Education & Training

Postgraduate courses in Arts & Crafts Teaching

Arts and Crafts teaching requires you to be creative, inspiring, patient and confident, to name just a few of the essential qualities. If you think this career would suit you then have a look at the information below. There are a number of postgraduate courses available in the UK. 

What is Arts & Crafts Teaching?

Arts and crafts teaching is exactly what you would expect. It is the teaching and guidance of art classes in carrying out different tasks from painting, drawing, sewing, poetry and more. You can teach in a variety of settings from secondary school to holding your own art classes to community centres and primary schools also. 

In your role as an art teacher you will be responsible for sourcing art supplies, preparing lessons and providing clear instruction to students. As a secondary school teacher you will teach between history of art/theory and practical skills to produce artistic pieces. You will inspire students to create pieces while helping them to delve into their creative minds and ignite their artistic passion. 

There will often be opportunities to carry out presentations and art displays that the students have created and you will be responsible for finding certain opportunities to display the work. As a secondary school teacher your working hours will be Monday-Friday and from around 8am-4pm. Depending on your exact role, if you are a substitute teacher or an art teacher in another setting, the working hours may vary slightly. 

A large part of your role as an Arts and Crafts Teacher is to help students to develop aesthetic understandings and appreciation while helping students to find their talents and skills and develop them even further.  

Courses

There are many courses on offer in the area across the UK. Some courses offer the opportunity to study either part time or full time. Universities may have certain restrictions in place due to Covid-19 and may offer courses online. There are courses available in this area across a number of colleges and are very similar. Courses include:

PGCE Secondary Art and Design with QTS

A postgraduate course in this area will give you the opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge in teaching with a great knowledge of curriculum development. There is a large emphasis on developing your practical skills through workshops and developing your people skills to be able to work well in partnership with schools and students. You will gain all the necessary abilities to inspire enthusiasm and passion from students at secondary level. 

Arts and Learning

Postgraduate courses in Arts and Learning will provide you with the opportunity to engage with practice and theory while developing innovative research and delving into the world of contemporary art. The programme is largely focused on direct learning and is largely student centred. You will develop your skills in artist teacher practices, including artistic, theoretical, political, and learning and teaching concerns. Courses such as this one generally serve as a pathway before or after the competition of a UK QTS. 

There is also a course available in Art Practice and Learning. All courses have differing content so be sure to find the course that is best suited to you and your needs to work in your ideal career. 

Entry requirements 

Entry requirements may differ from course to course or university to university. Therefore, it is important to research your specific course in detail to ensure you meet the entry requirements. As these courses are postgraduate courses, you will need a bachelor’s degree. Some courses may accept a 2.2 degree while others will require a 2.1  in a relevant area. 

Salary 

Your salary depends on a few variables from your employment type to your exact role and sometimes location can also make a difference to salaries. It is believed that the average salary of an Art teacher at secondary level is around £35,400. Starting out, salaries may be lower and increase with experience. The hourly rate for teachers is £18.19. Salaries can range from £31,000 to £46,000. All figures are based on estimates and are intended to be used as a guide only. 

Related Jobs 

  • Arts and Crafts Teacher
  • Freelance art teacher
  • Secondary school teacher 
  • Artist
  • Pottery teacher
  • University Art lecturer
  • Illustrator
  • Photographer 

Skills and requirements 

Skills and requirements helpful in this area include: 

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Artistic
  • Confidence
  • Creative
  • Organisation skills
  • Time management skills
  • Strong presentation and speaking skills
  • Ability to work well with others
  • Ability to teach
  • Patience
  • Enthusiasm
  • Verbal skills
  • Writing skills
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Empathy and understanding