Teacher - Secondary School - Home Economics

Do you have an appetite for supporting young people as they develop practical cooking and lifestyle skills? As a home economics teacher, you'll help pupils make informed decisions to maintain and improve their health.

In this role, you'll motivate your pupils to learn about food, nutrition and domestic tasks. You'll also help young people understand the connection between their health and what they eat.

You'll support young people as they build the skills and knowledge they need to have a positive life when they leave school. Working in a state or independent school, you could teach students who are between 11 and 18 years old. Some home economics teachers are based in a college or learning centre.

Home economics teachers cover different aspects of health, wellbeing and lifestyle education. This includes:

• food technology

• health and food policies

• managing money

• family relationships and parenting

• textiles and fashion

Your teachings may also help some pupils progress into careers within the health, food production, hospitality, catering or textiles industries. Making sure young people are ready to take National Qualifications and Highers in this subject is also part of your role.

Home economics teachers inspire students to take pride in their achievements, both in and beyond the classroom. It's your job to help them build good relationships with other students and teachers, playing a positive part in school life and the local community.

Sometimes, you'll deal with challenging behaviour! It can be difficult to get some teenagers to take part in activities. So, you'll need to be imaginative and enthusiastic to keep them interested.

You'll occasionally attend meetings and training courses. Home economics teachers work closely with colleagues to plan school timetables. Occasionally, you'll collaborate with other professionals, such as educational psychologists and social workers.

Your tasks might include:

• preparing lessons and teaching materials

• assessing pupils’ progress and marking their work

• setting homework and marking it once the students submit it

• managing behaviour in your classroom – especially when working with cooking equipment or sewing machinery

• discussing students' progress with parents, carers and other education professionals

• organising study trips or social activities

• Teach in Scotland – find out everything you need to know about working as a home economics teacher

• The General Teaching Council for Scotland – explore the independent regulator for teachers

• Education Scotland – check out curriculum information, advice and resources for teachers across the country