Mathematics

ARROW

Become a Maths teacher

A Maths teacher provides young people with a solid grasp of numbers and shapes, which, in turn, improves their ability to solve problems, analyse data, structure information and calculate solutions.

In your classroom you will make the seemingly complex not just easy to understand but stimulating and engaging.

Exploring the dynamics of areas, angles and volumes, and simple mathematical theory, will help your class achieve those important breakthrough moments. With confidence and knowledge, they will then understand the relevance and importance of maths to everyday life.

Maths teacher writing a formula on a whiteboard
"I aim to focus on becoming an excellent Maths Teacher. One crucial aspect of this is going to be motivating my pupils so that they are more enthusiastic about STEM subjects. I personally feel that this comes back to the important fundamentals of teaching; we need to shake off the ‘boring’ tag and, for teachers, this starts by reinforcing your own passion, otherwise you are going to find it hard proving them wrong." Victoria Wall – Maths Teacher at Wallace High School
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What being a Maths teacher covers:

  • Organising and setting lessons
  • Monitoring the progress of pupils, through coursework and homework
  • Working with pupils to guide their development and share that progress with parents and caregivers
  • Planning, supervising and leading study trips. 

Take that next step into Mathematics

It’s a career choice that comes with a good starting salary and great opportunities for progression. To begin your journey, you need to have a four-year combined degree in Education and Mathematics or a one-year diploma following your undergraduate degree in Maths. And if these options don’t quite work for your circumstances, there are some alternative routes to consider.

This subject, as with others in the Curriculum for Excellence, can be delivered through Gaelic Medium Education. There are lots of benefits to teaching in Gaelic and we have more information about how to take this route into teaching.

Four-year university course in education

For the four-year combined degree and other undergraduate degree programmes you must have at least:

  • English and two other National Qualifications at SCQF Level 6 (Higher) and
  • Mathematics and one other subject at SCQF Level 5 (or an accepted alternative, for example, National 5, Credit Standard Grade or Intermediate 2).

Check the entry requirements with the course provider.

Universities you can study in

PGDE university courses

Here are the universities you can study for a PGDE in Maths at secondary level. Entry requirements vary so it’s best to check with the course provider for the most up-to-date information.

The University of the Highlands and Islands and University of Strathclyde also offer a pathway into Gaelic Medium Education. Find out more about the opportunities and benefits of teaching in Gaelic.

Universities you can study in

Alternate routes into teaching

These routes offer a little more flexibility in order to encourage diversity in the profession:

University of Edinburgh – MSc in Transformative Learning and Teaching is a two-year programme. Graduates from this programme achieve a full master’s degree, together with a teaching qualification that allows individuals to work across the primary/secondary transition.

University of the West of Scotland – Concurrent degree programme covers Physics, Chemistry and Maths – this is a 4-year full time undergraduate course that aims to develop individuals with the knowledge and skills required to teach these subjects at Secondary School level.

Every teacher has a story.
What will yours be?

Whether you’re getting ready for a new term, planning your next class, or helping pupils prepare for exams, there’s always something going on. There are challenges, just as there are with any job. But you’ll be supported. And you’ll find other teachers are there to help you, and share their experiences.

Read about some proud moments from teachers
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