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Social Science Teacher job description

A Social Science Teacher teaches history, geography, civics and economics to school students, building understanding of the world, society and citizenship to the board syllabus. They plan lessons, teach with maps, sources and discussion, set and mark work, and prepare students for board examinations. The role reports to the Head of Department or Academic Coordinator. A good social science teacher makes the subject relevant and thought provoking, builds strong answering and map skills, and lifts results while developing informed, engaged citizens.

DetailFor this role
DepartmentEducation and Teaching
LevelEntry level
Reports toHead of Department
Direct reportsNone
ExperienceFresher or up to 5 years teaching social science

Social Science Teacher job description template

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Job title: Social Science Teacher

Department: Education and Teaching

Reports to: Head of Department

Location: [City], [office, branch or site]

About the role

A Social Science Teacher teaches history, geography, civics and economics to school students, building understanding of the world, society and citizenship to the board syllabus. They plan lessons, teach with maps, sources and discussion, set and mark work, and prepare students for board examinations. The role reports to the Head of Department or Academic Coordinator. A good social science teacher makes the subject relevant and thought provoking, builds strong answering and map skills, and lifts results while developing informed, engaged citizens.

Key responsibilities

  • Plan and teach history, geography, civics and economics lessons to the board syllabus.
  • Use maps, timelines, sources and case studies to make topics concrete and clear.
  • Teach answer writing, source interpretation and map work needed for exams.
  • Lead discussions on society, citizenship and current issues linked to the syllabus.
  • Set and mark assignments, map work and tests with specific feedback.
  • Prepare students for board examinations with practice papers and revision.
  • Support weak students and extend able students with deeper questions.
  • Track each student's progress and act on weak areas across the class.
  • Maintain lesson plans, assessment records and marks for each class.
  • Meet parents and take up class teacher and exam duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • Graduate or postgraduate in history, geography, political science or economics
  • B.Ed for school roles
  • CTET or state TET qualified is an advantage
  • Fresher or up to 5 years teaching social science

KRAs and KPIs for a Social Science Teacher

Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.

Key result areaHow to measure it
Board resultsSocial science board results meeting the school target for the grade each year
Answer writingStudents reaching the target standard in answer writing by term end
Map and source skillsStudents competent in map work and source interpretation to the standard
Syllabus completionSyllabus completed on schedule with time for revision before exams
Weak student supportIdentified weak students improving by the target grade over the term
Assessment feedbackWork marked and returned within the agreed days

Skills and tools

Social science teachingMap and source workAnswer writing coachingDiscussion facilitationLesson planningExam preparationClassroom managementCurrent affairs awareness

Tools used day to day: Smartboard or projector, Maps and atlases, Timelines and charts, Textbooks and question banks, Learning management system.

Reporting line and career path

Head of DepartmentSocial Science Teacher
Moves up from: Social Science Trainee, Teaching Assistant
Next roles: Senior Social Science Teacher, Head of Department, Academic Coordinator

Interview questions for a Social Science Teacher

  1. How do you make a history topic engaging rather than just dates to memorise?
  2. How do you teach map work so students score well in it?
  3. How do you coach students to write good board answers in social science?
  4. How do you link a civics or economics topic to current events?
  5. How do you support a student who finds the subject boring?
  6. Tell me about a lesson where students really engaged with a social issue.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a social science teacher do?

A social science teacher teaches history, geography, civics and economics to school students, building understanding of the world, society and citizenship to the board syllabus. They plan lessons, teach with maps, sources and discussion, coach answer writing, and prepare students for board examinations. They make the subject relevant and develop informed, engaged citizens.

What qualifications do you need to teach social science?

Most social science teachers hold a graduate or postgraduate degree in history, geography, political science or economics, with a B.Ed for school roles. Clearing CTET or a state teacher eligibility test is an advantage. Employers value strong subject knowledge across the disciplines and the ability to make the subject engaging and exam ready.

How do you make social science interesting for students?

A social science teacher makes the subject interesting by connecting history, geography, civics and economics to students' own lives and current events. Using maps, timelines, sources, case studies and discussion turns facts into understanding. Encouraging students to question and debate, rather than only memorise, helps them see why the subject matters.