How to Become an Art Teacher in the UK

Ever wonder how colours, patterns, and designs are expressed across different media and generations? A good piece of art can take our breath away through its delicate artistry. However, the layers unfolding behind every stroke and every decision of an artist are the result of the presence and dedication of an art teacher.

Art education is a universal career that bridges imagination, sparking interest and talents in anyone and everyone. From TV personalities who instilled in us a passion for art — Bob Ross and Tony Hart to our very own local art teachers in schools, there's no denying the importance of art education at all levels in fostering creativity and critical thinking among students.

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👥 Academic Qualifications Required

If you are reading this article, you're most likely to have a passion for art and a desire to share your knowledge with others as an aspiring art teacher. Gain more insights once you know the exact academic qualifications to become an art educator in the UK.

🎓 GCSEs and A-Levels

Let's begin with your secondary and tertiary education requirements. The national mandatory qualifications ¹ to teach (any subject) in primary and secondary schools in England boil down to these two requirements:

• GCSEs at Grade 4 (C) or above in English and Mathematics (and science if you want to teach primary)
• A Bachelor’s degree in any subject (preferably related to the subject you plan to teach)

While it's not necessary, some students choose to take Art and Design for their GCSE exams to have a head start once they've decided to pursue a career related to art in the future.

For A-Levels, the grade requirements vary according to the university's entry requirements. You are encouraged to take the Art and Design subject for a smoother application process.

🎓 Bachelor's Degree

While the usual route is to sit for A-Level subjects (Sixth Form or pre-university) if you want to apply for a Bachelor's degree later, some aspiring art teachers opt for other pathways to apply for an art-related degree through the following:

Whether it's fine art, graphic design, art history, or illustration, we highly recommend that you hold a Bachelor's degree in your desired area of specialisation. If you look at most job openings by educational institutions, they would always specify three important elements for successful employment:

A solid art degree in the UK would help you to cultivate the theoretical and practical skills needed to teach across different age groups and learning levels (Key Stages), especially if you want to teach art to older students. That's because an art teacher has to be well-versed in different art curricula and adapt their teaching methodology according to new art techniques or technology.

That being said, many art educators come from non-art degrees — other creative fields like interior design, digital animation, or even media studies.

If this is you, you can either demonstrate your subject knowledge through a high-quality portfolio (many universities accept this) or prove that you have prior knowledge about art and design while you were a GCSE or A-Level student.

📚 Teacher Training and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Next, let’s look at another important aspect of art-teaching qualifications in the UK: Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). QTS is a key requirement for teaching in government-funded primary and secondary schools in England and Wales. There are three common pathways through which teacher training programmes can lead to QTS.

✨Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

The PGCE is a one-year university-led teacher training postgraduate programme (or two-year for part-time), where successful applicants will divide their time between studying on campus and undertaking school placements (in partnership with the university). ²

So, who should take this PGCE pathway?

Here are some examples of UK universities that offer specialist PGCEs in Art and Design.

University	Programme Name	Duration	Notes / Focus
Plymouth Marjon University	PGCE Secondary Education with Art and Design	1 year full-time / 2 years part-time	Strong subject-specific pedagogy; hands-on school placements.
University of Sussex	Secondary Art and Design PGCE	10 months full-time / 20 months part-time	Reflective, research-informed teaching practice.
UCL (University College London)	PGCE Art and Design	1 academic year	Highly regarded; strong theory + extensive placement experience.
University of Worcester	PGCE Secondary Art and Design with QTS	1 year full-time	Emphasis on placements, mentoring, and practical teaching skills.
University of Reading	PGCE Secondary Education – Art and Design	~10 months full-time	Interactive workshops + substantial school experience.
Kingston University London	PGCE Secondary Teaching (Art and Design)	1 academic year	Delivered with Kingston School of Art; creativity-focused pedagogy.
University of Bedfordshire	PGCE Secondary Art and Design	1 year full-time	Practice-led approach; development of strong subject knowledge.
University of Chester	Secondary Art and Design PGCE with QTS	1 year	Combines university input with partner-school training experience.

✨School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)

On the other hand, the SCITT is a 100% practical, school-based training route to obtain the QTS qualification. It is also a one-year programme (for full-time), but you will start your training right in the classroom.

During training, candidates will be placed in at least two schools to learn how to teach, from the subject to classroom management skills.

✨ Assessment Only Route

Besides the PGCE and SCITT training path, some also choose to take the assessment-only route to get the QTS qualification. This assessment takes about 12 weeks and doesn't require any teaching or training process. However, there are some requirements that you need to fulfil.

🤝Gaining Practical Teaching Experience

Now, let's talk about how you can gain practical teaching experience and benefit from this training process to become an art teacher.

📝School Placements

Formal school placement opportunities are only applicable for teacher trainees who are enrolled in official training programmes like the ones we mentioned earlier, like PGCE and SCIIT.

This experience will help to develop your confidence as you take on different teaching responsibilities and also gain insights from experienced teachers who are at the same school. You'll also know what it takes to teach art in person for students of different age groups, in terms of approaches, methods, and overall curriculum.

📝 Volunteering and Internships

Another way to gain teaching experience is through volunteering and internships. Throughout the year, many educational institutions or charity organisations would look for applicants who are interested in giving teaching a try.

The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.

Mark Van Doren

Volunteering and internships are a great way to discern if teaching is something you want to pursue formally. For instance, many university students opt for volunteering as teaching assistants or teaching refugees or migrant children. Additionally, these experiences not only help you to cultivate soft skills but also build your future employability if you want to apply for a teaching job.

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🎨 Applying for Art Teaching Positions

Once you’ve gained the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you’ll be ready to start applying for art teacher positions. Here are some tips to help you navigate the application process as a newly qualified teacher.

🖌️ Crafting a Strong CV and Personal Statement

Think of your CV as the marker of your first impression among your prospective employers. A good CV should highlight the following:

• Your degree and PGCE/SCITT details
• School placements and relevant teaching experience
• Skills in classroom management, lesson planning, and assessment
• Your passion for art and education

Important tip: Be sure to include a tailored personal statement for each application. Focus on your teaching philosophy, what you bring to a department, and how your art specialism enhances student learning.

🖌️ Preparing for Interviews and Teaching Demonstrations

A teaching interview in the UK usually features the following steps:

Explore various interview mock questions tutorials, and practice them ahead so that you can be more prepared in terms of your answers. You can write them down, memorise the main points, and elaborate on them with your own examples.

🏫 Career Progression and Salary Expectations

As an aspiring art teacher, it's important to have an idea of how much you'll earn throughout different stages of your career. Once you have received your QTS and begin your teaching career, you'll be known as Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) or Early Career Teachers (ECTs).

👨‍🏫 Entry-Level Positions and Starting Salaries

Here's an overview of the annual salary of educators in the UK, which follows the Main Pay Scale (M1) and Upper Pay Scale (UPS) system, as shown in the following table:

Pay Scale Code	Description	England (Outside London)	Outer London	Inner London
M1	Main Pay Scale - Entry Level	£32,916	£37,870	£40,317
M2	Main Pay Scale	£34,228	£39,226	£41,690
M3	Main Pay Scale	£35,574	£40,597	£43,060
M4	Main Pay Scale	£37,030	£42,084	£44,648
M5	Main Pay Scale	£38,810	£43,928	£46,470
M6	Main Pay Scale - Experienced	£45,352	£50,474	£52,300
U1	Upper Pay Scale - Entry Level	£47,472	£52,219	£57,632
U2	Upper Pay Scale	£49,260	£54,007	£60,064
U3	Upper Pay Scale - Experienced	£51,048	£56,154	£62,496

Important note: This current table reflects the 4% salary uplift made by the Department of Education, with location-based adjustments for art teachers and others in government-supported institutions beginning from September 2025. ³

👨‍🏫 Opportunities for Advancement

After working for several years, teachers who are in the Main Pay Scale can advance to the Upper Pay Scale through application.

➡️ Alternative Routes and Considerations

We understand that some of you may want to teach art without a university degree for the time being or prefer to teach in non-government educational institutions. Feel free to consider these two recommendations to navigate your art teaching career with more flexibility.

🧩Becoming an Art Teacher Without a Degree

Some schools hire unqualified teachers without a degree as support staff or teaching assistants, or instructors. However, the catch is this — it could be on a temporary or provisional basis.

To stand out in the midst of other applicants (especially those who have a degree), you'll have to demonstrate your artistic skills through a strong portfolio and include real-world art experiences in your CV, such as participating in art exhibitions or winning several art competitions. Additionally, make sure you are well-versed in the latest Art and Design subject syllabus for different learning levels, like the GCSE and A-Level. ⁴

🧩Teaching Art in Further Education or Private Institutions

Finally, you can opt to teach art in further education colleges or private art institutions, where they have more flexible hiring requirements.

We hope you found this article insightful on various career pathways to become an art teacher in the UK. Here's an overview of the timeline from education to employment as an art teacher.

Whether you are still a GCSE student or preparing for your teaching interview or application, you can always connect with an experienced art tutor on Superprof to hone your artistic skills. Head to the Superprof UK homepage to start browsing a wide selection of art tutors and choose the perfect tutor according to your learning preferences and maximum budget.

All the best in achieving your goals!