Secondary Physical Education PGCE

University of Bedfordshire

This largely placement-based course focuses on developing your practical teaching skills, understanding of research-informed educational theory and the subject-specific knowledge needed to be an excellent teacher of physical education. You explore professional issues, such as the purpose of physical education and its place within the school curriculum. You also develop the skills to employ a range of pedagogical models effectively and support students progress as unique individuals through physical education.

There is the option to take this course part time over two years, making it easier to balance study with your other commitments.

What will you study?

Studying our Secondary Physical Education PGCE course will equip you with the in-depth knowledge and skills to effectively teach physical education at secondary level. The Curriculum Specialist (Secondary Physical Education) is designed to develop adaptive, creative, inclusive, reflective and socially-just teachers, who view themselves as career-long learners. We will explore curriculum design and you will develop your knowledge of physical literacy and pedagogical models, such as Health-based Physical Education, Cooperative Learning, Teaching Games for Understanding and Sport Education.

You will also learn to teach a breadth of curriculum areas including athletics, dance, games, gymnastics, outdoor and adventurous activities and swimming. During the physical education course, you will be supported in developing your own teaching practice through collaborative planning, peer teaching, weekly progress reviews and evaluations. The Evidence Informed Curriculum Specialist unit builds on your understanding of current contexts in physical education, as well as how to apply that knowledge into practice.

You will have the opportunity to undertake a school placement where you will build your experience to independently plan and teach sequences of learning based on your observations and learning in our School Experience 1 unit. You will also explore new pedagogical ideas while learning to align with behaviour management policy in schools. In the second part of this unit School Experience 2, you will continue to develop and apply your experience from the first unit while also learning strategies to adapt teaching, effective use of assessment and to promote good progress. This course is available as both a one-year full-time or a two-year part-time course.

Careers

On graduating you can apply for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) enabling you to work as a PE teacher in a secondary education setting. Many of our graduates go on to rewarding employment in local schools.

As well as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) completing the course also offers you up to 60 Master's-level credits with opportunities for further study at MA/MSc MPhil PhD and EdD levels.