EducationISCO 2330
History teacher secondary school
History teachers at secondary schools provide education to students, commonly children and young adults, in a secondary school setting. They are usually subject teachers, specialised and instructing in their own field of study, history. They prepare lesson plans and materials, monitor the students' progress, assist individually when necessary, and evaluate the students' knowledge and performance on the subject of history through assignments, tests and examinations.
Check yourself in a minute: history teacher secondary school
Rate 5 of the 23 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
monitor developments in field of expertise
liaise with educational support staff
manage student relationships
adapt teaching to student's capabilities
apply teaching strategies
About history teacher secondary school
As a history teacher in a secondary school, you inspire young people to understand the complexities of human civilization and develop critical thinking about the past. Your daily responsibilities include preparing engaging lesson plans and teaching materials, delivering lectures that bring historical events to life, and facilitating discussions that help students connect the past to the present. You'll assess students' knowledge through assignments, tests, and examinations, providing constructive feedback to support their learning. You manage classroom dynamics, adapt your teaching approaches to accommodate different learning styles and difficulties, and maintain collaborative relationships with support staff and colleagues. History teaching offers meaningful career satisfaction as you shape future citizens' understanding of the world, with stable employment prospects and opportunities to advance into leadership roles within educational institutions.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a history teacher secondary school.
1
Lesson Planning and Content Development
- Prepare detailed lesson content aligned with curriculum objectives
- Compile diverse course materials including primary and secondary sources
- Monitor developments in historical scholarship and field of expertise
- Develop instructional strategies based on periodisation and historical context
2
Teaching Delivery and Student Engagement
- Teach history content using demonstrations and interactive methods
- Adapt teaching approaches to students' capabilities and learning styles
- Facilitate classroom discussions that develop critical thinking skills
- Apply varied teaching strategies to maintain student interest and motivation
3
Assessment and Student Feedback
- Assess student knowledge through assignments, tests, and examinations
- Provide constructive feedback that guides student improvement
- Monitor student progress and identify areas requiring additional support
4
Classroom Management and Student Support
- Perform classroom management to maintain productive learning environment
- Maintain student discipline and establish clear behavioral expectations
- Assist students with learning difficulties and provide individualized support
5
Professional Collaboration and Development
- Liaise with educational support staff regarding student needs
- Manage positive student relationships and mentor young learners
- Maintain current knowledge of secondary school procedures and regulations
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (23)
historyhistoryThe discipline that studies, analyses, and presents the events of the past related to humans.learning difficultieslearning difficultiesThe learning disorders some students face in an academic context, especially Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and concentration deficit disorders.instructional strategiesinstructional strategiesThe techniques that instructors use to deliver lessons. The aim of these strategies is to make students become more involved in the learning process.secondary school proceduressecondary school proceduresThe inner workings of a secondary school, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.periodisationperiodisationThe categorisation of the past into defined blocks of time, called time periods, in order to make researching history easier.monitor developments in field of expertisemonitor developments in field of expertiseKeep up with new research, regulations, and other significant changes, labour market related or otherwise, occurring within the field of specialisation.liaise with educational support staffliaise with educational support staffCommunicate with education management, such as the school principal and board members, and with the education support team such as the teaching assistant, school counsellor or academic advisor on issu...manage student relationshipsmanage student relationshipsManage the relations between students and between student and teacher. Act as a just authority and create an environment of trust and stability.adapt teaching to student's capabilitiesadapt teaching to student's capabilitiesIdentify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.apply teaching strategiesapply teaching strategiesEmploy various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating argument...maintain students' disciplinemaintain students' disciplineMake sure students follow the rules and code of behaviour established in the school and take the appropriate measures in case of violation or misbehaviour.teach historyteach historyInstruct students in the theory and practice of history and historical research, and more specifically in topics such as history of the Middle Ages, research methods, and source criticism.demonstrate when teachingdemonstrate when teachingPresent to others examples of your experience, skills, and competences that are appropriate to specific learning content to help students in their learning.assist students in their learningassist students in their learningSupport and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.apply intercultural teaching strategiesapply intercultural teaching strategiesEnsure that the content, methods, materials and the general learning experience is inclusive for all students and takes into account the expectations and experiences of learners from diverse cultural ...liaise with educational staffliaise with educational staffCommunicate with the school staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, academic advisors, and the principal on issues relating to students' well-being. In the context of a university, liaise with th...prepare lesson contentprepare lesson contentPrepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.develop course outlinedevelop course outlineResearch and establish an outline of the course to be taught and calculate a time frame for the instructional plan in accordance with school regulations and curriculum objectives.curriculum objectivescurriculum objectivesThe goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.perform classroom managementperform classroom managementMaintain discipline and engage students during instruction.assess studentsassess studentsEvaluate the students' (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weakne...compile course materialcompile course materialWrite, select or recommend a syllabus of learning material for the students enrolled in the course.give constructive feedbackgive constructive feedbackProvide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evalu...
Optional (26) — show
history of theologyhistory of theologyThe study of the development and evolution of theology throughout history.assessment processesassessment processesVarious evaluation techniques, theories, and tools applicable in the assessment of students, participants in a programme, and employees. Different assessment strategies such as initial, formative, sum...adolescent socialisation behaviouradolescent socialisation behaviourThe social dynamics through which young adults live amongst each other, expressing their likes and dislikes and the rules of communication between generations.source criticismsource criticismProcess of classifying various informational sources into different categories such as historical and non-historical, or primary and secondary, and evaluating those sources on the basis of their conte...disability typesdisability typesThe nature and types of disabilities affecting the human beings such as physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional or developmental and the specific needs and access requirements of disabled peop...art historyart historyThe history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolutions.historic architecturehistoric architectureThe techniques and styles of various periods in history from an architectural standpoint.historical methodshistorical methodsThe methods, techniques, and guidelines that historians follow when researching the past and writing history, such as the use of primary sources.ethicsethicsThe philosophical study that deals with solving questions of human morality; it defines and systemises concepts such as right, wrong, and crime.cultural historycultural historyField that combines historical and anthropological approaches for recording and studying past customs, arts, and manners of a group of people taking into account their political, cultural, and social ...assist in the organisation of school eventsassist in the organisation of school eventsProvide assistance in the planning and organisation of school events, such as the school's open house day, a sports game or a talent show.identify learning disordersidentify learning disordersObserve and detect symptoms of Specific Learning Difficulties such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyscalculia, and dysgraphia in children or adult learners. Refer the student to t...consult student's support systemconsult student's support systemCommunicate with multiple parties, including teachers and the family of the student, to discuss the student's behaviour or academic performance.facilitate teamwork between studentsfacilitate teamwork between studentsEncourage students to cooperate with others in their learning by working in teams, for example through group activities.recognise indicators of gifted studentrecognise indicators of gifted studentObserve students during instruction and identify signs of exceptionally high intelligence in a student, such as showing remarkable intellectual curiosity or showing restlessness due to boredom and or ...arrange parent teacher meetingarrange parent teacher meetingSet up joined and individual meetings with students' parents to discuss their child's academic progress and general well-being.provide learning supportprovide learning supportProvide the necessary support to students with general learning difficulties in literacy and numeracy to facilitate learning by assessing the learner’s development needs and preferences. Design formal...monitor educational developmentsmonitor educational developmentsMonitor the changes in educational policies, methodologies and research by reviewing relevant literature and liaising with education officials and institutions.prepare youths for adulthoodprepare youths for adulthoodWork with children and young people to identify the skills and abilities they will need for their transition to become independent and self-sufficient adults.manage resources for educational purposesmanage resources for educational purposesIdentify the necessary resources needed for learning purposes, such as materials in class or arranged transportation for a field trip. Apply for the corresponding budget and follow up on the orders.keep records of attendancekeep records of attendanceKeep track of the pupils who are absent by recording their names on a list of absentees.perform playground surveillanceperform playground surveillanceObserve students' recreational activities to ensure student safety and well-being and intervene when necessary.identify cross-curricular links with other subject areasidentify cross-curricular links with other subject areasRecognise correlations and overlaps between your subject of expertise and other subjects. Decide on a levelled approach to the material with the teacher of the associated subject and adjust lesson pla...provide lesson materialsprovide lesson materialsEnsure that the necessary materials for teaching a class, such as visual aids, are prepared, up-to-date, and present in the instruction space.oversee extra-curricular activitiesoversee extra-curricular activitiesSupervise and potentially organise educational or recreational activities for the students outside of mandatory classes.escort students on a field tripescort students on a field tripAccompany students on an educational trip outside the school environment and ensure their safety and cooperation.
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Frequently asked questions
What does a history teacher secondary school do?
History teachers at secondary schools provide education to students, commonly children and young adults, in a secondary school setting. They are usually subject teachers, specialised and instructing in their own field of study, history. They prepare lesson plans and materials, monitor the students' progress, assist individually when necessary, and evaluate the students' knowledge and performance on the subject of history through assignments, tests and examinations.
What skills does a history teacher secondary school need?
A history teacher secondary school needs 23 essential skills, including history, learning difficulties, instructional strategies, secondary school procedures, periodisation.
Will AI replace history teacher secondary school jobs?
The AI disruption score for history teacher secondary school is 64/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: keep records of attendance, compile course material, source criticism. Most resilient: escort students on a field trip, prepare youths for adulthood, manage student relationships.
AI Replacement Risk
64/ 100
High Risk
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Skills most at risk from AI
Skills resilient to automation
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