Choosing between primary and secondary school teaching – a guide to finding the right teaching course for you!
There are many great reasons to become a teacher: it’s a rewarding career where you can make a positive impact on the lives of many students, and you’ll have strong job prospects with the opportunity to work around the world.
You know you want to be a teacher, but have you wondered whether primary or secondary school teaching is your calling? UWA has a range of unique primary and secondary teaching courses. We have broken them down to help you choose the right course for your goals and preferences.
Primary School Teaching
If you are interested in becoming a primary school teacher and want to graduate prepared with the skills and knowledge to begin your teaching career, and be in high demand in schools around Australia, our Bachelor of Education (Primary) (Honours) is the right course for you.
Our integrated honours degree opens pathways to future study and postgraduate courses, as well as creating opportunities for you to spend additional time in schools practising your craft, either in WA, Australia, or overseas!
You’ll be immersed in the classroom environment, with up to 100 days of professional practice placement (the minimum number of days required by the Teachers Registration Board of Western Australia is 80), meaning you get extra time in classrooms, ensuring you’re ready to hit the ground running when you graduate. In your final year, you will spend the majority of your time in schools whilst completing your Honours project.
We pride ourselves on our high volume of students who are placed in their preferred schools for professional practice. Our dedicated placement team at UWA assist with placing you in a range of school settings across your time with us. Our placement team provides ongoing support and communication between you and your placement school, ensuring you get the most out of these experiences.
If you’re looking for extra classroom experience, Bachelor of Education (Primary) (Honours) students also have opportunities for paid work as an Educational Assistant through the Professional Immersion Program for Education (PIPE) that we offer in partnership with AngliSchools. The PIPE program is a great opportunity to work in a school with a dedicated mentor teacher, in addition to the professional practice days required in your course.
Secondary School Teaching
If you’re considering becoming a secondary school teacher, our Master of Teaching (Secondary) is the perfect course for you. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, UWA's Master of Teaching course will qualify you to teach in secondary schools, using your learnings from your bachelor’s degree where possible and maximising your future career opportunities.
If you don’t already hold a bachelor’s degree, UWA has two unique combined degrees, designed to meet the Australia-wide demand for teachers in Arts and STEM. Our combined bachelor’s degrees will give you the opportunity to graduate with two qualifications in just four years, and include at least 13 weeks of professional practice placement in two different school environments.
Your professional practice placements can be taken anywhere in Australia and our placement team prioritises finding schools that suit your preferences – whether they are close to home or located in regional and remote areas. With 13 weeks of professional practice across two different schools under your belt, you’ll be well prepared to lead your own classroom after graduating.
Our Bachelor of Arts and Master of Teaching (Secondary) will prepare you to teach two ATAR subject areas to secondary school students up to Year 12. You’ll have a wide range of majors to choose form, including language studies, Indigenous knowledge, history and heritage, English and literature, music studies and political science, to name a few.
Our Bachelor of Science and Master of Teaching (Secondary) will qualify you to teach two ATAR subject areas up to Year 12. There is a nationwide shortage of STEM teachers, which means that graduates of this course have strong employment opportunities. This course is a great option if you are a high achieving student looking to teach STEM to secondary school students.
Albany
If you want to take your university experience to rural or remote communities, where job demand is especially high, consider studying at the UWA Albany campus. Our Bachelor of Education (Primary) (Honours) is available here, where we offer face-to-face learning, as well as opportunities to complete your professional practice placement in local schools. You’ll create meaningful connections with teachers and schools in the area and be ready to begin your teaching career when you graduate. There are also options for beginning your secondary teaching course in Albany before completing the later portions of your study in Perth.
Whether you’re looking for a career change or seeking to enter a rewarding career, our primary and secondary teaching courses could be the answer.
