What Advice Would You Give Someone Considering A Career As A Secondary Mathematics Teacher? By Thomas Dixon 

The short version of my advice to anyone considering training as a secondary mathematics teacher would be straightforward - go for it! 

You have the chance to make a difference to the lives of young people - who will keep you entertained and on your toes every day - while also earning a tax-free bursary for a year in a challenging new career.  

My own path into teaching maths was unusual in that I was previously a Professor of History (at Queen Mary University of London), so I have come to maths teaching relatively late in my career and by a circuitous route. 

I was ready for a big change of direction and my interest in teaching had grown through my time as a governor, then chair of governors, and then a volunteer in my children’s primary school. I also worked with primary schools on the “Developing Emotions” project which linked my academic work on the history of emotions with my interest in primary education.  

I was aware that there was a particular shortage of qualified maths teachers in the UK and also - through my experience in primary schools - that some children experience a lot of anxiety and frustration around maths, which I thought I could help try to alleviate.  

It’s a great idea to get whatever school and classroom experience you can before you apply for teacher training. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to spend the last school year supporting the teaching of maths as a part-time primary TA while still in my post as a history professor (also part-time). Although it was a difficult new role, and I realised how much I had to learn, both about teaching maths and behaviour management, I left the school smiling every day. The enjoyment of that year was enough to convince me I wanted to take the plunge. 

You might think you cannot train to be a maths teacher if you don’t have a maths degree, but that is definitely not the case. Even though it was decades since I had taken my Maths and Further Maths A-levels, and my undergraduate degree was in Theology and Religious Studies, I was able to apply for a training position in maths, and became eligible for a Maths Scholarship, after taking a Subject Knowledge Extension course, which came with a weekly bursary of £175. The Maths Scholarship scheme is an additional attraction. Whether you are a recent graduate or a career-changer, like me, you still need to make a living and pay the bills. 

*The picture accompanying this post shows me enjoying a conversation with a Year 11 student about their GCSE revision in our after-school maths club. It represents the fundamental role of a teacher, as I see it - to be a trustworthy, reliable, supportive and approachable adult who can help students navigate the challenges of their curriculum with knowledge, humanity, and good humour.  

By Thomas Dixon 

You can find Thomas on Twitter @profthomasdixon

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