Secondary school teacher
You need qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in most state schools in England. Get it with a degree with QTS, or any degree + a PGCE or school-based training.
These rules are for England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland register teachers separately.
ONS
- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
Medians for full-time employee jobs. ONS hides estimates it rates unreliable (CV over 20%).
View sourceGOV.UK
- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
How to get there
2 routes. Degree with QTS · Any degree + teacher training
Degree with QTS QTS
For example a BEd, or a BA or BSc with QTS.
- SchoolGCSEs + 2 to 3 A levels
English and maths GCSEs needed.
NCS
Secondary school teacher — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- DegreeUndergraduate degree with QTS
NCS
Secondary school teacher — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- GoalQualified teacher status
Your training provider reports your result and the DfE records QTS on your teacher record.
GOV.UK
Qualified teacher status (QTS): qualify to teach in EnglandDepartment for Education (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
Any degree + teacher training PGCE
Your degree does not always need to be in the subject you teach.
- DegreeBachelor's degree in any subject
NCS
Secondary school teacher — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- TrainingPostgraduate teacher training
A PGCE at university or a school-based programme. You need QTS, not the PGCE itself.
NCS
Secondary school teacher — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- GoalQualified teacher status
GOV.UK
Qualified teacher status (QTS): qualify to teach in EnglandDepartment for Education (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- Earn while you train?
- A Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship takes about 1 year and leads to QTS.
NCS
Secondary school teacher — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- Academies and private schools
- Academies, free schools and private schools can employ teachers without QTS, but many still look for it.
GOV.UK
Qualified teacher status (QTS): qualify to teach in EnglandDepartment for Education (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
At school
GCSEs (Years 10–11) and A levels (Years 12–13), or equivalents.
- GCSEs
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English and maths.
NCS
Secondary school teacher — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- A levels
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree.
NCS
Secondary school teacher — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- UCAS points
- An A* = 56 points. Many courses ask for grades instead of points.
UCAS
The new UCAS Tariff: ten things applicants need to knowUCAS- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
An A* at A level is worth 56 Tariff points. Only about a third of courses use Tariff points in their entry requirements; most ask for grades.
View source
Pay by region
Pay is in pounds (£) per year, before tax, for full-time employees. ASHE counts employees only, so self-employed people (most barristers, many contractors) are not in these figures.
Secondary education teaching professionals SOC 2313
- UK median £47,632
- Bottom 25% under £39,059
- Top 25% over £54,047
| Region (where people work) | Median pay | Jobs | How exact |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £50,955 | 46,000 | Precise |
| Scotland | £49,898 | 29,000 | Precise |
| Wales | £48,859 | 16,000 | Precise |
| North East | £47,495 | — | Good |
| West Midlands | £47,146 | 34,000 | Precise |
| North West | £46,298 | 43,000 | Precise |
| East Midlands | £45,828 | 27,000 | Precise |
| East | £45,813 | 30,000 | Good |
| South East | £45,566 | 61,000 | Precise |
| South West | £45,205 | 28,000 | Precise |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £43,550 | 24,000 | Good |
Regions where ONS did not publish a reliable figure are left out. "Rough estimate" = ONS rates it CV 10–20%: use it with care. A region is listed only where ONS published a median for that job.ONS
Primary education teaching professionals SOC 2314
- UK median £45,939
- Bottom 25% under £37,847
- Top 25% over £51,676
| Region (where people work) | Median pay | Jobs | How exact |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £51,394 | 32,000 | Good |
| Scotland | £49,898 | 38,000 | Precise |
| Wales | £48,859 | 19,000 | Precise |
| North West | £44,989 | 26,000 | Precise |
| South East | £43,674 | 45,000 | Precise |
| East | £43,408 | 21,000 | Precise |
| West Midlands | £42,274 | 22,000 | Good |
| South West | £42,043 | 20,000 | Precise |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £41,488 | 26,000 | Good |
| East Midlands | £41,476 | 19,000 | Good |
Regions where ONS did not publish a reliable figure are left out. "Rough estimate" = ONS rates it CV 10–20%: use it with care. A region is listed only where ONS published a median for that job.ONS
Starting vs experienced (National Careers Service)
- Secondary school teacher: starter £34,000 · experienced £53,000
NCS
Secondary school teacher — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026