The Arts: Music, Art and Design, Drama and Dance

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Become an Arts teacher: Music, Art and Design, Drama and Dance

A teacher of the Arts gives young people the chance to express themselves in a range of media.

The role can encompass a number of creative disciplines which include Music, Art and Design, Drama and Dance. The subject has so much to offer young people. The opportunity to engage in an artistic pursuit, and be encouraged to do so, will instil confidence and provide skills a young person can keep using and enjoying in the future.

But there’s more for them to learn than the liberating feeling of self-expression. Teaching the Arts also reinforces their long-lasting importance to both physical health and mental wellbeing.

Learning Keyboard In Music Class
"I want to support and nourish talented young people to fulfil their dreams, to spark creativity and spend every day doing what I love." Jennifer MacKinnon – Art and Design Teacher at St Kentigern’s Academy
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What being an Arts 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 the Arts

It’s a career choice that comes with a good starting salary and great opportunities for progression. The many different roles that exist within the Arts can be accessed via the following qualification routes:

  • Art and Design teachers must have a degree in art and design (or a similar subject) and a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
  • Dance teaching tends to be delivered by teachers of physical education who either have a degree in a suitable sports subject (including dance) and a post-graduate PGDE qualification or they will have studied a degree that combines sport and education.
  • Drama teachers must have a degree in drama or theatre studies plus a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
  • Music teachers need a degree in music plus a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) OR a degree that combines music and education.

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.

PGDE university courses

Here are the universities you can study for a PGDE in the Arts 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 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

University of AberdeenUniversity of Edinburgh

University of GlasgowUniversity of Strathclyde

University of the West of Scotland

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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