Teaching secondary-age children is your chance to share your passion for your subject and inspire the next generation. Teaching children isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Every subject is different, which is why we make sure our support is centred on subject-specific knowledge, up- to-date teaching practices and, most importantly, your specific needs as a trainee teacher.
Our PGCE Secondary Science with Chemistry programme prepares you to teach in the 11 – 16 age phase. It may be possible to gain experience of teaching post-16 during your PGCE and the qualification does not preclude you from teaching post-16 once employed. There are three stages to your PGCE Chemistry course.
Stage 1 – Introduction to teaching (September to December)
University-based training
We use an innovative and supportive model of training which means that not only are you getting school experience from the very early weeks of the course, but that support and tuition from University and subject experts continue until you are a highly-confident new teacher. So, in Stage 1, after a short two-week induction programme, you will start a school placement and gradually build up the time you spend in school to four days per week. Every Friday however you’ll return to University for subject knowledge and applied pedagogy (SKAP) sessions (see below) and support from your tutor and fellow trainees on the course.
Professional Education Studies
Professional Education Studies is designed to give you an introduction and overview of important topics and issues which will inform your learning, practice and professional values. These sessions give theoretical insights and practical strategies to tackle issues that you will face in your school placements and in the early years of your professional teaching life.
Subject Knowledge and Applied Pedagogy (SKAP)
In these sessions, our subject tutors will give you a good understanding of what it means to teach your subject. You will study the school curriculum and understand how other expert teachers have taught it successfully. You will also learn how to plan lessons and sequences of learning that address the needs of your pupils so that you can develop your practice and have a positive impact on their learning.
School Experience
While you continue to benefit from one day a week of University tuition you will also start your first school experience, which will last until the end of Stage 1. Our School Partnerships team will source your placements for you, taking into account your passions, preferences and personal circumstances. The team and your subject tutor will work with you to ensure you’re prepared and ready to go into school. This will give you the chance to put into practice what you’ve learned so far in a collaborative working environment. You’ll work closely with your mentor based in your school. Every Friday you will return to University to benefit from the support and expertise of your subject tutor and your subject peer group.
Stages 2 and 3 – Developing your knowledge and preparing for your new career (January to July)
University-based training
Your University-based training will comprise the same elements as Stage 1, but you’ll focus on building on the knowledge you’ve already developed to prepare for your next school experience block. In January, after an initial week at University, you will start your second school experience, returning to University to continue SKAP tuition every second Friday until Easter. These Friday sessions are a great opportunity to find out how different schools approach the issues you are facing in your teaching practice, share your experience with your fellow trainees, and continue to benefit from the expertise of your subject tutor.
School Experience
For your second school experience you will be placed in a different school setting. This will give you the chance to deepen your knowledge of how pupils learn and extend your practice in supporting that learning, in a new context. You will continue to be supported by your University subject tutor, a new school mentor and a lead mentor who liaises frequently between school and University. You will stay in this school from January until July, giving you the chance to develop your practice in a school, and with pupils that you will get to know really well. This gives you a very good opportunity to make a positive impact on progress in that school over a sustained period.
Over Stages 2 and 3, you will be teaching more lessons and ensuring that you’re teaching classes from across the full age phase for which you are training. At this point, you’ll become more of an independent practitioner.
Qualified Teacher Status
During each stage of your school experience you will be formatively assessed, and your progress mapped against core competencies. A summary judgement will be made at the end of each stage. This summary will provide you with further information about your areas of strength and targets to develop moving forwards. By the end of your training in school (Stage 3) you will be expected to have met the Teachers’ Standards and a Summative Assessment will be made using the standards as a benchmark. When you meet the Teachers’ Standards you are then recommended for QTS.