Why teach secondary in Wales?
Teaching is about more than delivering lessons. It’s about helping young people build confidence, discover their strengths and shape their future.
As a secondary teacher, you’ll specialise in a subject you care about, work with learners as they develop their skills, and play a key role in preparing them for life beyond school.
Start your teaching career on £33,731 a year. Work your way up to earning up to £51,942 a year as a classroom teacher.
If you’re passionate about your subject, you could train to teach in a Welsh secondary school, with support, funding and clear routes in.
There’s particularly high demand for teachers in Priority Subjects:
• Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• Mathematics
• Design & Technology
• Information Technology
• Modern Foreign Languages
• Welsh
There’s a route into teaching that works for you
What financial support is available?
You could be eligible for financial incentives to support you while you train:
• £15,000 to study to teach a secondary Priority Subject
• £5,000 for student teachers from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds
• £5,000 to study to teach secondary in Welsh, PLUS your university could offer their own support for teaching in Welsh.
• If you complete three years of teaching secondary in Welsh, you could receive a £5,000 retention bursary.
Information about funding for postgraduate Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes can also be found on the Student Finance Wales website.
If you have an honours degree and either work in, or secure a support role placement in, a school, you can be endorsed to train for a paid, salaried PGCE, with your salary costs covered by a Welsh Government grant.
There are two types of scholarships available through the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol for students who are studying a BA in Education if you undertake part of your studies through the medium of Welsh. The Incentive Scholarship and the Main Scholarship.
What qualifications are needed?
• Mathematics and English or Welsh GCSE grade C or equivalent.
• You will also need an appropriate university degree (2:2 or above) to apply to a PGCE programme.
Your chosen university can provide guidance on relevant qualifications and specific ITE eligibility.
Why choose Wales?
Bring your passion to the classroom under the Curriculum for Wales.
There’s also plenty of Professional Learning support available throughout your career.
Need more information? Contact us
