’ll need for a successful and positive life when they leave school.

You would teach young people from 11 to 18 years old, in state and independent schools. You might also work in a college or learning centre.

You would specialise in one or two subjects and teach these to students of different ages and abilities. You’d prepare young people to take the National Qualifications and Highers in your subjects.

There is national guidance for Curriculum for Excellence and National Qualifications, which you would use when planning your teaching.

You would:

• Prepare lessons and teaching materials

• Assess students’ progress and mark their work

• Manage classroom behaviour

• Discuss students' progress with parents and carers

• Organise study trips, social activities and sports events

You’d encourage the students to take pride in their achievements inside and outside school. You’d support them to build good relationships with other students and teachers and play a positive part in the life of the school and the local community.

Sometimes you would 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.

You’d need to attend meetings and training courses. You’d work closely with colleagues to plan the school’s timetables, and work with other professionals, such as education psychologists and social workers.

• Teach in Scotland - About a career in teaching: how to apply, studying, early career and professional development

• General Teaching Council for Scotland – Interactive career path from the professional body for teachers in Scotland

• Education Scotland - Curriculum information, and advice and resources for teachers in Scotland

• Disclosure Scotland – More about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme