Teacher — Secondary School — Home Economics

Food and health teacher health and wellbeing teacher
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Career outlook for teacher — secondary school — home economics

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£30,000

Experienced

£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?

You would inspire and motivate young people to learn about food and nutrition. You would also help pupils understand the connections between what they eat and their health.

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 home economics teacher you’d help your pupils develop their practical skills in choosing and preparing food. This will help pupils make informed decisions to maintain and improve their physical and mental health.

You could teach about different aspects of lifestyles including:

  • managing money
  • family relationships and parenting
  • textiles and fashion
  • food technology
  • health and food policies

You’d prepare all young people to go on to make positive choices. This may also help some pupils go on to careers in the health, food production, hospitality, catering or textiles industries.

You’d teach students of different ages and abilities. Preparing young people to take National Qualifications and Highers in this subject is also part of the role.

There is national guidance for Curriculum for Excellence health and wellbeing 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.

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

You would teach lessons in a classroom or in specialised rooms equipped with kitchen equipment or sewing machines.

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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  • 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 will need a relevant degree (SCQF level 9/10) to enter a PGDE — Professional Graduate Diploma in education — in home economics (SCQF level 11). To enter a degree (SCQF level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of three Highers or a relevant HNC/HND.

If you are applying to a PGDE (SCQF level 11) you will need a relevant degree containing passes in at least two Teaching Subject Qualifying Credits (TSQC) in the subject you want to teach.

You could also apply to an Honour's degree (SCQF level 9/10) in Education and Curricular Studies with teaching qualification at the University of Strathclyde. 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. 

To enter this job applicants must have completed degree level study or above gaining at least 80 SCQF credit points including 40 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 8 (or above) from at least 2 of:

  • consumer studies
  • food studies
  • food or textile technology
  • nutrition

Useful subjects

  • Higher English (required by courses)
  • National 5 Maths (required by courses) 
  • Health and Food Technology
  • Science
  • 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 food and health areas will be helpful.

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