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Original poster

How many subjects (other than your own) could you teach if called upon to do so?

59 replies

CruiseSpeed · 04/02/2019 18:48

I'm an English teacher, and I've never - in almost twenty years in this career - been timetabled to deliver a subject other than my own. I was chatting to a Food Tech teacher today who was floundering with the KS3 English and Geography she's been landed with this year, and it got me thinking about which subjects I could make a decent fist of teaching if called upon to do so, and which ones I'd not have the first clue about.

I'd have a cheerful go at:

  • Drama (up to KS4)
  • History (up to KS4)
  • Geography (up to KS3)
  • RE (up to KS4)
  • Food Tech (up to KS4)

Not a chance:

  • Languages
  • Maths
  • PE
  • Music
  • Art
  • Design Technology
  • IT

I'm not sure what this says about either my teaching skills or my general knowledge to be honest, so am curious as to whether many teachers reckon they could have a bash at most subjects, or if, like me, they have a rather shamefully brief list.

OP posts:
Yumyumbananas · 04/02/2019 18:51

I’m primary. I could have a good go at most subjects.

TheFallenMadonna · 04/02/2019 20:06

I am a Biology specialist (biochemist). I have taught biology to A level, and chemistry and physics to AS. I have an additional degree in Psychology and have taught that to A level. I have also taught A level Sociology, but only the research methods bit where there is lots of crossover. I have done SKE in Maths and now teach Maths up to GCSE. I have taught some A level modules in the past too.

There are two issues with teaching outside your specialism. Just because you have the subject knowledge, doesn't mean you have the pedagogy. I have particularly found that in Maths, where the SKE course also covered pedagogy and was invaluable, and pointed me in the right direction for further self directed study. Psychology was closer to Biology and thus a bit easier to manage the transition.

Pythonesque · 04/02/2019 20:19

I'm not a teacher though I did do the equivalent of a PGCE once, in science. If I went into teaching I'd probably prefer maths, but would be happy across sciences and computing. Chemistry probably only to GCSE, others to A level. I could probably tackle Psychology and Music realistically.

But other than tutoring now and then I'm not likely to move into school teaching - groups scare me :)

Theimpossiblegirl · 04/02/2019 20:22

I'm Primary, so we're expected to be able to teach all subjects. I struggle most with music, being tone deaf and unable to play an instrument, but we have a good scheme. :)

phlebasconsidered · 04/02/2019 20:51

I have a PGCE secondary history. During my secondary career I taught RE, Geography, History at KS3 as well as support English. Also History and Politics GCSE and History, Politics and Sociology A Level.

Now I teach primary and teach everything!

Piggywaspushed · 04/02/2019 21:14

I am an English teacher by trade but have taught 4 different A levels. I teach 2 GCSEs and have in the past taught also drama, BTec Business for some unknown reason! , German, PSE obviously and probably other things I have wiped from memory.

My least favourite was drama. I played Wink Murder for an entire year and that was the A Level class

astuz · 05/02/2019 07:53

My degree is in chemistry, taught that up to A-level. I've taught all 3 sciences to GCSE, although hate teaching biology - really not my thing.

I'd have a bash at maths and computer science if anyone ever asked - I'd prefer these subjects to biology.

I'd also have a go at teaching A-level physics if needs be.

Other than that, I'd be useless.

The problem with teaching any new subject eg. if I was called upon to teach maths, would be the sheer volume of work involved. I've taught chemistry & physics for years, so very little planning, but any other subject would require me to start from scratch like an NQT, and on top of that I'd have to make sure my subject knowledge was up to scratch.

Arkos · 05/02/2019 07:58

here in Scotland you only teach subjects you're qualified in. That's it.

bookishtartlet · 05/02/2019 08:02

I am an English Teacher in Scotland. We have had history teachers teaching English up to National 4, I teach media studies up to Higher, and we have science and primary teachers teaching maths. Also have probationer science teachers delivering RE. Not sure where you are Arkos, and if your school is fully staffed, but basically if you have a pulse, you're qualified!

bookishtartlet · 05/02/2019 08:03

Oh, and there was the year I set up the Drama department in a small school, for S1 to S3!

Arkos · 05/02/2019 08:05

that sounds like desperate measures to be sure... we are more or less fully staffed. I'm fairly sure you can't be made to teacha subject that your degree doesn't cover but I suppose if they're impossibly stuck...

Piggywaspushed · 05/02/2019 10:55

I don't get what happens with rare subject then, but perhaps they aren't offered in Scotland as I know the curriculum is a bit narrower. For example, if only teachers actually qualified in film studies taught film, there would be a problem : and they would also all have to be part time as it wouldn't fill a timetable...

Arkos · 05/02/2019 12:44

Well media and drama is often covered by an English degree and run out of that Dept. But I wouldn't be able to teach French or maths for example as I am in no way qualified. If they tried that it would be under a cover basis where I would not set work or mark it. The history teacher might have enough English in their degree to teach two subjects but I don't think they'd be teaching sciences.

weegiemum · 05/02/2019 12:48

I'm a geography teacher. At high school (no idea about English levels, I'm in Scotland)

weegiemum · 05/02/2019 12:51

I've taught Geography, History, Modern Studies. Business Studies, English and French (for 2 days).

There's lots of stuff that any teacher can cope with. These are mine!

Piggywaspushed · 05/02/2019 14:04

So , teachers definitely do teach what they aren't directly qualified to teach in Scotland, then! I have absolutley no media or drama in my teachign qualification or my degree.

I do think many teachers are lifelong learners and enjoy picking new things up. It's not quite as delightful when it is imposed upon you without consultation , however!

Arkos · 05/02/2019 14:11

Sorry are the Scottish teachers really talking about timetabled classes for a set period of time or the odd cover lesson? I've taught 16 years in Scotland and have never come across teachers in different subjects being routinely used for other areas. I'd very much doubt it unless it was junior classes and in dire straits. In fact I'm sure it's against GTCS regulations...i know someone who wanted to change subject and they were told they'd need to have it at degree level and teach a certain number of days over a year in order to qualify.

Arkos · 05/02/2019 14:15

I would check with union if I were any of the Scottish teachers.

How many subjects (other than your own) could you teach if called upon to do so?
Piggywaspushed · 05/02/2019 15:54

I guess some of this might depend on how you define 'subject' since you say English teachers teach media and drama, which I definitley think of as separate 'subjects'.

I would surmise, though, that the recruitment and retention crisis can't have struck in Scotland yet if schools are strictly adhering to the GTCS rules! In Enlgand, teachers are routinely used to plug gaps if they have so much as expressed a vague memory of switching on a computer in school, for example, or if they claim to be vaguely proficient at maths or have a French car (last one is a joke : I think). And, yeah, the 'you're a drama teacher so must be able to teach English/ PE/ dance' thing!

noblegiraffe · 05/02/2019 16:04

I’ve taught mostly maths, but also a bit of MFL, a bit of PSHE (planned for us) and a bit of Computing.

I was shit at all of them except maths. The pedagogy for other subjects is so different to maths, I find. In PSHE the plan would say stuff like ‘have a debate’ or ‘class discussion’ and I’ve got absolutely zero skills in organising those due to them not coming up in maths.

I think also if you have a bit of a random subject on your timetable, there’s no real time/incentive to learn how to teach it properly. I gave MFL a good go, but didn’t teach enough to build up any decent skills with it.

Arkos · 05/02/2019 18:01

I think recruitment and retention are becoming a real issue even here. Sucks to be a teacher

Greenandcabbagelooking · 05/02/2019 20:27

I'm a biologist. I teach biology up to A level, chemistry and physics up to GCSE. I could probably do AS chemistry.

I could probably do politics, history or PSHE. Maybe drama and dance.

I'd be hopeless at the rest, especially English, MFL or PE.

BookWitch · 06/02/2019 22:57

I teach MFL, but also have CELTA and my recent experience is teaching IGCSE English as a Second Language. So I would be happy to do English to GCSE as well.

I think I'd be reasonably happy to do History KS3. I have A-level Biology do think I could do KS3 Biology if I had a lot of time to plan and had dept support.

Maths, PE, Geography or Music - no way on earth

Partridgeamongstthepigeons · 09/02/2019 02:11

Music is my main. Have taught German, French and Drama. Could not teach- Chemistry, Physics.

unicorncupcake · 09/02/2019 07:53

I teach music. Would happily teach anything in primary apart from maths (aaaaallll the schemes of work and methods are completely different-and I get in a right tangle) in secondary I could teach drama, KS3 English probably, history maybe up to GCSE? Nothing science or maths based. Did French A level and used to be reasonably fluent so with a good scheme of work I could probably teach up to GCSE if necessary.