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Teacher — Secondary School — Business Studies

Business education teacher
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Career outlook for teacher — secondary school — business studies

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£28,000

Experienced

£43,685

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?

You would inspire and motivate young people to learn about how businesses are created and run, and understand ideas of enterprise and economic development.

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.

As a business studies or business education teacher you could teach a variety of business-related subjects including business practice and management, accounting, information technology, adminstration and economics.

You’d help your pupils develop practical skills for creating and running businesses, enterprising attitudes and to understand the concepts that influence business success and economic development.

You’d teach students of different ages and abilities and prepare young people to take the National Qualifications and Highers in this subject.

There is national guidance for Curriculum for Excellence Social studies 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
  • set homework
  • 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.

You’d help them get the knowledge, skills and attributes they’ll need for a successful and positive life when they leave school.

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.

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.

Working conditions

Hours

Teaching takes place for 39 weeks a year, usually from 9am to 3.30pm or 4pm. You are likely to spend several more hours outside of these times, planning lessons, marking pupils' work and taking part in activities such as outings, parent evenings and training.

Environment

Secondary school teachers often have a base classroom. However, from time to time they may have to carry books and equipment from room to room. This is subject to the space available in each school.

Travel

You could do supply teaching where you work in different schools for short periods to cover the absences of permanent teachers.

UK employment status

Full-time

72%

Part-time

26%

Self employed

2%

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  • Persevering
  • Supporting
  • Verbal communication
  • Written communication
  • Empathising
  • Respecting
  • Social conscience
  • Ethical
  • Coaching
  • Mentoring
  • Motivating others

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Qualifications

You'll need a degree in Business Studies or a Computing Science related subject (SCQF Level 9/10). 

To become a qualified teacher, you'll need to complete a PGDE - Professional Graduate Diploma in Education - in Business Studies (SCQF level 11). 

If you don't already have a degree, you can study a combined honours in Professional Education (Secondary) with Business Studies (SCQF Level 10) which combines business studies with teacher training. 

To enter a Business Studies degree (SCQF Level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and at least four Highers at B or above. Some courses will require this in one sitting.

To enter a PGDE, you'll need a degree with at least 80 SCQF Credit Points in areas such as:

  • Administration and IT
  • Business management
  • Marketing
  • Human resource management
  • Accounting
  • Economics 

Useful subjects

Courses require Higher English and National 5 Maths.

If you wish to study both business and computing science you will require a Higher in Computing.

Most course will value business, technologies and social studies subjects such as psychology.

You will also need

To be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.

Helpful to have

Qualifications and experience that demonstrate the ability to work with children or young people, communication skills and experience in business, finance and ICT will be helpful.

You will be expected to support literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing as well as your own subject.