Teacher - Secondary school - Design and technology
Encourage, motivate and inspire young people to design and make objects that have a practical use, using a variety of techniques.
About the job
What it's like
As a design and technology teacher, you’d encourage, motivate and inspire your students to design and make objects that have a practical use, using a variety of techniques. Design and technology is a broad subject covering topics such as craft skills, use of tools, graphic communication, computer-aided design and mechanical systems.
You’d work to guidelines set up by the Curriculum for Excellence and prepare pupils, aged 11 to 18, for national exams.
Your tasks might include:
preparing teaching materials and lessons
teaching students to work with computers, wood and metal work tools and machines
assessing students’ progress and marking their work
setting and marking homework
managing classroom behaviour
discussing students' progress with parents and carers
organising study trips, social activities and sports events
Sometimes you will need to deal with challenging behaviour. It may be difficult to get some teenagers to study so you’d need to be imaginative and enthusiastic to keep them interested.
As well as teaching, you’d also attend meetings and regular in-service training courses as part of your professional development. You’d work closely with colleagues to plan the school’s timetables, and work with other professionals, such as education psychologists and social workers.
Hours
Teachers work 39 weeks a year, usually from 9am to 3.30pm or 4pm. You're likely to spend some hours outside of this planning lessons, marking pupils' work and taking part in training and parent evenings.
Environment
Secondary school teachers may be classroom based but from time to time may have to carry books and equipment between rooms.
Travel
You could do supply teaching where you work in different schools to cover the absences of permanent teachers.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- design and technology
- working with children
- curriculum development
- design elements and principles
- continuous improvement process
- stakeholder communications
- additive manufacturing (3d printing)
- graphic design
- woodworking
- product design
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- mentoring
- ethical
- time management
- developing a plan
- social conscience
- written communication
- working with technology
- verbal communication
- mediating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Design and Manufacture
Design and Technology
English
Maths (Mathematics)
Physics
Applications of Mathematics
Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you’ll need.
There are 3 routes into teaching design and technology.
You can study a 4 year degree that combines education with technology (such as BTechEd Technological Education, which includes a teaching qualification - University of Glasgow) or take a one-year PGDE course following an undergraduate degree in an engineering or technological subject. You could also apply to an Honour's degree (SCQF level 9/10) in Education and Curricular Studies with Teaching Qualification at Strathclyde University. This is a 2 year course for which you would need a relevant HND. You would be able to go into a one-year work placement after graduation.
Whichever route you take, you must study at least 2 of these subjects to be able to apply for jobs as a design and technology teacher:
Mechanical, Electrical or Electronic Engineering
Mechatronics, Architecture, Building Services or Construction Technology
Graphic Design, Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Design Manufacture, Industrial Design or Product Design
any subject area relevant to the design and technology curriculum in Scottish schools
Experience that demonstrates your ability to work with young people would also be desirable.
While not all employers list specific qualification requirements they do ask for relevant experience, usually work based, that demonstrates a range of transferable skills. You should also be able to demonstrate that you have practical craft skills.
You'll need to be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme.
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