Teach17

Training to become a secondary teacher in Scotland offers a clear route into the profession, substantial classroom experience and, for eligible graduates, a guaranteed one-year induction post.

However, Scotland has its own curriculum, qualifications, registration system and entry requirements. Anyone considering applying should understand how the system differs from teacher training elsewhere in the UK.

1. You normally qualify in a specific subject

Secondary teachers in Scotland are registered to teach one subject or an approved combination of two subjects.

Possible subjects include:

• English
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Computing science
• History
• Geography
• Modern studies
• Modern languages
• Business education
• Art and design
• Music
• Physical education
• Religious, moral and philosophical studies
• Technological education
• Home economics

The subjects offered vary between universities, and not every course runs every year.

2. The PGDE is the main graduate route

The most common route is a one-year Professional Graduate Diploma in Education, usually shortened to PGDE.

A secondary PGDE prepares graduates to teach pupils from approximately 11 to 18 years old. Most courses last around 36 weeks and combine university-based study with school placements.

There are also four-year undergraduate degrees that combine academic subject study with professional teacher education.

3. Your degree title is not the only thing that matters

Universities will examine the actual content of your degree rather than relying only on its title.

You must have completed enough university-level study in the subject you want to teach. A graduate with a broad science, engineering or humanities degree may be eligible, but this depends on the modules and credits completed.

For example, an engineering graduate hoping to teach physics may need to show that their course included sufficient physics content.

Send your degree transcript to prospective universities before applying if your eligibility is unclear.

4. Each teaching subject has its own credit requirements

The General Teaching Council for Scotland sets minimum academic requirements for each secondary subject.

Some subjects require study across several areas. A modern languages applicant, for example, may need evidence of time spent living in a country where the language is spoken. A computing applicant may need credits covering particular aspects of computing science.

Do not assume that a related degree will automatically be accepted. Check the detailed entry memorandum and the requirements published by individual universities.

5. You need qualifications in English and mathematics

PGDE applicants normally need:

• A recognised undergraduate degree
• English at SCQF Level 6, such as Higher English or an accepted equivalent
• Mathematics at SCQF Level 5, such as National 5 Mathematics or an accepted equivalent

Universities may set additional requirements, including a particular degree classification.

Applicants from outside Scotland should ask the university to confirm whether GCSEs, A levels or international qualifications are accepted as equivalents.

6. Missing qualifications can sometimes be completed before the course

Applicants without the required English or mathematics qualification may be able to complete an accepted access course.

Some universities make conditional offers to applicants who are still working towards the necessary qualification. However, it normally needs to be completed before the PGDE begins.

Check carefully before paying for an access course, as universities do not necessarily accept every available qualification.

7. Applications are normally made through UCAS

Applications for most undergraduate teaching degrees and PGDE courses in Scotland are made through UCAS.

Applicants can apply to several universities, but course availability and closing dates vary. Popular subjects and universities may fill their places early, so it is sensible to prepare well before the final deadline.

Applications should show a convincing interest in teaching, an understanding of the subject and evidence of experience working with young people.

8. School experience can make your application stronger

A fixed number of school-observation days is not always required, but recent experience in a secondary school can be extremely valuable.

It helps applicants understand:

• The daily work of a teacher
• How lessons are structured
• The importance of relationships and behaviour
• The range of needs within one class
• The differences between teaching a subject and simply knowing it

Tutoring, youth work, coaching, mentoring and volunteering can also provide useful evidence, particularly when direct school experience is difficult to arrange.

9. A strong application uses specific examples

Avoid relying on statements such as “I have always loved my subject” or “I want to make a difference.”

Explain what you have done and what you learned from it. Include examples that demonstrate:

• Clear communication
• Resilience
• Organisation
• Teamwork
• Patience
• The ability to explain difficult ideas
• Experience of supporting young people

Career changers should connect their previous experience to the realities of teaching without assuming that professional expertise automatically translates into classroom success.

10. The selection process may involve several activities

Suitable applicants are normally invited to an interview or selection event.

Depending on the university, this may include:

• An individual interview
• A group discussion
• A short presentation
• A written task
• A subject-knowledge activity
• Discussion of an educational issue

Applicants should be ready to discuss inclusion, professional values, safeguarding, relationships, behaviour and why they want to teach their particular subject.

11. You need to understand Curriculum for Excellence

Scottish schools follow Curriculum for Excellence rather than the National Curriculum used in England.

Secondary education is broadly divided into:

• The Broad General Education, usually covering S1 to S3
• The Senior Phase, usually covering S4 to S6

Curriculum for Excellence aims to develop four capacities. Young people should become:

• Successful learners
• Confident individuals
• Responsible citizens
• Effective contributors

Trainees need to think beyond examination content and consider skills, wellbeing, literacy, numeracy and wider achievement.

12. Scotland has its own secondary qualifications

Scotland does not use GCSEs and A levels as its standard school qualifications.

Pupils in the Senior Phase may study:

• National 3
• National 4
• National 5
• Higher
• Advanced Higher

Course structures, assessment arrangements and grading systems differ from those used elsewhere in the UK.

A teacher moving to Scotland must learn the requirements of the relevant national courses rather than simply transferring existing GCSE or A-level lessons.

13. The PGDE is academically and practically demanding

A PGDE is not simply a year of observing experienced teachers.

University study may cover:

• Subject teaching methods
• Lesson planning
• Assessment and feedback
• Additional support needs
• Behaviour and relationships
• Safeguarding
• Equality and inclusion
• Educational research
• Professional values and ethics

Assignments, lesson preparation, university sessions, placement work and travel can overlap. Prospective trainees should plan carefully for the financial and practical demands of the year.

14. Around half the course may be spent in schools

A typical full-time PGDE includes approximately 18 weeks of university study and 18 weeks of placement, although the exact structure varies.

Trainees normally progress from observing lessons and working with small groups to planning and teaching full classes.

They are observed regularly and expected to respond constructively to feedback. Placements are assessed against the professional standards set by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

15. You may have to travel for placements

Universities work with schools across several local-authority areas. A placement is not guaranteed to be close to the university, the trainee’s home or their preferred type of school.

Before applying, consider:

• Travelling times
• Public transport
• Fuel costs
• Childcare
• Temporary accommodation
• Whether you could accept an early-morning commute

The ability to travel can be particularly important for trainees living in rural areas or studying shortage subjects.

16. Funding depends on your circumstances

Eligible Scottish students can apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland for support with PGDE tuition fees and living costs.

PGDE courses are treated differently from many other postgraduate qualifications for funding purposes. Eligibility can depend on residency, previous study and personal circumstances.

A £12,500 teaching bursary may also be available to eligible career changers training in designated hard-to-fill subjects. The current list includes areas such as:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Computing science
• Technological education
• Home economics
• Modern languages
• Some Gaelic teaching subjects

The bursary has specific eligibility conditions and is not automatically awarded to everyone training in one of these subjects. Subjects, amounts and conditions can change between recruitment years, so applicants should consult the current Teach in Scotland guidance before making financial plans.

17. The Teacher Induction Scheme provides a supported first year

After successfully completing an approved teaching qualification, graduates normally receive provisional registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

Eligible graduates can then join the Teacher Induction Scheme. This provides a guaranteed one-year, full-time probation placement with a Scottish local authority.

Probationers normally have:

• A maximum class-contact commitment of 0.8 full-time equivalent
• Protected professional-development time
• Support from an experienced, fully registered teacher
• Regular meetings, observations and professional reviews
• Opportunities to gather evidence towards full registration

The induction year lasts approximately 190 teaching days. Successful completion can lead to full registration.

Applicants select five preferred local authorities or can choose the preference-waiver option. Selecting the waiver may increase the chance of being sent to an area with greater staffing needs, but an applicant who chooses five authorities must be prepared to accept a placement in any of them.

The induction placement is a guaranteed first teaching post for eligible graduates, not a guaranteed permanent job afterwards. Employment prospects depend on the subject, location, school vacancies and local-authority finances.

Is training to teach in Scotland right for you?

Scotland offers a well-defined route into secondary teaching, strong professional regulation and a supported transition from training into the classroom.

The Teacher Induction Scheme is a major advantage, but applicants should look beyond the promise of a guaranteed probation year. Check your subject-credit eligibility, research the Scottish curriculum, investigate funding and think honestly about travel, workload and where you could live or work.

Teaching in Scotland can be an excellent career choice for someone who enjoys their subject, wants to work with young people and is prepared to keep developing throughout their career. The best starting point is careful research rather than rushing into an application.