Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
•   Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Coaching and Developing Others Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
•   Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Working Life

Art and design teachers encourage young people to express themselves using art, design and handicraft activities. Most schools offer teaching in a number of artistic skills, including drawing, painting, pottery, sculpture, printmaking and photography. Art and design teachers may also use computers to teach computer-aided design.  
 
In some schools, it is possible for an art teacher to specialise in teaching one aspect of the subject such as pottery. In most schools, however, art teachers have to be 'all-rounders' teaching all aspects of art.  
 
Most art and design teachers work with students over the age of 11. Teaching is geared to suit the needs of a class of students with widely differing skills and interests. If teaching older year groups, the teacher is more likely to teach students of similar ability who have chosen to study art and design, and are working towards a qualification. Art and design teachers work closely with teachers from other subjects such as design and technology and information technology, in order to develop students' design and technology skills.  
 
In primary schools, teachers usually teach a wide range of subjects and do not specialise in one area like art and design. However, they may act as art and design co-ordinator for the school.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques.
• Evaluate and grade students' class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
• Prepare students for performances, exams, or assessments.
• Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
• Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as acting techniques, fundamentals of music, and art history.
• Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
• Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
• Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
• Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
• Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

 Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

To become a recognised, second level teacher in Ireland, you must hold a primary degree in a relevant subject area, and/or a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PDE or PGD, previously called H.Dip).

Post-primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) is provided through programmes that are either concurrent (undergraduate) or consecutive (postgraduate).

Undergraduate Route

The concurrent (undergraduate) route to a post-primary teaching qualification is offered for a range of programmes (e.g. with practical, laboratory and workshop elements). Students study a 4 or 5 year teacher training programme, which combines the study of education with the study of an academic specialist area and includes school placement.

For the most part, these programmes are in the sciences, technological education, physical education, art and design, music, mathematics, religious education and home economics.

Higher Education CAO entry  physical education, religion, home economics, art, science, engineering technology, and wood/building technology at NFQ level 8 Search CAO courses

Depending on the subject specialism taken, the final degree awarded may be a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science (Education), a Bachelor of Technology (Education) or a Bachelor of Education.

Some higher education institutions offer a ‘hybrid model’ whereby students can exit the programme with a subject specialist degree after three or four years but are not qualified teachers until they have completed all five years. 

Consecutive Route

Postgraduate Study option  The most common route to becoming a post-primary teacher is a Bachelor's Degree, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. If you go this route, your degree must comprise three years full-time study or equivalent, and enable you to teach at least one curriculum subject to Leaving Cert level. 

E.g.  P.E Teacher - by doing a degree, followed by the Graduate Diploma in Physical Education (P.E.) - UL takes students from a range of backgrounds such as, the BSc. in Health & Leisure Studies at IT Tralee.

For consecutive programmes, application is made through the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC), a central application system for NUI colleges and Dublin City University. For other institutions, applications are made directly to individual institutions. 

Art and Design teaching

There are a number of institutions throughout the country that offer relevant courses to those wishing to become Art and Design teachers. Applicants are advised to consult individual prospectuses for course content and entry requirements.

A list of institutions in Ireland  who are providers of post-primary ITE programmes is available here.

All new teachers will need to be  Garda vetted, as they are responsible for children. 

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €44k - €80k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role. Additional remuneration may be relevant with posts of responsibility and qualifications. 

Data Source(s):
Dept of Ed/ Gov.ie/ Forsa/ ASTI/ TUI

Last Updated: July, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Secondary school teachers; deputy head teachers (secondary school).

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was below average for secondary teachers with numbers remaining relatively unchanged since 2020. Enrolments in post primary schools have been in increasing in recent years, with some, but not all, of the most recent increase due to the enrolment of nearly 5,500 Ukrainian pupils in 2022/23; enrolments were expected to decline from 2025, although this may depend on migration patterns (such as the presence of Ukrainian students). Teachers with specific subject combinations remain difficult to source, however.

A 2021 report by the Department of Education noted particular challenges in recruiting teachers of STEM, modern Irish, modern foreign languages and home economics subjects. A recent survey by ASTI on recruitment, retention and supply of teachers highlighted particular difficulties in recruiting teachers for Mathematics and Irish and also signalled that issues such as pay and availability of housing is a significant deterrent for attracting teachers to the sector. The Department of Education has introduced a suite of measures to address teacher demand in priority subjects, including procuring Level 8 programmes to upskill teachers to teach Mathematics, Physics and Spanish as well as a pilot scheme to facilitate teacher sharing between schools.

• Department of Education and Skills

  • Marlborough St, Dublin 1
  • (01) 889 6400
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish National Teachers Organisation

  • 35 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
  • (01) 804 7700 / LoCall 1850 708 708
  • Click Here

• The Teaching Council

  • Block A, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth Co. Kildare
  • (01) 651 7900
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here