How Edinburgh Napier University is educating Scotland's next generation of secondary teachers

And its teacher education team is preparing to welcome its biggest ever cohort of students – thanks to its growing reputation for offering the skills needed in today’s classrooms.

By offering new routes into teaching, and also development options once working in the profession, it’s bucking the trend for declining admissions.

Dr Colin McGill, Associate Professor of Science Education in the Teacher Education team, says the university’s focus on developing the next generation of teachers, whether they are fresh from their degrees or changing career, as well as upskilling existing teachers with a new flexible range of online modules, has earned it a great reputation.

“We are gaining a reputation as a good place to come to learn to be a teacher. We get a lot of positive feedback from the teachers and leaders in the schools where our students go on placement, and where they work after they graduate, about our programme. Plus our students give us excellent feedback at the end of the course, so people are hearing that ENU is a really good place to go if you want to become a teacher.

“We are really happy to see our reputation recognised by the increase in applicants. We’re bucking the trend of declining admissions by offering really high standard teaching that prepares students to work in a classroom. And because word of mouth has spread over the past few years, it means that, as we get ready to welcome our eighth cohort of students, we have the biggest number yet!”

Learn to teach – from a team of teachers

While some universities offering teacher education might focus more on theory, at ENU that is accompanied by a firm emphasis on how to be a great teacher in practice. In particular, adds Colin, that can mean offering guidance on how to manage a class of up to 30 teenagers – which is no easy feat.

“We spend a lot of time on the realities of teaching and the actual classroom craft of managing a group of young people,” he explains. “How do you teach them and keep them engaged and interested?

“We are all former teachers, so we understand how important it is to learn these skills alongside the theories of education. That is seen as a big benefit of our courses, and it is reflected in the feedback we get from schools: that we are imparting these skills to our students.”

Part-time route makes new career a reality

ENU offers the flexibility to study full-time over one year or part-time over two. This can make it easier to fit your secondary school teacher education around work or other commitments. Work placements can also be adapted to suit part-time schedules and accommodate caring responsibilities, for example.

“We have a lot of contacts in schools in the area so we are happy to have those conversations with them,” adds Colin.

The course leaders are passionate about recruiting future teachers from a diverse range of backgrounds, which is why the courses are as flexible as possible – with the option to even switch between full-time or part-time programmes if your circumstances change.

“Some people start off on the full-time programmer and then realise the part-time programme might be better. This option means that, instead of leaving the programme completely, they can take things a bit slower and fit it in around their lives,” he says.

Helping existing teachers to add to their skills

In a unique new offering, teachers can now access professional development in Chemistry, English and Maths to help advance your career.

These credit-bearing modules have been designed to offer a top-up for current secondary teachers who wish to dual qualify, or for primary teachers who might want to qualify as secondary subject teachers.

"For example, if you are a physics teacher and you want to qualify to also teach chemistry, this offers you a way to do that online and in your own time," says Colin.

As well as helping to increase the career options for those already in teaching, it can also give a helping hand to PGDE applicants who don't have the required credits in their chosen subject.

These short course modules start in September 2026 and January 2027 – take a look at their website to find out more.

Looking to switch careers? No problem

For anyone keen to pivot their career and head into teaching, prior experience in the workplace can be a real bonus when applying for a PGDE course at ENU.

“A large chunk of our students are people who have come from other careers, and they bring a lot of varied skills with them,” says Colin. He cites the example of a former scuba instructor who was learning to teach and able to apply their prior knowledge to their lessons.

“We offer a lot of flexibility in our programme to make it easier for people to learn while they work, if that’s what they need to do.

“People see us as a trusted university that can get them to the finish line.”

Get funding support while you learn to teach

All eligible teachers are guaranteed a one-year post in a local authority school.

And with teachers in chemistry, maths or physics in high demand, the Scottish Government offers financial support to applicants who switch careers to retrain as a teacher. You could be eligible for a £12,500 bursary if you decide to study for a PGDE – visit the ENU website for more details.

After that, it’s still good news as a shortage of teachers in those subjects means there are plenty of roles around. And even for those learning to teach English and Biology, 100 per cent of the last cohort found teaching jobs after their probationary year.

Find incredible support from the teaching team

Edinburgh Napier was the most highly rated university in Edinburgh in the 2026 National Student Satisfaction survey – and it's not hard to see why. As well as practical, career‑focused courses that help you build the expertise you need, this is a university with a heart.

And, as Colin explains, the PGDE team of five are here to help you succeed.

“We are a small group in the Teacher Education team and we are all very approachable,” he says, “so our students get to know us really well and we get to know them really well. This is a real benefit to our students – a one-year teacher education course is very rewarding, but it can be a rollercoaster, so we know that our support means a lot to them.”

To find out more about PGDE courses in Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics and Physics, visit the ENU website today.