Secondary Biology

UCAS code:: 382S
Location:: Stoke-on-Trent campus
Study option:: Full-time
Duration:: 9 Months
Start date:

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Everything we do in our life involves science. Biology helps students understand the bigger picture and connects us to the world in which we live in. It develops an understanding of complex forms of humans, animals and plants a well as developing an awareness of the interaction between humanity and the world.

We’ve designed this course to help you understand how to support KS3, KS4, and KS5 students. You’ll develop the skills you need to make sure young people understand the world in which they live in.

Throughout your training, you’ll get hands-on experience on placement and spend time on campus developing your teaching skills.

From getting the most out of your induction, to tips on teaching your first lesson, your personal tutor will be there to support you on every step of your PGCE journey. You will spend time exploring a variety of teaching methods in our laboratories.

You can find out more about careers in teaching at our “I want to teach” event.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: PGCE Secondary Biology

Work placements

At Staffordshire University, we have close links with partner schools across the region.

We’ll always aim to arrange placements within 40 minutes of where you live.

At Staffordshire University, we have close links with partner schools across the region.

We’ll always aim to arrange placements within 40 minutes of where you live.

Course content

Our Biology PGCE takes 36 weeks to complete. This school-led course includes a one-week induction to prepare you for your placement and weekly sessions to develop your knowledge of the curriculum.

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.

Your training will begin with observing a teacher and helping with group work. Then you’ll share the classes with the teacher and work towards teaching lessons independently.

Alongside teaching, you’ll join in with day-to-day life at the school. Each school has a professional mentor to help you understand the ethos, pastoral care systems, legal and social framework, and supporting services.

You’ll also have weekly meetings with your subject or class mentor to help you prepare for teaching, review lessons, and develop your subject knowledge.

Event

Train to Teach Stoke

Drop in any time during the event to learn all you need to know about teacher training and how to apply.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Standard route

Year 1 compulsory modules
Educational And Professional Issues	30 credits
Learning And Teaching In Subject (Reflection)	30 credits
Subject Knowledge For Learning And Teaching	30 credits
Teaching Practice 1	15 credits
Teaching Practice 2	15 credits

Entry requirements

UK qualifications

International qualifications

You can apply for this course via UCAS Teacher Training at Staffordshire University.

For this course, you need a degree in a biological science with at least half of the content related to Biology and a GCSE grade C/4 or above in both English Language and Mathematics, we also expect you to be confident in technology.

After you apply, we’ll arrange a selection interview. During the interview process we will assess your subject knowledge and personal qualities, such as communication skills, resilience for teaching, and how easy you’ll find it to relate to secondary age students.

If you accept a formal offer, you’ll need to meet the Department for Education’s standards for physical and mental fitness to teach and you’ll need clearance to work with children (Enhanced DBS).

Please note, the Professional Skills Tests will be replaced for 2020 entry. Details of the replacement for the tests are still to be announced, however they will be benchmarked against a defined set of English and Mathematics skills that students will be expected to have by the end of the course (rather than at the point of entry).

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country

Facilities

Libraries

We have Libraries and Service desks on all our sites in Stoke, Stafford and Shrewsbury. All have experienced and friendly staff who can answer your IT queries, help you to access resources, show you how to research for your assignments and even help with referencing.

Some libraries are open 24/7 at key times in the academic year and we have a 24 hour help line too.

Learning Spaces

We also house our new 21st century teaching and learning classrooms with integrated Wolf Vision technology to enhance interactive learning through the use of mobile technologies in theory lessons.

Careers

With a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you’ll be ready to teach Biology in secondary 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.

Teaching and assessment

Overview

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
Academic writing (including how to reference)
Research skills
Critical thinking
Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our AccessAbility Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Staff

Our industry experienced and research-focused academic team draw on a wealth of knowledge and practical experience in order to create an ambitious and innovative learning environment.

Gillian BakerCourse leader

As a very experienced and effective classroom teacher of Biology/Science. I have taught all age and ability ranges at KS4/KS5. I have experience of managing a Biology and Science Department. My considerable experience of being a Subject and Professional Mentor, involved me developing and leading effective ITT provision in my secondary school.

Read full profile

Fees

Overview

Additional costs

Financial support

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Alumni discount

If you have previously completed an undergraduate degree with us, you may be entitled to a discount off your course fee for any subsequent postgraduate taught course. For further information please contact Graduate Relations.

Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £10,609 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options - part-time, full-time and distance learning.

For more information and how to apply visit postgraduate loans.

Bursaries and scholarships

As a postgraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Our students

Student stories

Emma Gilbert
PGCE Secondary Biology

I completed a placement in a local secondary school which enabled me to gain experience to go onto the teacher training course that I am now on. Although we only had to complete this for two weeks, I stayed for around six months, working around my days in university.

I plan to complete my NQT year next academic year and teach in a local secondary school, which have already offered me a job.

I made so many great friends at Staffs and I wish I could do my time here again!

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Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.