Become a maths teacher

If maths is your passion, you'll know that it's not just learning formulas or solving equations. It's a way of thinking and problem solving that’s important in every walk of life.

As a secondary maths teacher, an exciting career spent passing your knowledge on to the next generation could be for you.

Tax-free bursaries of £28,000 or scholarships of £30,000 are available for eligible trainee maths teachers.

Why teach maths

Maths is critical to science, technology and engineering as well as being fundamental for most jobs.

A good understanding of maths can help children develop life skills such as cooking, managing a budget and problem solving. It's also our government's goal for all young people to study maths to age 18.

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   Empowering my pupils

   I enjoy showing my pupils that maths is essential in everyday life. Whether it is identifying patterns, interpreting data, managing finances, or understanding the spaces and structures around us, everything uses maths.

What you'll teach

You'll teach the national curriculum for maths.

Themes you'll cover when you teach 11 to 16 year olds (key stage 3 and 4) include:

• numbers
• algebra
• ratio, proportion and rates of change
• geometry and measures
• probability and statistics

When you're teaching key stages 3 and 4 you can use interactive games with conkers and dice to help your pupils understand algebra and probability.

Explore what teaching a key stage 3 maths lesson would be like.

Themes you'll cover when you teach 16 to 18 year olds (key stage 5) include:

• analysis of data
• maths for personal finance
• estimation
• critical analysis of given data and models

I try to find out what they're interested in, whether it's card games, football or whatever, and use this to make maths relevant.

Start your journey into teaching

Check your qualifications

To train to teach in secondary schools in England, you'll need:

• GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths
• a bachelor's degree in any subject

Maths teacher training courses have had successful applications from candidates with a range of degrees, including psychology, music, architecture and law.

Find out more about what qualifications you need to train to teach.

Non-UK citizens: check your qualifications

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If you have qualifications from outside the UK, you'll need to show that they meet the standards set for teacher training in England.

You can get help comparing English and international qualifications.

Subject knowledge enhancement course (SKE)

If your training provider thinks you need to top up your maths knowledge, you might need to do an SKE course before you start your teacher training.

Fund your teacher training

Tax-free bursaries of £28,000 or scholarships of £30,000 are available for eligible trainee maths teachers.

You can get a bursary or scholarship alongside a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan.

You may also be able to get extra funding and support if you're:

• a parent or carer
• disabled

Non-UK citizens: funding your training

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If you do not have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you're unlikely to be eligible for funding.

Find out more about fees and financial support for non-UK trainee teachers.

Paid internship

If you’re currently doing an undergraduate or master's degree and are interested in teaching maths, you could apply for a paid teaching internship.

The 3-week programme could help you to understand what it's really like in the classroom and get a feel for school life.

Get free one-to-one support

An adviser with years of teaching experience can help you to become a maths teacher. Chat by phone, text, or email as little or often as you need.

Find out more about advisers