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PE teacher

Alternative titles for this job include Physical education teacher

Physical education (PE) teachers work in schools and colleges, teaching sport and fitness to young people.

Average salary (a year)

£32,000 Starter

to

£49,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 45 term time

You could work

evenings / weekends attending events or appointments

Meet Greg

Greg talks about the satisfaction he feels working in sport while supporting his pupils.

2 minute 30 second watch

View transcript

Hi I’m Greg Young, I’m a PE teacher at Hall Cross Academy, but also a Key Stage 3 phase leader in charge of pastoral and learning support.

I started out as a professional footballer. Leaving school at 16, that was obviously my first passion with playing sport since I was younger. I always played lots of different sports, but football was the one that I focused on and managed to be able to get a career in the game.

I knew it probably wasn’t going to last forever. I was mid 20s, and thought that actually, let's go and do something else and make sure that life after football there was something there for me. I did my sports science degree, a bit later than everyone else, but it was linked to what I knew and what I was passionate about.

Both my parents were teachers, so I had that background in education. My dad actually in the off season, while playing football, used to drag me into his school and get me in there. Do you know what? I absolutely loved it. I thought, yeah, this is something that I definitely want to get involved in and be a part of. So I started working towards that to the back end of my footballing career.

First in the morning, I've got a pastoral team around me, so we have year managers who will look after each year and then I oversee those. We'll have a quick check in: are there any students that need any support? What's the plan for the day? Is there any parents that we need to meet? Walk round the classrooms, make sure everyone's settled in, make sure teaching staff are okay. Then I might have some lessons. I'll make sure that my lessons are ready for the day.

I feel so passionate that the vehicle of sport it can give you. It can give you that teamwork and that cohesion. It’s taught me all the skills that I've got now. I think important things like resilience. Students, when they're having difficult moments and I'll reference some of the issues that I've had and say, guys, you know you can do this. At times it might be difficult and you might think you can't, but trust me, you can, keep going.

That's something that sport can give you. So many different skills. Communication, being part of something. We're here to develop them as people. Giving them the skills that are going to make them successful in life. What makes them employable, what makes them resilient, what makes them successful. I think we constantly try to remind them of that.

I had a letter from a student who had left, and he said, sir, I want to thank you for everything you did for me. My confidence was low and you gave me that support, that encouragement, that confidence to get where I wanted to go and he ended up getting an apprenticeship. I'm thriving.

When you get those moments, you realise that actually all the effort and time working, and sometimes it's hard work teaching and sometimes you do long hours. You realise that maybe you’re doing something right. That's what gives me satisfaction of the job role.

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You can do a sport or physical education degree with qualified teacher status (QTS).

You can also complete a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE), if you have a first degree without QTS. This can be done at university or on a school-based training programme.

There are more training options if you're a career changer or want to specialise in teaching certain subjects.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • GCSE science at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) for primary school teaching
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

Apprenticeship

You may be able to apply to do an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Teacher Level 6 Apprenticeship.

The undergraduate option takes up to 4 years to complete. The postgraduate route takes around 1 year, with both leading to qualified teacher status (QTS).

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • GCSE science at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) for primary school teaching
  • a degree for a postgraduate teaching apprenticeship

More Information

Work

If you're a PE or sports graduate, you may be able to get into teaching by working as a sports coach in a school or college, then moving onto a teacher training programme.

You'll need coaching qualifications in your specialist sport to do this.

Volunteering

You'll find it helpful to get some experience of working with young people though this is not essential. You can do this through paid work or by volunteering at a school, doing youth work or coaching at a sports club.

More Information

Registration

Career tips

You can attend teacher training events before you apply to get advice about the profession, the different training routes and funding. You can attend events in person and online.

A driving licence would be useful, as you may be expected to drive a minibus to take teams to sporting fixtures and events.

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a teacher from Get Into Teaching.

You can also search for jobs through the Teaching Vacancies service.

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • be able to motivate and inspire pupils of all abilities to take part and learn new skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to work well with others
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • leadership skills
  • knowledge of English language
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You will:

  • plan lessons and coaching sessions
  • teach a range of sports and physical activities to students of different ages and abilities
  • motivate students to fulfil their potential
  • set and mark assignments, and update school records
  • talk to parents and carers about their children's progress
  • work with other professionals like mentors, educational psychologists and social workers
  • organise sports days, field trips and matches with other schools and colleges

Working environment

You could work at a school or at a college.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a leading practitioner, supporting teaching staff, particularly those relatively new to the profession. You might also gain promotion to head of department, deputy head or headteacher.

You could use your skills and experience to move into coaching, sports development or the fitness industry.

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a pe teacher right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Sports Coaching Level 3

  • Provider: NEW CITY COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: Chadwell Heath

Sports Coaching and Development Extended Certificate

  • Provider: BEXHILL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: Bexhill on Sea

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Skills assessment

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