Now could be the time for many more Scots to consider a job in teaching, with renewed calls to 
attract greater diversity and equality into the profession. A cross-party group at the Scottish Parliament has warned prejudice, cultural barriers and a lack of role models are putting off many from choosing the classroom as a workplace.
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According to Government statistics, of a total of more than 50,000 teachers, those from ethnic minority backgrounds currently make up on average only 1.4% of the education workforce – that’s 1% in primary schools and 1.7% in secondary schools.
Individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds, meanwhile, make up just 0.6% of the total number of head, deputy head, and principal teachers – incredibly, that’s fewer than 100.
There is hope, however. Despite the real need for more diversity – and recent toing and froing over a new pay deal for teachers – the profession remains attractive to an increasingly broad range of candidates of all ages and backgrounds. In December, figures showed hundreds of new staff had been employed, with overall teacher numbers rising to 51,138 after an increase of 447 from the previous year.
So, what does a typical day in the life of a teacher look like? Well, the first thing to note is this isn’t a typical clock-in-clock-out job. While being a teacher is deeply rewarding, it can also be challenging and often involves longer than planned workdays.
A typical year sees teachers at school 195 days, including five dedicated to in-service training, with 40 days of holidays on full pay – but the notion of short days and long holidays is mythical. Teachers may have a 35-hour-week rota, with a maximum of 22.5 hours devoted to classes, but the working day is usually longer. Often a teacher arrives up to an hour before the 9am bell to make sure everything is ready for the day’s lessons.
A break for noon-time lunch isn’t always a leisurely affair: much of the time can be spent catching up on work strategies with colleagues or even getting ahead with exam marking. Afternoon lessons normally take place from 1pm until 3pm but this is not the end of business. There may be parents to meet, class schedules to prepare and assessments to be completed. There are also regular staff training sessions.
And some weeks you may have to be Dr Who – bending time and space to fit in mentoring teaching assistants, taking after-school classes, overseeing detentions and attending parents’ evenings. Most teachers will be happy to leave school at teatime on a ‘normal’ day.
If all of this sounds like a tough gig, that’s because it is: it takes real dedication, drive and passion to succeed in teaching. The upside is the profession comes with many benefits. No day is ever the same – most teachers will tell you to always expect the unexpected. And as you share your passion for your chosen subject there will be many times when you feel the ultimate satisfaction of witnessing students have that lightbulb learning moment.
On top of this, you’ll also be helping youngsters grow into responsible, well-adjusted adults – yes, it’s a teacher’s mission to change lives for the better.
There are many different routes into education and you should choose the one that’s best suited to you. Essentially, you must have a degree, gain a Teaching Qualification by following a programme of Initial Teacher Education and register with the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
Unlike in England, all Scottish teacher training programmes are university-led, with a four-year undergraduate programme and a one-year Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). Each programme combines theory and practical experience and leads to a Teaching Qualification in primary or secondary education.
Historically, Scotland has always been renowned worldwide for the exemplary standard of its education and to this day the teaching profession looks for the highest quality candidates – so you’ll need to meet a range of requirements before you can be accepted into a training programme.
For PGDE programmes, you’ll need to hold an undergraduate degree awarded by a UK higher education provider or a recognised equivalent qualification, plus SCQF Level 6 or above in English and SCQF Level 5 in mathematics.
If you fancy applying for one of the many undergraduate degree programmes, you’ll need to bring two other National Qualifications at SCQF Level 6 and one other subject at SCQF Level 5.
Ultimately, what does a teacher enjoy most about their working day? The sheer joy of enriching the lives of young people with knowledge and skills – and watching them grow into mature, confident school leavers.
Want a new career with guaranteed job satisfaction? If our Job Spotlight has illuminated possibilities for you, take a look at all of the latest Education/Teaching vacancies across Scotland on s1jobs.