What does it entail?
Teaching drama 13-18, running clubs, directing school plays, helping with careers, administration, some programming for the school theatre, etc.

How did you get into it?
I got a job at a private boarding school by answering an advert in The Guardian

Did you need any qualifications?
For many schools, and all state schools you should have a teaching qualification, but independent schools do not have to insist on this, as they govern themselves. For any teaching job you need a degree in the relevant subject. You can also train on the job through schemes like the Graduate Teaching Programme in state schools or independent schools who will support you and allow you to have six weeks off to teach at a second school.

If not, did you need any other skills to get into your profession?
Subject knowledge, enthusiasm, love of drama…

What tips would you give to someone interested in your profession? 
Get some experience with children, and if you are not sure about it as a career, see if you can get a year’s work in an independent school to try it out before paying out for a PGCE! (Postgraduate Certificate in Education – one year course after a degree, which gives you QTS – Qualified Teacher  Status

How competitive is it to get into your area of work?
Not too bad at all – they need teachers!

What do you enjoy the most about your profession?
The autonomy.  And the long holidays

What do you enjoy the least about your profession?
Marking, and the more disruptive children!

What’s the most interesting thing you have done or the most interesting person you have met?
I was part of the successful World Record attempt to produce a musical in 24 hours in Edinburgh.

---