Secondary Teaching

Anyone approaching their Leaving Cert will be all too aware of the importance of a good teacher to assist you in your studies. An enthusiastic, passionate and talented teacher can make the most boring, difficult areas of study interesting.

One of the most popular reasons to become a secondary school teacher is that it gives you the opportunity to concentrate on an area in which you are particularly interested, be it music, art, language or physical education. Inspiring curiosity is an extremely satisfying process and as an added bonus you get to talk about something you love all day!

Education

The most common path to becoming a secondary school teacher is to complete a primary degree in one or two subjects and then take a Higher Diploma (H. Dip.) in Education. This means gaining a thorough knowledge of a subject such as History, English or French during your degree, and then learning the teaching skills to impart this knowledge as a teacher. The CAO points you will require depend very much on which subject that you choose.

Students who wish to become Art, Home Economics, Music, Religion, Wood/Metal Work and Physical Education teachers can take dedicated degree courses that bypass the need for a postgraduate qualification. Dedicated Science Education degrees have been recently introduced. The CAO points needed are in the 350 – 450 range. Some subjects (Physical Education, Art, Music) require the candidate to demonstrate a certain amount of proficiency in the chosen area.

Teaching courses combine academic and practical classes in your chosen specialist subject, as well as pedagogical and education-related subjects such as teaching skills, administration, assessment and educational philosophy. Teaching practice placements can also form a part of the course where you have to spend a specified amount of time teaching in a secondary school.

Options After Qualification

Graduates with general degrees can move on to the HDip, while those who have taken a specialist education degree can go straight into the work environment.

People arrive at the teaching profession from a number of different directions. Graduates with a basic degree often work for several years in their chosen profession before returning to college to gain a teaching qualification, ultimately moving towards a career as a secondary school teacher.

The Work

The challenges of teaching are indisputable. Subjects, theories and practical skills can be difficult enough for many people to master themselves, without having to pass on this knowledge to others.

Day-to-day work will depend on which subject you teach. For example, an English teacher’s day is different to a P.E. teacher’s; a teacher of Religion will have different tasks to a Music or Home Economics teacher. What all teachers have in common is the necessity to abide by the curriculum and prepare students for their Junior and Leaving Certificates. The success of new examination practices such as continuous assessment and the growing use of technology in the classroom are also dependent on the teachers’ efforts and skills.

Teachers can also be involved in devising study plans, teaching ‘grinds’, supervising exams and after-school study sessions, organising sports teams and other extra-curricular activities such as drama, art, music or debating, and planning field trips and school tours.

Being a teacher is not only about imparting knowledge. Teachers also have to deal with awkward and demanding situations. Anyone who has been to secondary school probably remembers at least one scary or funny situation, and teachers should be ready to deal with whatever emergencies (or embarrassments) arise.

Secondary school teaching is a tremendously rewarding and engaging career, where you have the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives, and have a hand in preparing young people for the world beyond school.

Personal Qualities & Work Environment

As a secondary school teacher, you must be resourceful, flexible and capable in a classroom situation. You need to be enthusiastic about your subject, be able to communicate effectively and have strong conflict-resolution skills. In addition to disciplinary matters it is important to be creative and resourceful; these teachers often make the best ones.

There are many varied work environments within a school and as a teacher you will have access to all kinds of aids to make sure your lessons are engaging and relevant, from blackboards, projectors and Bunsen burners, to ovens, plastic cones and pianos.

The Money

The salary for secondary school teachers starts from around €29,000 a year, rising to €56,000 at the top of the scale.

The Jargon

Continuous Assessment: Where students gain marks for work done during the year, rather than taking exams at the end
HDip: The abbreviation for Higher Diploma in Education, the postgraduate qualification that is a common route towards a teaching career
Grinds: Rotation of the pelvis in a rhythmic motion; extra revision classes

Further Resources

Department of Education and Science
Marlborough Street
Dublin 1
Phone: 01 889 6400
Web: www.education.ie
Email: info@education.gov.ie

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI)
ASTI House
Winetavern Street
Dublin 8
Phone: (01) 671 9144
Web: www.asti.ie
Email: info@asti.ie

Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI)
73 Orwell Road
Rathgar
Dublin 6
Phone: 01 492 2588
Web: www.tui.ie
Email: tui@tui.ie

Scoilnet – portal for Irish Education
www.scoilnet.ie

National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE)
Dublin City University
Dublin 9
Phone: 01 700 8200
Web: www.ncte.ie
Email: info@ncte.ie