Career outlook for teacher - secondary school - computing
Figures and forecasts for roles at the same level, which require similar skills and qualifications.
Average UK salary
£37,960
Currently employed in Scotland
33,100
Average UK salary
£37,960
Currently employed in Scotland
33,100
"LMI for All" supplies our salary and employment status information. "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?
Computers and technology are a part of everyday life and the tech industry in Scotland is thriving. To be ready for the workplace, students need to develop computing skills and an understanding of how computer systems work.
As a computing teacher you’d inspire and motivate young people to learn about computers, develop basic computing skills, learn how computers and computer systems work and help them design and build programmes.
You’d teach and support young people with different abilities and prepare them for their National Qualifications and Highers in this subject. You might also work in a college or learning centre.
There is national guidance for Curriculum for Excellence Technologies and National Qualifications, which you’d use when planning your teaching.
What you might do:
- 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
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%
Top skills
Here are some of the skills needed for this job. Sign in to see how your skills match up.
- Positive attitude
- 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 two routes into teaching computing. You can study a four-year degree that combines education with business studies and computing science (or computing science and maths) or take a one-year computing PGDE course following an undergraduate degree.
Whichever route you take, you must study at least two of these subjects to be able to apply for jobs as a computing teacher:
- Software development
- Database systems
- Web design
- Any computing area relevant to the computing curriculum in Scottish schools
For details on SCQF credit points needed, see The General Teaching Council for Scotland website
You should also be able to demonstrate some experience of working with young people.
Alternative Training Options
Some courses have been developed to offer flexible routes into the teaching profession, including:
- A supported induction route combines the postgraduate course and induction year training, so you are qualified in less time (University of Dundee)
- 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)
- 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 Masters 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)
- Computing science
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.