What will I learn?
If you want to work in the classroom as a professional teacher you need to take a teacher-training qualification. These can be bachelor of education degrees or bachelor of arts degrees, but they must also confer Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). They are three- or four-year courses during which you will develop the specialist subject you need to teach, learn about the national curriculum for that subject, get up to speed with the latest government education initiatives (and get a shock when you realise how many there are and how often they're updated), and learn about the legal and ethical responsibilities that come with the job.
You will also learn a huge range of strategies and practical teaching techniques such as planning lessons and assessment, managing behaviour and understanding how children learn. A substantial proportion of your time will be spent in a school observing expert teachers and teaching, supported by a mentor from the school.
If you want to learn about education because you find it interesting, but do not plan to teach, then an education studies course is more appropriate. These courses will look at how education is delivered, but will focus more on how this fits into a cultural, political or historical context, rather than just how it is practically applied in schools on a day-to-day basis. You will probably look at other education models and their impact on society in other countries, and perhaps even start to develop a few ideas of your own.
What skills will I gain?
After completing your teaching qualification, you should have the confidence to walk into a classroom of 30 children or young people knowing that you have the theory and the practical knowledge and experience to ensure that all of them learn and achieve their potential. You'll know what subjects you need to teach and at least have an idea about how best to do it.
You will also know the difference between an academy and a specialist school, appreciate why people get cross when creationism is taught in science lessons, and be aware of the arguments surrounding grammar schools.
Students taking education studies degrees will develop a good knowledge of educational practices, and be able to explain past ideas and assess how they fit into today's policies.
What job could I get?
Teaching is the obvious one, but if you don't feel like it once you've completed your degree, there are other possibilities inside and outside education. Teachers are highly skilled at working with people, organising and planning, and coping with stressful situations – these skills are valuable in many careers.
The majority of graduates with QTS do enter the teaching profession and some of those with education studies may choose to study for a postgraduate teaching qualification, though many of the latter follow other careers working with children and young people.
What will look good on the CV?
• Good communication skills.
• Knowledge of the profession.
• An ability to understand and know how to implement education policy.
For the full range of skills you can develop through a degree in education click here (pdf).