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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Which secondary school subject is the best to teach?

57 replies

Thingsgettingstranger · 05/06/2017 16:22

Dd is 16 and has decided on becoming a secondary school teacher. She's researched a lot and knows it's not just school hours and she will work a few extra hours a day and have to plan in advance, which she's prepared to do.

However she's stuck on what subject to teach. She's currently doing her GCSE's and is predicted A/8 or A*/9 across the board in all subjects (she does English, Maths, sep science, history, PE, French and geography). At sixth form she's taking English Literature, Biology, PE and Maths.

Does anyone know which subjects are good to teach at secondary school? She's not hugely keen on maths but took it at a level because she's exceptionally gifted at it. Does anyone have any insight? TIA.

OP posts:
TheZeppo · 05/06/2017 17:24

That's 11 years after qualifying. I'm not 27 Blush

RtHonMistress · 05/06/2017 17:30

English is a tremendously difficult subject to teach. Not sure where you are, but in Scotland there isn't a set syllabus at examination level - one exam paper is set texts, but the rest is all down to the teacher. I've worked alongside classes studying Shakespeare whilst other are doing Shrek!

However, if your DD loves it and has the passion to teach it, I would wholeheartedly recommend.

LorLorr2 · 05/06/2017 17:31

Calyrical Don't you want our country's teachers to be intelligent?! Anyone who wants to teach in this day & age should be encouraged, there are even ads on tv about it haha

OP I would suggest Science but tbh, things will probably become clearer for her as she gets older, she is soo young and A-levels are such a leap she'll probably make more precise decisions after that period.

cricketballs · 05/06/2017 17:32

If she wants to get into SLT, PE is the way forward

One of the most truthful posts I've ever read on MN Grin

RtHonMistress · 05/06/2017 17:32

TheZeppo I'm English, SLT and guidance. I have three frees a week Grin

Calyrical · 05/06/2017 17:34

Absolutely Lor, but I wouldn't make my own child the sacrificial lamb.

LottieDoubtie · 05/06/2017 17:37

I would guess that by this time next year she will have a clearer idea of which subject is for her. There is no rush.

If she can do it, teaching Maths at an independent school which would let her coach games 3 afternoons a week could be ideal Grin

LoveB · 05/06/2017 17:40

Lottie so true! At private schools they can teach games lessons - it means weekend commitments, but if she loves sport and loves teaching I can't see that being too much of an issue!

leonardthelemming · 05/06/2017 17:42

I taught physics for 35 years (now retired). One of my former students (a girl) did a degree in physics and then went into the finance industry (where the money is). She hated it. Went back to uni to do a PGCE and is now a physics teacher.

(So, 1 retired, 1 new - this is the Law of Conservation of Physics Teachers.)

But seriously, we need physics teachers. Why does she prefer biology? At a deeper level - beyond degree level - it's all physics.

The only problem is that, unless things have changed in the state sector (I taught mostly in independent schools) she will be expected to teach all three sciences to GCSE. My understanding is that this requirement was a past government's attempt to solve the problem of too few physics teachers by forcing biologists to teach physics. But then physicists had to teach biology, they don't want to, and even fewer go into teaching.

Perhaps that's me being cynical, but the girl I mentioned is the only one of my former students who became a physics teacher, although many became teachers (often maths) and many more went into engineering - sometimes via an engineering degree and sometimes via a physics degree.

She would stand more chance of teaching just physics (or chemistry, or biology - if she insists) in an independent school, and they do sometimes have vacancies for NQTs, even though they often look for more experienced staff.

But I agree with PPs who say she should do a subject she loves and then consider teaching it after she has a degree.

Floralnomad · 05/06/2017 17:43

My ds is a teacher , his base degree is computing science and he is indeed a computer science teacher , but it's a good base degree because it opens up lots of other well paid career paths should he change his mind about teaching later . When he graduated as a teacher (about 3 yrs ago) we were stunned at how many PE teachers were graduating there were way more than for any other subject .

barrygetamoveonplease · 05/06/2017 17:53

Maths or IT because you can set them up to be self-marking. Not English or RE (see also History, perhaps) because they're all essays and your life is fucked by paperwork.
She might as well go into this with her eyes open, and make sensible choices from the start. Self-preservation is key.

user98765432101 · 05/06/2017 19:06

PE.
Half our maths teachers initially trained and worked as PE teachers. Plus as pp said, an awful lot of SLT were PE teachers.

harderandharder2breathe · 05/06/2017 19:11

Maths or science, but I think passion for the subject is really important. The best teachers that I remember are the ones who clearly loved their subject and loved sharing it with pupils, one of them being a maths teacher, I've never met anyone so enthusiastic about maths and importantly who could convey that and translate it into excellent teaching. Other maths teachers I had were fine, but I remember her because of her passion for her subject.

MatildaTheCat · 05/06/2017 19:34

If she did focussed on science she'd be highly popular and if she happened to have A level French so she could also teach that she'd be even more popular.

My friend teaches art and design/ textiles and photography. She also happens to speak decent Spanish so she also teaches that to year 7&8.

You need to love your subject a lot to teach secondary.

StripeyDeckchair · 05/06/2017 20:09

Core subjects - Maths, English & the sciences - are in high demand. If she decides to move up the scale into middle & senior management these subjects will open more doors, then humanities, then social sciences & enterprise then arts & PE.

Whatever she does don't do PE, there are far too many PE teachers around for the jobs available.

TheZeppo · 05/06/2017 20:31

@RtHonMistress 3 frees? And all that responsibility? I hope your school are bloody grateful for you!

I'm a HOY and get 4.

Running joke in our school about PE Grin

TheZeppo · 05/06/2017 20:40

@leonardthelemming love the law of Physics teacher retention Grin

It's a bloody difficult job OP, but I adore it and would do it all over again.

leonardthelemming · 05/06/2017 20:56

TheZeppo

@leonardthelemming love the law of Physics teacher retention

Oh, I used to teach all the conservation laws: electric charge, momentum, sheep...

(I think sheep must be a conserved quantity - there's lots of good physics in Wallace and Gromit.)

But yes, it's a hard job but very rewarding. I miss it, although I don't miss leaving the house at 7.20 to be in school by 8.

IonaNE · 05/06/2017 20:59

There are more jobs in core subjects - but more pressure on results, too, as everyone has to do GCSEs. If it's MFL, it has to be French, in UK education MFL always means "French and maybe another language on the side".

I am glad I have escaped teaching. I would not do it again in the UK.

BonnieF · 05/06/2017 21:07

If I was capable of getting a degree in maths or physics, I would be aiming for much better paid careers than teaching.

Unless I really, really wanted 13 weeks holiday every year...

BalloonSlayer · 05/06/2017 21:22

At one point in my past I wanted to be an English teacher. So glad I didn't do it, teaching English to students who think "what's the point, it's all made up" is depressing.

I think if I could teach anything it would me maths or science. Maths is simple - it's either right or wrong, no argument or personal taste involved. And there are plenty of light bulb moments. But then again some kids just can't do it at all and a lot of the worst behaviour is in maths lessons for that reason .

Science below A level is a lot more varied and interesting and it is hard - even for the kids! - to get bored, particularly at KS3,where lessons are designed to be fun and engaging. You would be teaching fewer A level classes in your specific subject than the general science but you would enjoy working with the more able students. So yeah I would reckon Science.

But you need to be bloody clever to get a maths or science degree.

Epipgab · 05/06/2017 21:33

I would imagine a P.E. teacher tends to have more extra-curricular activities than some of the other subjects, so she'd need to be happy to stay after school to help with various sports clubs if applicable.

Supposing she did a biology degree. She could then take a PGCE to become a biology teacher but possibly also offer P.E. or Maths as well. If she decided against teaching she'd be in a good position to go into other jobs with a scientific background, after a vocational postgrad course.

Polly2345 · 05/06/2017 21:43

I've met tea hers who studied two subjects at degree level (like a half and half degree) and teach them both. She could to a half and half degree to keep her options open.

BoneyBackJefferson · 05/06/2017 21:50

3boys3dogshelp

Seriously considering packing it in to be a teacher, except now I'll have to pay a fortune and train while I have children.

Depending on the course and level of degree they will pay you up to £20,000 tax free to train.

C0untDucku1a · 05/06/2017 21:54

Maths or physics. I say this as a teacher of a humanities subject who marks marks and then marks some more. Bitter? Me?

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