Career Advice for an Art and Drama Teacher

As an Art and Drama Teacher, you will inspire and educate students in the creative arts, helping them to develop their skills and express themselves through various mediums.

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How to Become an Art and Drama Teacher

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Art and Drama Teacher

Should you wish to work as an Art and Drama Teacher you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Art and Drama Teacher

  • A Degree in Art, Drama, or a related field.
  • A PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) or equivalent teaching qualification.

Key Responsibilities for an Art and Drama Teacher

  • Planning and delivering engaging and challenging lessons.
  • Encouraging creativity and self-expression in students.
  • Assessing and providing feedback on student work.
  • Organising and directing school productions and performances.
  • Collaborating with colleagues to develop and improve the curriculum.
  • Maintaining a safe and inclusive learning environment.

What to expect as an Art and Drama Teacher

As an Art and Drama Teacher in the UK, you could work in primary or secondary schools, colleges, or universities, or in community centres and theatres.

Recommended Art and Drama Teacher Jobs

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How to get Art and Drama Teacher Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Art and Drama Teacher job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Art and Drama Teacher application. If you have not held an Art and Drama Teacher position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Art and Drama Teacher role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Art and Drama Teacher CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Art and Drama Teacher application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Art and Drama Teacher in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Art and Drama Teacher 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Art and Drama Teacher and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Art and Drama Teacher experience.

How to get Art and Drama Teacher Experience

What does it take to be an Art and Drama Teacher? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Art and Drama Teacher jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Art and Drama Teacher through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Art and Drama Teacher Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Art and Drama Teacher part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Art and Drama Teacher or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Art and Drama Teacher freelance work

If you have impressive Art and Drama Teacher qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.