Subject Teacher job description
A subject teacher plans and teaches one subject to classes in a school or coaching institute. The role turns the syllabus into lessons, assessments and feedback that help each student learn.
Why the role exists
Every school and institute needs teachers who can teach a subject well, mark fairly and keep a class orderly. The subject teacher reports to the head of department, coordinator or principal and works with class teachers, counsellors and parents to support each student's progress through the year.
What the person does
- Prepare yearly, monthly and daily lesson plans that follow the syllabus of the board the school is affiliated to.
- Teach assigned classes using the board, practical demonstrations, worksheets and digital tools suited to the age group.
- Set class tests, assignments and term papers, then mark them on time with clear written feedback.
- Record attendance, marks and remarks in the school management system or register before each deadline.
- Identify students who are falling behind and arrange extra practice, remedial classes or a word with parents.
- Attend parent-teacher meetings and explain a student's progress honestly, with examples from class work.
- Take duties such as invigilation, assembly, substitution periods and school events as the timetable requires.
- Join subject meetings and training to agree common question papers, marking schemes and teaching methods.
Skills and tools
- Strong command of the subject and the board syllabus being taught
- Lesson planning and classroom management for large mixed-ability classes
- Setting question papers and marking with a clear scheme
- Clear spoken English and the local language used in class
- Smartboards, school ERP apps and online classroom platforms
- Patience and fair treatment of every student
- Writing useful remarks on report cards and progress sheets
- Basic first aid awareness and child safety habits
Education and experience
Preferred, never a bar: equivalent experience counts.
- Graduate or postgraduate degree in the subject, preferred, or equivalent experience
- Teaching degree or diploma for the level taught, preferred; confirm what applies with your own adviser
- Prior classroom experience at the same level and board, preferred
- Ability to take a demo class and share a sample lesson plan
How the work is judged
- Syllabus completed in line with the academic calendar without rushed revision
- Quality and timeliness of marking, feedback and records entered
- Student progress across the year compared with their own earlier results
- Parent and student feedback on clarity, fairness and approachability
- Contribution to school events, duties and subject team planning
Where the role can lead
- Senior teacher, then head of department for the subject
- Academic coordinator or section head for a wing of the school
- Examiner, trainer for other teachers, or curriculum developer
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions in the same order and score them against written anchors, so the decision rests on the work and not the impression.
- Take one topic from your subject and show how you would teach it to a class of mixed ability.
- A student scores poorly in three tests in a row. What do you do in the first two weeks?
- How do you keep a noisy class of forty students engaged without raising your voice or using punishment?
- Parents say their child's marks are unfair. How do you handle that meeting?
- How do you use a smartboard or online tool when the internet is slow or fails mid-lesson?
- How have you adjusted your teaching after seeing weak results in a unit test?
Hiring tips for this role
- Always ask for a demo class with real students or a panel. A strong interview answer does not show how a teacher handles a full room.
- Check teaching experience at the same board and level. A senior secondary teacher may struggle with middle school pace and behaviour.
- Confirm teaching qualifications and any registration needed for your school with your own adviser before the offer, as it depends on board, state and level.
- Do not hire only on marks of past students. Ask how the teacher worked with weaker students and with parents.
Questions about hiring a subject teacher
It depends on the level taught, the board and the state. A teaching degree is often preferred, but you should confirm what applies to your school with your own adviser before you fix the job description.
Use a short demo class, a sample lesson plan, a marking exercise on a few answer scripts and a conversation about handling weak students. Together these show far more than a written test of subject knowledge.
Many schools combine the two, but the duties differ. A class teacher manages attendance, discipline and parents for one section. State this in the job description so the offer and workload are clear.
GullyHR agrees the job description with you, finds and screens teaching candidates for permanent roles and supports the offer. You run the demo class and take the final selection decision.
Hiring a subject teacher?
GullyHR runs talent acquisition for permanent roles. We agree the job description with you, find and screen candidates against it, and support the offer through to joining. We recruit permanent employees. We do not supply contract or temporary staff.