Teacher - Secondary School - Drama

You would inspire and motivate young people to learn practical skills in drama and experience the excitement and energy of acting and performing.

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 drama teacher you’d help your pupils value their creativity and imagination and use them to develop their acting skills. They would learn about ways to develop enjoyable and stimulating performances and collaborate with others to create an exciting dramatic experience.

You’d help young people develop an appreciation of aesthetic and cultural values, identities and ideas and prepare the foundations for some pupils to go on to a career in the arts.

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 expressive arts 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 take the lead on school plays and performances

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 educational 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 – Becoming a teacher, information 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