Placement Overview

This VIP is a Teacher at the Holbrook Centre for Autism. His role is different from a normal teacher’s role. He teaches life skills to children that visit the centre.

Generic Job Description for a Secondary School Teacher

A Secondary School Teacher is responsible for teaching students between the age of 11 and 18 within an education establishment. They teach one or more subject in line with the government guidelines for teaching – The National Curriculum.

A Secondary School Teachers work can involve; planning and creating lesson plans, teaching students in class, marking students work and feeding back on results and progress, keeping a track of students results and progress, researching new topic areas, managing pupil behaviour, organising and attending extra curricular activities, attending meetings with staff and parents.

Skills:

• Excellent communication skills
• Patience
• The ability to manage challenging behaviour
• Motivation
• Good presentation skills
• The ability to work well as part of a team or individually
• Innovation
• Good organisational skills

Pay:

• Entry for newly qualified teacher £18,000
• £25,000 - £40,000 for experienced teachers
• Head teachers can earn £50,000 or more depending on the size of the school 

Please not that salary figures are a guide only. Actual salaries may vary depending on the organisation and geographical location

Hours:

• Approx 50 hours a week during term time
• Typically Monday – Friday
• Long hours are often required for marking and preparation
• Teachers can expect 12 or more weeks paid holiday per year

Environment:

• Typically based in a classroom
• Some teachers i.e. PE teachers spend a lot of time outdoors
• Some travel may be required for extra curricular activities 

Qualifications:

• A degree is essential to achieve Qualified Teacher Status
• Teaching degree courses require GCSE passes grades A-C in Maths, English and in some cases Science, plus at least two A-Levels
• Post Graduate courses require a first degree in the subject to be taught
• It takes between three and a half and four and a half years to qualify as a teacher

Training:

• Newly qualified teachers must complete a one year induction
• In-house training is available to teachers for professional development
• Knowledge of the curriculum and teaching skills and practices must be kept up to date

Opportunities:

• There are over 3,500 state maintained Secondary Schools in the UK
• Other employers include Colleges, Universities and Independent Schools
• Opportunities exist across the UK

Links:

www.dfes.gov.uk - Department for Education and Skills

www.gttr.ac.uk - Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR)

www.gtce.org.uk - General Teaching Council for England (GTC)

www.askatl.org.uk- Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL)

www.teachers.org.uk - National Union of Teachers (NUT)