Art and Design Teacher

Also known as:

Teacher, Art and Design

Introduction

Art and design teachers teach a wide range of art, design and craft skills. In some schools, teachers may be able to specialise in one aspect of art, such as pottery.

Back to Top

Work Activities

Art and design teachers encourage self-expression in young people using art, design and handicraft activities. Most schools offer teaching in a number of artistic skills, including drawing, painting, pottery, sculpture, printmaking and photography. Art and design teachers may also use computers to teach computer-aided design.

In some schools, it is possible for an art teacher to specialise in teaching one aspect of the subject such as pottery. In most schools, however, art teachers have to be 'all-rounders' teaching all aspects of art.

Most art and design teachers work with students over the age of 12. Teaching is geared to suit the needs of a class of students with widely differing skills and interests. If teaching older year groups, the teacher is more likely to teach students of similar ability who have chosen to study art and design, and are working towards a qualification.

Art and design teachers work closely with teachers from other subjects such as design and technology, home economics, and information technology, in order to develop students' design and technology skills.

In primary schools, teachers usually teach a wide range of subjects and do not specialise in one area like art and design. However, they may act as art and design co-ordinator for the school.

Back to Top

Personal Qualities and Skills

As an art and design teacher, you will need to be able to communicate effectively with young people of all abilities, so you can establish a good working relationship with your students. This encourages students to use their imaginations, which stimulates creative and original thought.

However, not all students will respond positively so you will need to use discipline to maintain order.

Back to Top

Pay and Opportunities

Teachers in Scotland are paid on a national scale. The starting salary for a probationer teacher in 2007 will be £19,878. The top of the scale for unpromoted teachers will be £31,707 a year. There is an extra allowance if you work in a remote area.

A chartered teacher will earn up to £38,868 and a head teacher will earn £39,207 - £76,527 depending on the size of the school.

In the private sector salaries are similar or higher, though they are sometimes linked to state sector pay scales.

Teachers normally work a 35 hour week. However, most teachers work extra hours: marking work, preparing lessons and so on. In Scotland, a maximum class contact time of 22.5 hours per week is being phased in.

There are opportunities throughout the UK in both the state and private education sectors. There may also be opportunities to teach overseas.

Vacancies are advertised on local authority vacancy sheets and websites and in the local and national press: The Scotsman, The Herald,The Guardian, The Times Educational Supplement Scotland and The Teacher.

Back to Top

Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Relevant work experience is frequently expected, either within a school as a volunteer classroom assistant or equivalent work with children or young people.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Teaching) could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who haven't followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges. They can lead to relevant degree courses.

• 14% of secondary teachers work part-time.
• Less than 1% have flexible hours.
• 5% work on a temporary basis.

Back to Top

Further Information

Back to Top