Secondary English PGCE

University of Staffordshire

Bring your passion for language and literature into the classroom and help young people become enthusiastic readers with our Secondary English PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education). Whether delving into poetry, exploring characters in novels or getting pupils to craft their own creative writing, you’ll open up the world of books for them. Our Secondary English PGCE will equip you with strategies to become a confident and successful teacher across KS3 and KS4. You’ll spend time in local schools, plan engaging lessons, cover behaviour management techniques and discover how pupils learn. On campus, we’ll help you reflect on your teaching from a subject-specific perspective and give you one-to-one support. But you’ll get far more than just a teacher training qualification with us. As part of our Institute of Education, you’ll have access to the latest research on what works in the classroom and other evidence-based approaches. On the PGCE, you’ll get hands-on experience on placement and will discover creative ways to teach English, with guidance from our experienced staff. You’ll also draw on newspapers, advertising and film. And to help you explore drama, trainees get to visit the New Vic Theatre and take part in Shakespeare-inspired activities. From getting the most out of your induction to tips on teaching your first lesson, your personal tutor will be there to support you every step of the way. We have also developed a close partnership with school-based mentors for your placements. As well as teaching pupils, you’ll have the chance to get them involved in our poetry and visual arts project. It will culminate in the students’ creative pieces being published in an anthology.Our Secondary English PGCE lasts for one academic year, from September until the end of July. This school-led course includes an induction to prepare you for your placement and weekly face-to-face sessions at the University to develop your knowledge of the curriculum and subject-specific pedagogy. You will also undertake 20 Intensive Training and Practice (ITaP) days focused on foundational areas of learning to further develop your practice in the classroom.To give you experience in the classroom, you’ll spend at least 120 days working in two local secondary schools as well as visiting a local primary school. But, don’t worry, you won’t have the pressure of teaching an entire lesson straight away.CareersWith a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you’ll be ready to teach English in schools across England.Most of our graduates secure their first teaching position while on the PGCE, with many of them securing roles within our partnership schools.After you’ve completed this course, you can join our Masters in Education. Your PGCE gives you Masters credits which means you’ll be fast tracked and can complete this course by the end of your second year of teaching.