Gap year before PGCE

I’m currently a second-year Chemistry student and I’m really interested in going into teaching in the future. However, before doing a PGCE, I’d like to take a gap year. I’ve heard that if you go straight into teaching after uni, you’ve only ever experienced education, which is very different from the real working world. Taking a year out would give me the chance to get some real world experience, pick up useful skills, and see how chemistry is used outside of education. I want to try out different jobs or opportunities, figure out what I enjoy and gain experiences that will help me later on and make me a better teacher but am I doing the right thing by taking a gap year?

I’m currently a second-year Chemistry student and I’m really interested in going into teaching in the future. However, before doing a PGCE, I’d like to take a gap year. I’ve heard that if you go straight into teaching after uni, you’ve only ever experienced education, which is very different from the real working world. Taking a year out would give me the chance to get some real world experience, pick up useful skills, and see how chemistry is used outside of education. I want to try out different jobs or opportunities, figure out what I enjoy and gain experiences that will help me later on and make me a better teacher but am I doing the right thing by taking a gap year?

I’m currently a second-year Chemistry student and I’m really interested in going into teaching in the future. However, before doing a PGCE, I’d like to take a gap year. I’ve heard that if you go straight into teaching after uni, you’ve only ever experienced education, which is very different from the real working world. Taking a year out would give me the chance to get some real world experience, pick up useful skills, and see how chemistry is used outside of education. I want to try out different jobs or opportunities, figure out what I enjoy and gain experiences that will help me later on and make me a better teacher but am I doing the right thing by taking a gap year?

I’m currently a second-year Chemistry student and I’m really interested in going into teaching in the future. However, before doing a PGCE, I’d like to take a gap year. I’ve heard that if you go straight into teaching after uni, you’ve only ever experienced education, which is very different from the real working world. Taking a year out would give me the chance to get some real world experience, pick up useful skills, and see how chemistry is used outside of education. I want to try out different jobs or opportunities, figure out what I enjoy and gain experiences that will help me later on and make me a better teacher but am I doing the right thing by taking a gap year?

It sounds like you’ve thought really carefully about your future, and that’s already a great sign. Taking a gap year before a PGCE is very common, especially for people who want to teach subjects like Chemistry.
A year out can give you exactly what you’re aiming for a real-world experience, broader perspectives, and a chance to develop transferable skills that will make you a stronger and more confident teacher later on. Schools really value trainee teachers who bring something extra to the classroom, whether that’s industry insight, communication skills, or simply the maturity that comes from stepping outside education for a while.
Trying different jobs or opportunities isn’t a step away from teaching; it’s something that can enrich your future practice and something to talk about in interviews. Students respond well to teachers who can relate learning to the wider world, and your experiences could give you great examples to draw on.
Most importantly, taking a gap year doesn’t put you “behind” at all. It just means you’re investing in yourself so that when you do start your PGCE, you’re going in with clarity, confidence, and a broader understanding of how chemistry plays a role beyond the classroom.
So in short yes, you are doing the right thing if a gap year feels like the best path for you. Your reasoning is solid, and your future students will likely benefit from everything you learn along the way.
I hope that helps,
Mandi - The Uni of Law

Hi Anom,
You have listed some excellent reasons to take a gap year and you will clearly be ensuring it's valuable.
Education cannot replace real world experiencing. You will not just gain work experience, but truly grow as a person through trying different things.
During your gap year, the transferable skills you develop will increase your employability. This is extremely beneficial as the job market can be very competitive.
I recommend checking out this UCAS article, which contains lots of information taking a gap year.
I hope this helps, please feel free to ask me any questions,
-Sophia (University of Lancashire)

The only flaw I see is how you plan to 'try out different jobs'. That will be difficult as finding employment isn't easy and you can't just keep switching - a CV full of short term jobs will be a red flag to a school.
Good Chemistry teachers won't ever struggle to get a job but do be aware that you'll be teaching all Sciences in KS3.
I never found an issue going straight into teaching after a degree and a PGCE. I had done various summer jobs so wasn't ignorant about work [it's harder to get summer jobs these days though].
Are you doing a placement year? That would be a better option.

I don’t really want to do a placement year because it would make my degree longer and I just want to finish my studies and get on with life. Taking an extra year feels like a lot to handle mentally, and I don’t think I have the capacity to deal with the stress of a full-time placement on top of everything else. For me, it makes more sense to go straight into my final year and finish on time.
Also I have completed a summer internship which gave me some insight into working in schools.

You haven't addressed the flaw in your plan - a year of a mix of jobs assuming you can secure one. My role involves interviewing for teaching posts and a CV with a year of lots of stuff would make us question your commitment. How did you work in a school during the summer? Schools are closed ...

Just to clarify, when I say I want to try different job opportunities, I mean things like summer internships in chemistry related to my degree. I’m not looking to do a full-time placement because that would extend my degree and I want to keep on track with my studies. A gap year will give me the chance to do other things like traveling and volunteering while still gaining relevant experience. I have already got teaching experience from my three week getting into teaching internship ( from the end of June to mid July, before schools broke up for the summer hols - you can look it up ) and 6 months of supply work.