How to become a history teacher

History is one of the more competitive subjects to train in. It attracts plenty of graduates, there is no bursary for 2026/27, and providers can be selective, so a strong application matters more than in shortage subjects such as physics. You need a degree, usually in history or a closely related subject, GCSEs in English and maths at grade 4 or above, and qualified teacher status (QTS). Once qualified, you start on £34,069 outside London from September 2026, rising to £46,940 at the top of the main range.

Why places are competitive

Subjects that schools struggle to staff, such as physics, chemistry and computing, get large bursaries. History is not on the 2026/27 bursary list, which suggests the DfE does not see a national shortage. In practice that means more applicants per place, some popular providers filling early, and interviews that test your subject knowledge and your reasons for teaching quite hard.

Apply early in the cycle if you can, and do not rely on a single provider. Schools also see more applicants for history posts once you are qualified, so expect a tougher job search than colleagues in shortage subjects.

What providers look for

A history degree is the usual entry point. Providers also accept degrees with a large history component, such as ancient history, classics, archaeology, politics or some English and history joint degrees. They want to see that you can explain historical thinking (causation, change and continuity, interpretation, use of sources) and talk about periods beyond your own specialism, since school courses range widely.

School experience helps a great deal. Watching history lessons at key stage 3 and GCSE shows you how far school history is from a university seminar, and gives you something concrete to write about. The teacher application statement guide covers how to present it.

Routes and funding

The routes are the usual ones: a university-led PGCE, a SCITT, School Direct (fee-funded or salaried), a postgraduate teaching apprenticeship or Teach First. Salaried places in history are relatively few, so most trainees take a fee-funded course and use student finance for fees and living costs. Without a bursary the training year costs you real money, so work out how you will manage before you apply.

After you gain QTS you complete statutory induction as an early career teacher, lasting the full-time equivalent of two school years. Maintained schools must provide it; academies, free schools and independent schools may offer it.

Marking and the workload

History is an essay subject from GCSE upwards, and that shapes the workload. Extended answers take longer to read and comment on than short-answer questions, and A level coursework (a non-exam assessment marked by the teacher) adds a heavy block in the run-up to deadlines. Departments vary a lot in how they handle this. Some use whole-class feedback, shared mark schemes and moderation sessions to keep marking in proportion; others still expect detailed written comments on every essay.

Full-time teachers in England work 1,265 hours of directed time over 195 days a year, but marking and planning mostly happen outside those hours. Ask at interview what the marking policy is, how often books are checked, and how much time the department gives to moderation. Our guide to teacher workload covers the wider picture.

The classroom side

Most history teachers teach key stage 3 history, GCSE and, in schools with a sixth form, A level. Some schools teach integrated humanities in year 7 or 8, so you may also teach geography or religious education. Others add politics, sociology or citizenship to a history teacher’s timetable. Being willing to take on one of those can help when posts are scarce.

Trips are part of many history departments too: museums, battlefields and local sites. They take planning and risk assessments, and overseas trips mean extra paperwork and nights away.

Pay and progression

From 1 September 2026 the main pay range for maintained schools in England runs from £34,069 (M1) to £46,940 (M6) outside London, and from £41,729 to £54,131 in inner London. These rates follow the 3.5 per cent award in the draft 2026 pay document, expected in force around early November and backdated. The upper range runs to £52,835 outside London. The teacher pay scales page lists every point and area.

Moving up usually means a responsibility post. A key stage lead or head of history post normally carries a TLR payment: TLR3 is worth £727 to £3,600 and TLR2 £3,651 to £8,913 from September 2026. Some history teachers move into pastoral leadership as a head of year, which often suits people who enjoy working with families. You join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, contributing 7.4 per cent on a salary up to £36,198.99 and 8.9 per cent from £36,199.

In Scotland the main grade is £43,383 to £54,453 from 1 August 2026, and Northern Ireland and Wales have their own scales and training systems.

Finding a post

Teaching Vacancies, the DfE’s free service, lists most state school posts in England, and many history jobs for a September start appear in spring, because teachers leaving at the end of the summer term must resign by 31 May. Look under teaching jobs, and expect an interview day with a taught lesson and a panel.