Starting to Teach in the Secondary School - Practical Guide for New

In this review of Starting to Teach in the Secondary School, the bottom line is simple: this book is a practical companion for newly qualified secondary teachers who want a clear, subject-focused route to handling classroom life beyond lesson plans. The authors build directly on PGCE preparation and target the professional areas where new teachers most often feel least confident, offering structured guidance on workload, teamwork, behaviour, assessment and values in a readable, no-nonsense way that makes it easy to use during day-to-day practice.

Key Features

• Focused on transition: Helps bridge the gap between initial teacher education and day-to-day teaching by giving practical steps for professional development.
• Workload and self-management: Offers clear strategies for managing time and workload so new teachers can sustain their energy and effectiveness.
• Teamwork guidance: Explains how to work as part of a department and school team to share responsibility and improve student outcomes.
• Behaviour and classroom strategies: Provides approaches to challenging behaviour that are realistic for secondary classrooms and grounded in practice.
• Assessment and reporting: Covers assessing, recording and reporting so teachers can link teaching, feedback and progress with confidence.
• Citizenship and values: Addresses values and Citizenship Education as part of a rounded secondary curriculum, including the school sixth form.

Who It's For

This book is best suited to newly qualified secondary teachers and those on induction or early career pathways who want a concise, subject-aware handbook for the non-teaching demands of the job. It is especially helpful for teachers who feel well prepared for planning and resources but need practical support on professional routines and school systems.

Experienced senior leaders or those seeking detailed subject-specific pedagogy might find the coverage broader than needed; this is primarily a professional development and induction resource rather than an advanced subject-methods textbook.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Practical, usable advice that directly follows on from PGCE training and initial teacher education.
• Clear chapters on workload, teamwork and classroom behaviour that new teachers can apply immediately.
• Covers assessment, reporting and Citizenship, connecting classroom practice to wider school expectations.

Cons

• Not a deep subject-methods manual, so those wanting extensive disciplinary techniques will need a supplementary text.

Specifications

Title	Starting to Teach in the Secondary School
Edition	Second edition (updated to cover common early-career issues)
Authors	Susan Capel, Marilyn Leask, Tony Turner, Ruth Heilbronn
Audience	Newly qualified secondary teachers and early career teachers
Key topics	Workload, teamwork, behaviour, assessment, values and Citizenship Education
Use	Professional development and induction support following PGCE or initial teacher education

Our Verdict

Starting to Teach in the Secondary School is a strong, practical resource for the early-career secondary teacher who needs help with the professional side of the role. It is good value for those looking to convert PGCE learning into classroom routines and team practice, offering realistic strategies for behaviour, assessment and workload rather than theoretical discussion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for newly qualified teachers?
Yes. It is written to build on initial teacher education and to support induction and early professional development.

Does it cover classroom behaviour?
Yes. There is focused guidance on challenging behaviour and practical classroom strategies for secondary settings.

Will it replace subject-methods texts?
No. It complements subject-methods books by concentrating on professional routines, assessment and whole-school issues rather than deep subject pedagogy.