Teaching Art

[billio]

What qualifications would i need to become a teacher of art and design in a secondary school. i am at college at the moment and am having to make decisions on which route to take, for example doing a foundation in art then doing a degree or going straight into teacher training.

[IndieSinger]

I would strongly reccommend doing a (3-year) Art degree at university, then doing a PostGraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) which last a year full-time.

If you look look here, you can see that many universities offer a PGCE in Art (often with Design, too). They would usually require that you've done a university degree in your chosen field (Art & Design in your case).

The site with all the information is the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR).

[5029]

You dont actually need an art degree to teach art, when you do a PGCE you are qualified to teach anything -this has happened to a number of newly qualified teacher friends of mine - they have been instructed to teach art, music etc which they knew little about!

 

The curriculum these days is so detailed that they just followed it

[simms]

Please treat 5029's answer with caution. Most secondary school teachers are degree-level specialists in their chosen field, and if you intend seeking promotion this will be expected both from you and from the professionals you intend to lead. If you intend going into primary teaching or working for a supply agency you may not need a degree in a specific subject - this is because primary teachers have to deliver the whole curriculum, and because supply agencies need competent all-rounders with incredible coping skills. Indiesinger's advice is better and moreover by doing your art degree you will be able to explore your passion for the subject, which will inevitably enrich your teaching.

[5029]

Just speaking from experience - you may have a degree in one subject and be expected to teach another.  A friend of mine who is a home economics teacher has been asked to teach music and PE recently

[billio]

Thank you for the advice, i think i shall go for the degree in art

[purplefish]

I saw on a TV programme a while back its very hard to find jobs teaching art as so many people want to do it, apparently there are hundreds of art teachers who can't find jobs, just thought I should mention it.

[Scarlett]

I am a qualified art teacher. If you want to teach at secondary level, you need an art degree and a PGCE specialising in secondary teaching. If you want to teach junior age, then you don't necessarily have to have a degree in art, as you WILL be expected to teach a mixture of other subjects. But they will expect you to have A degree, or a BEd- a 4 year teaching degree.

If you want to teach at College level, then you need a degree, and possibly just a Certificate of Adult Education. This is a less lengthy qualification, but only allows you to teach adults.

I went for secondary, as that seems to cover most things, and ironically have ended up teaching Music at College level (alongside a lot of other musicians who have no formal qualifications!!) and peripatetic singing!!