Learning to Teach in the Secondary School

Learning to Teach in the Secondary School is established as the market leading text for all undergraduate, postgraduate and school-based routes to qualified teacher status. It is an in-depth and practical introduction to the knowledge and skills needed to become an effective teacher. With a focus on evidence-informed practice, the book includes many examples of how to apply theory to practice and how to analyse practice to maximise pupil learning.

Fully updated and including new chapters, the 6th edition offers comprehensive coverage, unit-by-unit, of the key concepts and skills addressed on ITT courses. The range of pedagogical features support both university based work including that up to masters level, now a requirement for all PGCE courses - and the school placement element of teacher training. Features include:





Chapter introductions, learning objectives and chapter summaries

Practical and reflective tasks

Case studies with questions

End of chapter reflection questions (new for this edition)

Abbreviations list and key terms boxes

Further reading and web resources per chapter

The sixth edition will be fully updated in light of the latest initiatives and research in the field, the coalition government s planned revision to the secondary curriculum and assessment (White Paper 2010), and updates to the standards for qualified teacher status. Following extensive DE reviewing, significant updates include:





Two new chapters:



Teaching English as an Additional Language

Developing Critical Thinking





Revised Section 7 to better support teacher training in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and NI:



Unit 7.1 Aims of education

Unit 7.2 The school curriculum

Unit 7.3 Understanding education across the UK (supplemented by country specific advice on the companion website for England, Scotland, Wales, NI) [NB we re further researching whether or not this should also cover Ireland)

Unit 7.4 International educational comparisons






Improved Companion Website:



Further hands-on examples of practical issues covered in the book eg. specific examples of effective plenary activities, comprehensive lesson plans

Links to real-life or simulated classroom practice videos on Teachers TV

Twice yearly updates and/or links to summaries of the latest changes to govt policy, and how these impact teaching in the classroom

Susan Capel is a Professor and Head of the School of Sport and Education at Brunel University, UK.

Marilyn Leask is Dean, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Bedfordshire, UK.

Tony Turner was Senior Lecturer in Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, UK.