Become a Secondary School Teacher
If you're interested in becoming a secondary school teacher, we're Plymouth's only accredited teacher training University, and we'd love to talk to you about the undergraduate and postgraduate teacher training qualifications we offer.
Our accolades
No. 1 uni in England for student satisfaction
The Complete University Guide 2023
Top 4 in England for Education
The Guardian University Guide 2024
Top 5 uni in UK for overall postgraduate satisfaction
Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2021
Becoming a secondary school teacher can be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling career choice. As a secondary school teacher, you have the opportunity to inspire and shape the minds of the next generation, fostering a love for learning and helping students reach their full potential. The sense of satisfaction that comes from witnessing students grow academically and personally is unmatched.
Teachers are constantly learning and adapting their teaching methods to suit different learning styles and student needs. This continuous learning process can be intellectually stimulating and fosters a sense of personal achievement. Moreover, the education sector in the UK values innovation and creativity, allowing teachers to bring their ideas to the classroom and contribute to educational practices and curriculum development.
As a newly-qualified secondary school teacher, you can expect to earn:
England and Wales: £28,000 to £34,502
London: £33,000 to £39,502
Wales: £28,866 to £39,873
Undergraduate secondary school teaching courses
Get your degree and qualify as a teacher at the same time.
BEd (Hons) Physical Education - Secondary Education (with QTS)
Become a PE teacher at secondary level. This option combines an honours degree with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) so that you can start teaching as soon as you pass the course.
BEd Secondary Education with Science and Maths (with QTS)
Become a specialist science and mathematics teacher at secondary level. Combine an honours degree and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) so you can begin your career immediately following the three year course.
Postgraduate secondary school teaching courses
If you've already got a degree, you can study to become a qualified teacher in just a year.
PGCE Secondary Education with Physical Education (PE)
If you've got a passion for sport and teaching, our specialist PGCE Physical Education is a direct route to a career you can be proud of.
PGCE Secondary Education with Biology
Our specialist PGCE in Secondary Education with Science (Biology) is a direct route to a career that helps pupils to make sense of the increasingly scientific and technological society in which they live.
PGCE Secondary Education with Chemistry
Our specialist PGCE in Secondary Science with Chemistry is a direct route to a career that teaches pupils about everything around them.
PGCE Secondary Education with English
Our specialist PGCE in Secondary Education with English is a direct route to a career of which you can be proud.
PGCE in Secondary Education with Art and Design
An in-depth focus on teaching art and design, planned in association with qualified teachers from our partner schools.
PGCE Secondary Education with Maths
Our specialist PGCE Secondary Education with Maths prepares you to help pupils look at life through a mathematical lens and to solve problems using objective and logical approaches.
PGCE Secondary Education with Modern Foreign Languages
Build on your existing language qualifications to become a teacher.
PGCE Secondary Education with Physics
Our specialist PGCE in Secondary Science with Physics is a direct route to a career that helps pupils to make sense of how the world around us works.
PGCE Secondary Education with Religious Education (RE)
Religious Education teachers empower young people and this PGCE RE aims to produce dynamic, confident, and innovative teachers.
PGCE Secondary Education with Geography
Our specialist PGCE Geography is a direct route to a career of which you can be proud. Geography stimulates an interest in and a sense of wonder about places.
PGCE Secondary Education with History
Our specialist PGCE History is a direct route to a career of which you can be proud, as you empower young people to study the past and the legacies of the past in the present.
PGCE Secondary Education with Psychology
Our specialist PGCE Psychology is a direct route to a career of which you can be proud. Psychology helps you understand yourself and other people.
School-based PGCE
This course trains you in one year to become an Early Career Teacher (ECT) in a specialist subject in a secondary school.
Find out more about how to get into teaching in our guides!
Teaching Training
How to ace your teacher training interview
Teaching Training
How to write your teacher training personal statement
Teaching Training
Campus-based PGCE or School-based PGCE?
Teaching Training
Teacher training interview questions
Teaching Training
How to get into teaching
Teaching Training
What is the Early Career Framework?
Teaching Training
How to become an Early Years Teacher?
Teaching Training
How to get a job as a teaching assistant
Teaching Training
How to apply for your first teaching job
Teaching Training
How to get into primary teaching without a degree
Teaching Training
Five reasons to become a teacher