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PGCE
Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2022
You’ll spend at least 120 days working in two local secondary schools
Qualify as a teacher with Qualified Teacher Status
Bring your passion for language and literature to the classroom. On our Secondary English PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) you’ll spend time in local schools, plan engaging lessons and discover how children learn. On campus, we’ll help you reflect on your teaching and build on your knowledge of the curriculum.
English is a core subject for students. It helps them develop skills that are key for their future such as communicating effectively and thinking critically.
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 help students express their creativity.
Throughout your training, you’ll get hands-on experience on placement, find creative ways to teach English and learn new strategies from our experienced teachers. And after you pass our Secondary English PGCE, you’ll be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). This means you can apply for teaching roles across the country.
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 your PGCE journey.
On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: PGCE Secondary English
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.
We have partnership schools in Stoke, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Shropshire, West Midlands and Birmingham.
Our Secondary English PGCE takes 36 weeks to complete. This school-led course includes a three-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.
Video
BA (Hons) English and Secondary English PGCE graduate James talks about his desire to change careers and what inspired him to choose teaching.
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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.
This module gives you opportunities to explore the place and role of your subject within the School Curriculum. You will explore the aims and objectives of subject education; subject curriculum history and current curriculum debate; and the nature of subject learning. This will be explored through a variety of contexts: KS5, KS4, KS3, 2, 1 and Early Years; and academic and vocational dimensions. You will also explore links with other subject areas and cross curricular issues, recent curriculum developments and potential future directions.This module also prepares you for Learning and Teaching. In this element of the module you will learn about setting learning objectives and lesson planning; how to develop learning resources; preparing a series of lessons and issues in progression; teaching strategies and common student misconceptions. You will also explore subject knowledge in the context of age, level, ability and programme of study and building challenge into subject learning.
Module code: EDUC77827
Placements allow trainees to train in real-life situations. Each trainee will work closely with a school-based mentor and will observe experienced teachers in their day-to-day role and collaborate with others in planning, delivering and reviewing lessons.
Module code: EDUC77829
Module code: EDUC77828
This module is an impact action research project where you will identify a particular aspect of inclusion and evaluate the impact policies and practices implemented by your current placement school. You will learn how to conduct educational research and look at a variety of different methods of communicating your action research. This will enable you to compile a formal report justifying proposed practice developments regarding a specific aspect of inclusive practice at your placement, empowering you to make critically informed recommendations for improvement.¿ In terms of developing your inclusive practice, specific topics to be covered include:¿ Behaviour Equality, Diversity and Inclusion During this module you will also learn and develop your understanding of the following: How to conduct a small-scale research project Use of technology to create digital posters Critical use of literature and research Data methodologies and ethical considerations (differences between quantitative and qualitative data, methods of collection and interpretation of different types of data). Critical evaluation and analysis of findings and the implications for future teachingAbility to use research and become research informed in their future practice.
Module code: EDUC77826
You can apply for this course via Gov.uk. Please click on this link to start your application.
We also offer this course via School Direct partners including:
The UCAS code for Biddulph School direct is K011
For this course, you need an Honours Degree with a 2:2 classification in English or a related subject 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).
Returning to education? We’ll help you every step of the way. Find out more about our support for mature students (anyone over 21).
Find out more about the benefits of studying a PGCE at Staffordshire University
This course requires IELTs 7 with no less than 6.5 in any band for students whose first language is not English.
For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.
Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.
We have Libraries and service desks at both sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. Our experienced and friendly staff can answer your IT queries, help you to access resources, show you how to research for your assignments and help with referencing.
With 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.
All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.
When you’re not on placement, we’ll help you reflect on your experiences, exchange ideas and overcome challenges. You’ll also:
Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your lectures wherever you are.
Assessment for your PGCE involves portfolio work, assignments, and observed classroom practice. We’ll often ask you to reflect on approaches you’ve used in the classroom and their effectiveness.
You’ll also be regularly observed by your school-based mentor and university tutor. Working with your placement schools, we’ll identify areas of professional practice that you find challenging.
Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:
If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Inclusion Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.
We know that it’s important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do. We usually give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.
You’ll complete assignments, portfolio work, and projects to expand your understanding of teaching and learning. You’ll also need to set aside time for lesson planning and marking.
While on placement, you might be expected to attend events such as parents’ evenings, extra-curricular activities, and after-school clubs.
You'll be taught by staff who have a range of academic and industry experience.
P/T Lecturer (Hrly) - Education
I am extremely passionate about developing English education in the local area, with a particular interest in creativity in the secondary English classroom.
For the course starting on 11 September 2023 the tuition fees are:
If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Fees and Bursaries Team.
If you accept a place with us, we’ll cover the cost of your Enhanced DBS check. You’ll also receive Level 1 Safeguarding training during induction week.
Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation
You can apply to the Student Loans Company (SLC) for the following support:
For more information and how to apply visit www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding.
You may be eligible for a bursary or scholarship when training to teach. These are tax-free amounts of money you receive to train in certain subjects. You do not need to pay them back.
Your bursary or scholarship will be paid in a minimum of 10 equal monthly instalments over the duration of your course by your teacher training provider.
Your teacher training provider will confirm the payment dates and amounts.
Postgraduate teaching bursaries and scholarships are only available for certain secondary subjects. You cannot receive both a teaching bursary and a scholarship.
You must be eligible for student finance to receive a bursary or scholarship (unless you’re training to teach physics or languages).
You cannot receive a scholarship or bursary if your teacher training course is salaried.
For more information and how to apply visit https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-my-teacher-training/bursaries-and-scholarships-for-teacher-training.
You may also be eligible for a Staffordshire University bursary when you choose to study one of our postgraduate Education courses. Visit our Fees and Bursaries page to find out more.
The group sizes were definitely one of the strengths of the course. Staffordshire University was an attractive option to start my teaching career because of the local links with schools as well as the staff who are committed to developing and honing your skills and abilities. The group sizes were definitely one of the strengths of the course: they were small enough for us to become a support system for one another, as well as our subject staff – nothing was too much trouble. The placements were well organised and the support from the University in making sure that we were being treated appropriately and fairly from our placements was essential in growing us as teachers.
The group sizes were definitely one of the strengths of the course.
Staffordshire University was an attractive option to start my teaching career because of the local links with schools as well as the staff who are committed to developing and honing your skills and abilities.
The group sizes were definitely one of the strengths of the course: they were small enough for us to become a support system for one another, as well as our subject staff – nothing was too much trouble.
The placements were well organised and the support from the University in making sure that we were being treated appropriately and fairly from our placements was essential in growing us as teachers.
The whole experience was very positive and I look forward to working with Staffs Uni again next year. I have been a mentor for Staffs Uni for the first time this year. We had a fantastic trainee, who I feel myself very lucky to have mentored. Staffs Uni offer brilliant support to both mentor and trainee; showing how much they really care about and believe in the opportunities that these roles present. Training for the mentor was great, as well as the ongoing support that was there if needed. As well as this, it offers the mentor an opportunity to reflect on their own practices and then to impart this knowledge to allow the trainee to progress further; an invaluable experience.
The whole experience was very positive and I look forward to working with Staffs Uni again next year.
I have been a mentor for Staffs Uni for the first time this year. We had a fantastic trainee, who I feel myself very lucky to have mentored. Staffs Uni offer brilliant support to both mentor and trainee; showing how much they really care about and believe in the opportunities that these roles present. Training for the mentor was great, as well as the ongoing support that was there if needed.
As well as this, it offers the mentor an opportunity to reflect on their own practices and then to impart this knowledge to allow the trainee to progress further; an invaluable experience.
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.
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