PGCE Secondary Geography with QTS

The aim of the course is to prepare you to become a confident and excellent secondary school teacher of Geography.

PGCE Geography at Yr Athrofa provides a strong understanding of the teaching and learning process across the age range of the secondary setting, including the exam groups.

This is essential for the development of a range of teaching skills such as lesson planning and preparation, questioning, explaining, assessment, preparing resources, and classroom management strategies.

We consider Geography to be an inter-connected subject within the Humanities Area of Learning and Experience but also with strong links to the cross-curricular responsibilities of literacy, numeracy and digital competence.

This an important element of the course in the context of exciting education reforms in Wales and allows you to develop your subject expertise within and beyond the discipline.

In addition, it highlights the importance of Geography in helping young people to become ambitious, creative and ethical citizens.

Excellent subject knowledge, passion for education and an ability to adapt to a professional role are essential requirements for this secondary pathway.

Assessment

The programme offers 60 credits at Masters level and 60 credits at Graduate Level. These are awarded on successful completion of module assessments which include:

• Case studies
• Portfolios
• Video presentation
• Research Project

All assessments are closely linked to practice and are designed to offer you the opportunity to develop teaching and learning that has a positive impact on children and young people.

Career Opportunities

Yr Athrofa has excellent graduate employment rates with 99% of graduates going into employment or further study.

Many schools and college departments, both locally and nationally, are staffed with several of our teachers and many have gone on to forge successful teaching careers at strategic, professional and management levels at home and abroad.

Our PGCE graduates usually remain in close touch with Yr Athrofa as they make their careers in the teaching profession and they often become subject mentors on the programme. This creates a very strong, sustainable professional network of teachers, which is a rich source of continuing professional development.

Recently our PGCE Art and Design graduates have gone on to work as Secondary Teachers in many independent and state schools in Wales, England and abroad including (but not limited) to Judgemeadow Community College (Leicestershire), Cwmafan Junior School (Port Talbot), Howard School (Rainham, Kent), Amman Valley School (Ammanford), Bridgend County Borough Council, Olchfa Comprehensive School (Swansea), Livanhoe College (Ashby de la Zouch), Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera (Ystalyfera).