Secondary Education (QTS) PGCE
About this course
Secondary school teachers equip pupils with fundamental knowledge and skills – setting them up for adulthood. The role of a secondary teacher is to deliver specialised subject knowledge, as well as support intellectual and personal development. With high demand for secondary teachers, you can be certain that you’ll make a positive impact on the lives of your pupils and society.
Whether you’re currently studying for a degree, have recently graduated or are planning a career change, studying with us will enable you to launch your career as a dynamic and inspirational secondary school teacher. At NTU, we understand that the best way to learn how to teach is in the classroom. This is why you’ll spend much of your time during the course in schools.
You’ll be taught by former secondary school teachers here at the university and mentored by teachers in schools, who will support you in building your expertise, critical thinking and creativity. You’ll cover the curriculum in detail, and learn how to bring it to life for students, developing who you are as a teacher.
You’ll be equipped with the subject knowledge and professional skills needed to meet the expectations of secondary school teachers, shaping the lives of our young people by sharing your passion and inspiring theirs.
Our PGCE Secondary Education courses are available in the following subject specialisms:
- Art and Design
- Biology
- Business Studies
- Chemistry
- Computing
- Dance
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- Economics
- English
- English with Drama
- Geography
- History
- Maths
- Modern Languages
- Music
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Psychology
- Religious Education
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PGCE Secondary Education courses are available in a large number of subject specialisms. -
You’ll be recommended for accreditation for Qualified Teacher Status with the Department for Education, allowing you to take a post as an Early Career Teacher upon course completion. -
Placement opportunities are in a variety of educational settings through our extensive partnerships with local schools, colleges and organisations. -
Three of the academic modules can be studied at postgraduate level. Successful completion will result in 60 credits towards a full Masters award.
What you’ll study
Our course consists of modules that integrate the study of learning and teaching, both in general and in relation to the curriculum subject or subjects that you wish to teach, with your experiences in placement. In this way, what you do at both the university and in our schools allows you to learn, practice reflect and develop, bringing theory and practice together as you do so.
Learning to be a Teacher (60 credits)
By studying this module, you’ll become a critically reflective teacher who can assess, adapt and improve your professional practice and appraise individual learning needs. You’ll develop a research-informed approach by questioning and critiquing teaching and learning strategies in order to maximise pupil progress. You’ll take an increasingly autonomous approach to your continuing professional development and a consistent commitment to the professional expectations of a teacher.
Learning to Teach (20 credits)
This module will support your knowledge and understanding of a wide range of inclusive professional practices. You’ll take a constructively critical and reflective approach toward effective and creative innovation in professional practice. You’ll take an informed stance in relation to key issues in education with a critical awareness of how children learn. You'll also interrogate the professional values of a teacher through high-quality work in all areas of the curriculum.
Learning to Teach a Subject 1 & 2 (2 x 20 credits)
Through these two related modules you will develop your understanding of the key concepts relating to education in your subject.
You’ll gain the comprehensive subject and curriculum knowledge required of an expert teacher and develop innovative approaches to teaching the your secondary specialist subject. You’ll develop your professional identity as a critically reflective teacher of your secondary specialist subject - implementing the research skills necessary to make a significant contribution to the shaping of teaching, learning and assessment. This module will also lay the foundation for entry into the profession as an active contributor to teaching and learning.
Professional Practice (QTS)
Upon successful completion of the above modules and your development during your trainee teacher placements, trainees will be complete the Professional Practice module and be recommended for QTS.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
Q&A - PGCE Secondary Education
How you're taught
The University-based elements of the course comprise a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. They explore learning and teaching in general and in your subject(s) and are designed to enable your developing professional practice while placed in our partner schools.
Our lecturers and tutors are experienced secondary teachers who have a wealth of experience and a passion for teaching. They are highly respected researchers within their fields of education.
Placements
School or college placement experience is central to the Secondary PGCE at NTU. You will spend at least 120 days placed in secondary schools and perhaps other educational settings, and spend an additional four weeks in Intensive Training and Practice (see below).
During most weeks, you will spend one day studying, reflecting and planning at the university and the other four days in placement with a partner school. You will be supported by a trained mentor in school and will be assigned a university tutor. Your tutor will support you and help you to get the most out of your school experience.
Broadly, there are three main periods of school-based placement. While the precise details may vary, this consists of:
- an 11-week placement in the autumn term
- a 6-week placement during the spring term in a second school
- a 14-week placement in the summer term back in the first school.
In addition, you will experience four weeks of “intensive training and practice” during which your university and school-based experiences will be focused upon some foundational aspects of becoming a teacher.
We are in partnership with a large number of schools across the East Midlands and beyond. Over the course of the year, you should experience placements in at least two contrasting schools in different locations whether city centre, suburban or semi-rural, and serving the needs of different and diverse communities. This variety provides opportunities for a wide range of teaching experiences and lays a good foundation for your ongoing professional development.
How you're assessed
Assessment
You’ll engage in assessments that draw together academic and professional practice.
Assessment methods include:
- written assignments
- a portfolio of evidence of classroom practice
You will be provided with regular formative feedback throughout your periods of placement that will help you to learn and develop. We will make a final summative judgement about whether you should be recommended for QTS.
Following successful completion of the course year, you’ll achieve a qualification (PGCE or other award dependent on level of achievement) and be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status.
Qualifications
The award of PGCE is made at one of two levels, depending upon your achievement:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (including 60 Masters-level credits).
- Professional Graduate Certificate in Education
Both of these are recognised teaching qualifications. The postgraduate qualification gives you credits towards any MA qualification that you might seek in the future. Successful completion of the course will lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), whichever of these two qualifications you achieve.
Contact hours
You will generally attend university one day a week, with the rest of your time spent at your placement school, however the exact split may vary from time to time and for a small number of weeks, you will attend university every day. Your exact timetable will be confirmed to you at the start of your course.
Careers and employability
The vocational nature of the PGCE Secondary and the fact that successful completion of the course leads to recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) means that graduates are ideally placed to pursue a career as a teacher in a secondary school or college.
If you’d like to know more about NTU’s groundbreaking Employability Promise, and the support you’ll receive both during and after your course, visit our Careers and Employability page.
Campus and facilities
As a Secondary Education student you’ll mainly be studying in the Ada Byron King building, home to Nottingham Institute of Education. You will benefit from our specially designed teaching rooms simulating classrooms for subjects such as music and science. These purpose-built classrooms will help prepare you for a future in teaching, giving you the chance to gain hands-on experience in a realistic environment.
Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep our students busy between lectures. Catch-up with your coursemates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in chic and stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!
You’re also right next to the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. All through termtime, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.
Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.
Entry requirements
UK students
- a third class UK honours degree or equivalent in any discipline
- GCSE English and Mathematics at minimum grade C / 4 or equivalent. We accept the GCSE equivalency taken via equivalencytesting.com or astarequivalency.co.uk. Applicants with pending qualifications will be considered. If necessary, you can take a relevant GCSE as a private candidate.
Additional requirements for UK students
- an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and any other safeguarding checks that may be necessary, if you accept an offer
- two references.
- Strong applicants are invited to an online or in-person interview. Candidates who are not able to demonstrate graduate level subject knowledge may be offered a place on the course nevertheless, dependent upon successful completion of a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course in that subject prior to commencing their teacher training year.
It may strengthen your application to have had some experience in a classroom in a UK mainstream school, setting or college, although this is not an entry requirement. If you do wish to gain some experience prior to your application, you can explore a number of options. Existing students at Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham can access our Students in Classroom service. You can use your contacts through family or friends, or contact schools directly to ask for work experience or you can access the DfE’s School Experience service.
Applications will be considered from individuals who do not have a strong degree match to their chosen curriculum subject. We will take into account your other relevant qualifications, including your A-levels or equivalent qualifications, and any relevant professional experience. Our key consideration is whether you are able to demonstrate knowledge of the subject that is commensurate with graduate level understanding.
International students
Academic entry requirements: A third class UK honours degree or equivalent. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international qualifications on our international entry requirements page.
Other requirements: GCSE English, Mathematics and Science at minimum grade C /4 or equivalent. We accept the GCSE equivalency taken via equivalencytesting.com or astarequivalency.co.uk. Applicants with pending qualifications will be considered
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
- Two references
- An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and any other safeguarding checks that may be necessary, if you accept an offer
Strong applicants are invited to an online or in-person interview which incorporates an English assessment. Candidates who are not able to demonstrate graduate level subject knowledge may be offered a place on the course nevertheless, dependent upon successful completion of a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course in that subject prior to commencing their teacher training year.
It may strengthen your application to have had some experience in a classroom in a UK mainstream school, setting or college, although this is not an entry requirement. If you do wish to gain some experience prior to your application, you can explore a number of options. Existing students at Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham can access our Students in Classrooms service. You can use your contacts through family or friends, or contact schools directly to ask for work experience or you can access the DfE’s School Experience service.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
