Teacher - Secondary School - Home Economics
Career outlook for teacher - secondary school - home economics
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?
You would inspire and motivate young people to learn about food and nutrition and 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, so they can 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 be preparing all young people to go on to make positive choices and prepare the foundations for some pupils to go on to careers in the health, food production, hospitality, catering or textiles industries.
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 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
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
72%
Part-time
26%
Self employed
2%
Create a qualification route
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- Supporting
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Empathising
- Respecting
- Social conscience
- Ethical
- Coaching
- Mentoring
- Motivating others
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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
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 Strathclyde University. 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.