what is a science teacher?
As a science teacher, you teach students science. Most science teachers teach years 9 to 12. You can also teach primary school students basic scientific concepts. Your job is to plan lessons for your classes in line with the national curriculum and tailor your lesson plans to match your students' learning abilities. You prepare lessons and guide your students through the syllabus. As well as classroom activities, you also guide students through practical experiments. You work with the lab assistant to demonstrate experiments and supervise students when they conduct them.
Science teachers evaluate students' progress through assessments and assignments. When you have a clear idea of how your students are progressing, you can provide additional lessons in areas of weakness. As a science teacher, you perform administrative duties like taking the class register. You also support students' positive progress by attending parent-teacher meetings. It is important to collaborate with other teachers to improve students' overall performance.
Would working as a science teacher suit your passion for science and desire to pass on learning? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a science teacher role.
find science teacher jobsaverage science teacher salary
According to ONS, the average salary of a science teacher is £35,204 per year. In entry-level roles, the starting salary is £31,552 per year. As you improve your skills or specialise in a science subject, your earnings increase to over £46,414 annually.
what factors affect the salary of a science teacher?
As a science teacher, your compensation package depends on the school you work for and your qualifications. When you work in a primary school, you are likely to earn less than a science teacher working in a secondary. That's because secondary teachers require additional specialisation in a specific scientific discipline and take on more complex duties. The school you work for also influences your earnings. For instance, state schools have a fixed salary determined by the government. Working in independent schools improves your salary prospects, as they offer higher salaries.
types of science teachers
As a science teacher, you can specialise in the following roles:
- primary science teacher: as a primary science teacher, you introduce basic scientific principles based on age and curriculum. That means you work with children under 12 and don't teach complex sciences. Your job is to demonstrate concepts and answer their questions.
- secondary science teacher: as a science teacher, you specialise in teaching biology, chemistry or physics. You also perform experiments with students and guide them through research projects.
working as a science teacher
If you are passionate about science and enjoy sharing knowledge with children, check out a science teacher's duties and responsibilities.
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science teacher job description
Some of the daily duties of a science teacher include:
- creating engaging lesson plans: as a science teacher, you develop engaging lesson plans and learning materials that follow the national curriculum. That means it is important to keep up with changes in your field. If some students require additional assistance, you can create individualised lesson plans to help them stay on track.
- planning classes and science demonstrations: as a science teacher, you teach lessons at the appropriate level to improve students' understanding of biology, physics and chemistry. When you teach in primary schools, you introduce basic science concepts. You also plan for hands-on activities and demonstrations to allow kids to learn through different methods.
- demonstrating experiments: as a science teacher, your job involves demonstrating assignments and ensuring pupils carry out the practical experiments stipulated in the curriculum. Experiments enhance learners' comprehension of different topics.
- assisting students with research projects: as a science teacher, you help students with research projects. Your job is to guide their investigations of scientific concepts.
- performing administrative duties: as a science teacher, you perform administrative tasks like taking the register, updating records and writing reports. You also attend staff and parent-teacher meetings to discuss your students' progress.
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work environment
As a science teacher, you work in classroom settings, teaching students or preparing lesson plans. You spend most of the day standing to demonstrate a range of scientific concepts. Sometimes, you work from the school laboratory to conduct science experiments with students. The role involves minimal travelling for school trips or attending science workshops.
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who are your colleagues?
As a science teacher, you work with various professionals to improve students' learning outcomes. For instance, you are likely to work with english teachers, primary teachers, lecturers and secondary teachers. Sometimes, you also work with SEN teachers and lab assistants, as well as other professionals, including headteachers, school administrators and school nurses.
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work schedule
As a science teacher, you either work full-time or part-time. In a full-time position, you work the regular school hours of 8 am to 3 pm or 4 pm, depending on the school. You are likely to work up to 40 hours a week. While your work schedule doesn't necessitate working evenings, sometimes you mark assignments or prepare learning materials for the next day. You may also work at weekends to take students to science fairs and other school trips.
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job outlook
The world of science is always evolving, and science teachers can keep up with the changing times by completing additional qualifications. As a science teacher, improving your skills allows you to progress to higher roles. A general science teacher can complete postgraduate qualifications and become a secondary school physics, biology or chemistry teacher. Other science teachers gain experience and become lecturers and scientists. If you want to take up managerial roles, you can aim to become a headteacher or senior administrator in a school.
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advantages of finding a science teacher job through randstad
Finding your science teacher job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a science teacher is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
To become a science teacher in the UK, you require the following academic qualifications:
- university education: to become a science teacher, complete a bachelor's degree in education. When you complete an undergraduate teaching degree, you achieve qualified teacher status (QTS) and can teach in any school. You can take any undergraduate degree and then complete a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE), which gives you qualified teacher status. If you want to specialise in teaching a particular field of science, complete an undergraduate degree in biology, chemistry or physics prior to a PGCE. If you specialise in science subjects, you should look for a job in secondary schools.
- experience: before you become a science teacher, you complete in-school teaching experience through your teacher training. You can start with entry-level jobs like becoming a teaching assistant before training to become a primary teacher.
science teacher skills and competencies
Some of the qualities that make you a great science teacher include the following:
- patience and persistence: as a science teacher, being patient helps you guide students through lessons and science experiments. Some students may take longer to understand concepts, and it is important to guide them patiently. Sometimes, you repeat the same concept multiple times before the students understand.
- caring attitude: as a science teacher, you nature a student's brain and body. You need compassion to engage well with the students. When you are caring, students are more likely to approach you when they don't understand a concept you are teaching.
- imagination and creativity: some science concepts are challenging to grasp, and creative learning methods help you get them across to students. Creativity helps you develop unique learning techniques to make the subject enjoyable. For instance, you can incorporate online videos and encourage competition among students to improve engagement.
- passion and enthusiasm: as a science teacher, it is important to be enthusiastic about science to build interest in students. Your enthusiasm communicates itself to students and improves their cooperation in class.
- science knowledge: as a science teacher, you require extensive knowledge of your subject. You rely on your expertise to teach students and prepare them for exams.
FAQs about working as a science teacher
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a science teacher.
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what is a science teacher?
A science teacher provides instructions and guides students through important scientific concepts. You teach them scientific principles, including gathering evidence to support decisions and ideas. As a science teacher, you also create lesson plans, prepare demonstrations and mark assessments. You can teach specific branches of science when you work in secondary schools. However, in primary school, science is taught as a general subject.
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how much do science teachers get paid?
As a science teacher in the UK, you earn an average salary of £35,204 annually. When you are new in the role, your starting salary is £31,552 yearly. With increased experience and educational qualifications, you are likely to earn over £46,414 per year. The compensation package depends on your expertise and educational qualifications. For instance, if you specialise in chemistry or biology, you earn more than a general science teacher.
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how do I become a science teacher?
In the UK, you require a bachelor's degree to gain a qualified teacher status and teach in a state or independent school. To become a science teacher, complete a bachelor's degree in education. If you get a different degree, you can complete a postgraduate certification to attain qualified teaching status.
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what subjects does a science teacher teach?
In a primary school, you teach general scientific concepts which combine various fields of study. In secondary schools, science education includes biology, chemistry, physical sciences, marine science and astronomy.
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are science teachers in demand in the UK?
Teachers teaching STEM subjects like science and mathematics are always in demand. The most in-demand science teachers in the UK are secondary school physics teachers who teach 11- to 18-year-olds. Teachers in other branches of science are also in demand in UK secondary schools.
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how do I apply for a science teacher vacancy?
Applying for a science teacher job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
