GTC Scotland
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maintaining and enhancing teaching standards
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Secondary Education

In Scotland, the age range of children in Secondary Education is 12-18 years of age. In order to be considered for registration in Secondary Education, you must have:

Academic Education Requirement
  • an acceptable degree that contains 80 SCQF credit points in a subject in the relevant registration category. An acceptable degree is a UK degree or UK degree equivalent, having completed a period of higher education at a university or equivalent institution of at least three years' duration (either full-time or part-time equivalent). A degree shall be regarded as a UK degree equivalent if it is recognised as such by the UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC)

Professional Education Requirement
  • a degree level teaching qualification, which extends to SCQF Level 9 or above and is comparable in terms of organisation and content to the Scottish initial teaching qualification (the PGDE) which is one academic year in length and includes teaching practice. This qualification includes teaching methodology and practice relating to the curriculum subject you are qualified to teacher. This should cover the 12 to 18 age range.

There are certain qualifications which we do not accept in Scotland.  A list is available on the  Where did you qualify? page.

Note: Teacher education programmes relating to teaching in middle years (KS2/KS3) are not accepted for registration in Scotland. Candidates who can provide evidence of at least 5 years' (full-time equivalent) satisfactory secondary education service outside of the age range covered by their teacher education programme are entitled to the right of appeal to the Committee on Exceptional Admission to the Register. Further information about appeals can be found on the Outcome of Assessment page.

Secondary subjects

Registration can only be granted in the subjects listed below. An application for registration in any other subject will be refused. Registration will normally only be considered in the area a person is qualified in.

Subjects in which registration can be granted
Art & Design Economics Latin Physics with Science
Biology with Science English Mathematics Psychology
Business Education Gaelic Media Studies Religious Education
Chemistry with Science Geography Modern Foreign Languages Sociology
Classics Geology Modern Studies  Technological Education
Community Languages  Greek Music TESOL
Computing History Philosophy
Drama Home Economics Physical Education  


There are additional academic requirements for the following subjects:

Subjects for which there are additional academic requirements
Business Education Gaelic Music
Classics Home Economics Physical Education
Community Languages Media Studies Technological Education
Computing Modern Foreign Languages TESOL
English Modern Studies


Find out How to Apply

GTC Scotland, Clerwood House, 96 Clermiston Road, Edinburgh EH12 6UT    |    0131 314 6000    |    gtcs@gtcs.org.uk