Get into Teaching

Considering a career in teaching?

Are you thinking of becoming a history teacher?

Teaching – and especially teaching history! – can be a wonderful and rewarding career. The HA have many years experience working with primary and secondary teachers from trainee level through to heads of history and we're here to help you on your path. We have a comprehensive set of guides and resources for anyone considering or embarking on a career in teaching history. 

Routes into Primary Teaching

The primary teaching route covers the age range from 3-11 years old (nursery to year 6). Some teacher training institutions offer a programme with a pathway from 3-7 years, some 5-11, others 3-11.

As a primary teacher you'll need to be prepared to teach across all 12 subject areas, with the bulk of the curriculum focusing on the teaching of English and maths. The primary teacher also has a strong pastoral role. 

The 3 main routes into primary teaching are:

  • BA Primary Education with QTS
  • PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate of Education) or PCE through Higher Education Institution
  • PGCE School Direct Salaried or Tuition Fee

Find out more with our complete Guide to Routes into Primary Teaching
 

Get into secondary history teaching

Are you considering history teaching at secondary level as a career option? 

Routes into secondary teaching


There are hundreds of training providers and courses available, so an awareness of some basic distinctions can help enormously in deciding what type of programme you want to follow. An essential distinction is between fee-paying trainee programmes, and employment-based salaried routes on which you assume the role of a regular staff member with sole responsibility for your own classes. 

  • The two main fee-paying routes into teaching are ‘university-led’ and ‘school-led’
  • The two kinds of employment-based, salaried routes are the national Teach First programme and the School Direct programme. 

Find out more about the different routes into teaching secondary history

The HA website also has a wealth of resources to help trainee and early career teachers.