Teaching

There is a shortage of maths teachers in this country; the government is keen to attract highly skilled mathematicians into teaching. Being in a position to pass on your passion and knowledge of mathematics is incredibly rewarding. Could you teach the next generation of mathematicians? With the government offering bursaries of up to £20,000 for maths graduates to train, training to be a maths teacher more than competes with other graduate career paths.

 

Role:

All graduates who want to teach will have to complete Initial Teacher Training (ITT), most often in the form of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), although there are other routes to qualification. A PGCE is a one year course for those who have a degree relevant in the subject they wish to teach; the course focusses primarily on teaching skills and includes placements in local schools.

 

Skills required:

• Enthusiasm and passion for mathematics (or relevant subject)
• Communication and presentation skills
• Commitment and desire to teach
• Familiarity with national curriculum for subject
• Empathy

Advantages:

• Teaching is career with incredible job satisfaction.
• Teaching provides the opportunity to pass on your passion for mathematics to the next generation.
• Sociable working hours and generous holiday entitlement.
• Maths graduates are offered very generous bursaries to train to teach maths.
• Many opportunities for career development and promotion. The ceiling for earning is very high, with some top London head teachers earning triple figure salaries (TES).

Things to consider:

• Communicating your passion for mathematics to children and young adults can be exhausting work and one with huge responsibility.
• A calm and assertive personality is must.
• Try and get some work experience assisting in a local school.