PGCE Secondary Education with History

Course Summary

Our specialist PGCE History is a direct route to a career of which you can be proud. History teachers empower young people to study the past and the legacies of the past in the present. Our PGCE History aims to produce dynamic confident, and creative teachers who are committed to making History relevant to students today. It prepares you to teach students to establish historical significance, use primary source evidence, identify continuity and change, analyse cause and consequence, take historical perspectives, and understand the ethical dimension of historical interpretations.

Our PGCE History includes a specific focus on the use of seminars, workshops and fieldwork and develops a range of teaching styles appropriate to the delivery of History within the National Curriculum and GCSE/A Level specifications. History teachers can enable pupils to see the linkages between past and present which is absolutely basic for a good understanding of the condition of being human.

During this varied PGCE History course, trainees acquire a broad and deep understanding of a teacher’s daily activities in challenging and diverse settings and how a History teach contributes to the whole school. Furthermore, our PGCE History trainees take up ‘enhancements’ linked to other curriculum subjects e.g religious education, primary phase or special education needs and diversity.

What might you become?

History teachers are in growing demand now that the humanities subjects is one of five subjects that contributes to the English Baccalaureate. Previous trainees in humanities trainees have gained employment as teachers locally in Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall but also further afield e.g East Midlands, London, Yorkshire, Birmingham and in international schools.

How will you be taught?

Collaborative learning, critical reflection and a strong culture of support underpin the PGCE History. You will have a minimum of 120 days in school in 2 block placements and 12 weeks in University undertaking a range of activities, teaching includes lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences, tutorials, independent study or research and school based training.

How will you be assessed?

Assessments relate to your development of practice in school. All are coursework based, you will generate reflective journals, portfolios, essays and presentations.