Secondary Mathematics PGCE

UCAS code 3F4H

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Being able to crack problem-solving and master essential maths are some of the most important skills a young person can learn. They underpin everything from household budgets to complex data and AI. Here’s your chance to make a huge difference to students’ lives by taking our Secondary Mathematics PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education). It 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 explore how to get schoolchildren to be creative in maths. We have links with a local LEGO studio where you can apply maths.

There will be plenty of hands-on experience on placement too. You’ll put different techniques into action, such as maths mastery, and help pupils use logic and reasoning.

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.

You’ll be able to draw on a wide range of other expertise as well. We work with maths hubs and a maths excellence partnership led by local schools. Our links with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics also ensure trainees benefit from the latest developments in teaching.

And to help you achieve your ambitions, you can take our aspiring leaders’ programme towards the end of the course.

After you pass your PGCE, you will be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). But the support doesn’t stop there - we’ll even offer you a mock interview in a school to prepare you for job applications.

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

Work placements

At the University of Staffordshire, we know our partner schools very well and can match your development needs with your school placements.

We have a wide outreach across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire. They range from urban to rural village schools.

We aim to keep travel time to placements to under 60 minutes from the University’s Stoke on Trent Campus, however this may increase to accommodate rural locations or public transport restrictions.

Course content

Our Secondary Mathematics 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.

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.

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.

Entry requirements

You can apply for this course via Gov.uk. Please click on this link to start your application.

We also offer this course via our Lead Partner, The Golden Thread Teaching School Hub:

https://www.goldenthreadtsh.co.uk/trainee-teacher/secondary/

The Apply code for The Golden Thread Teaching School Hub is D629 (Mathematics) and English (P278).

For this course, you need an Honours Degree with a 2:2 classification in Mathematics 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.

If your degree is not related to Mathematics but you have maths qualifications at Level 3 (A Level) then a subject knowledge enhancement course may be suitable for you. To find out more about subject knowledge enhancement courses, please check out the following get into teaching website: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/train-to-be-a-teacher/subject-knowledge-enhancement

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).

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.

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Facilities

Libraries

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.

Careers

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

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

When you’re not on placement, we’ll help you reflect on your experiences, exchange ideas and overcome challenges. You’ll also:

  • Learn in small groups
  • Use roleplay to develop your knowledge of the secondary curriculum
  • Discuss ideas and challenges you face in group and individual tutorials
  • Reflect on your placement experiences

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

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.

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 Student Inclusion Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Feedback

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.

Independent learning

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.

Staff

You'll be taught by staff who have a range of academic and industry experience. 

Kate Dale

Course Director

I love solving problems and seeing pupils enjoy and succeed in mathematics. My focus is now on supporting the next generation of teachers to become reflective, research-informed teachers who support and develop all pupils to become mathematicians.

Kate's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 8 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,250 per course £16,750 per course
Included in the fees:

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

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

You can apply to the Student Loans Company (SLC) for the following support:

  • Tuition Fee Loan – To cover the cost of your tuition fees.
  • Maintenance Loan – To support you with living costs such as food, accommodation and travel.

For more information and how to apply visit www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding.

Scholarships and additional 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 Bursaries and Scholarships page to find out more.

Our students

I’ve gained invaluable pedagogical knowledge and practical skills which I’ve put into practice in my classroom

I’m so glad I did a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics with Staffs Uni. The team at the university and school’s mentors has been second to none. It has been an intense journey that challenged and enriched my understanding of teaching mathematics. I’ve gained invaluable pedagogical knowledge and practical skills which I’ve put into practice in my classroom. I am now ready to inspire and empower future mathematicians.

Ozan Duman

PGCE Secondary Mathematics Student

The course leaders and subject tutors make this course.

The course leaders and subject tutors make this course. They are all enthusiastic about their subjects and offer exceptional advice on methods of teaching and subject knowledge. They plan interesting tasks for the subject days and I look forward to these throughout the week because the subject leader makes it such a supportive and innovative day. I always leave feeling like I have so many ideas I want to try out and implement in my lessons.

Absolutely apply, because this is an excellent university to complete a PGCE at. You learn so much that you can apply to your teaching practice and are actively encouraged to try new things and experiment - which is such an excellent opportunity.

Megan Cryer

PGCE Secondary Mathematics

The input the university provides to its trainee's shows in their lessons

As a mentor, I feel as equally supported by Staffordshire University when working with one of their trainee pupils. The input the university provides to its trainee's shows in their lessons and I am able to capitalise on this and understand what fortnightly targets will allow progress of the trainee and pupils in front of them to accelerate

Dan Purle

2nd in Maths Department, St Peter's Academy

Every colleague I have worked with who trained at Staffs is thriving from the brilliant training they had!

When it comes to education, teacher training can be a lottery for all involved. Staffordshire University really has its finger on the pulse with all things regarding maths education. Having worked with many other universities, this course is by far the best. The dedication for personal and professional development is second to none. Every colleague I have worked with who trained at Staffs is thriving from the brilliant training they had! 

Chris Shakespeare

Head of Department, Kingsmead School

I couldn't recommend Staffordshire University enough if you are considering a profession in teaching.

Taking the PGCE course this year at Staffs has been both challenging and extremely rewarding. I couldn't have been in better hands this year in terms of the guidance and support I have received from both my university mentors and my peers. I am now looking forward to going into teaching Mathematics next year, feeling both excited and well-prepared for the role. Not only did I feel well supported this year, but I also strongly feel that my mentor, and the university as a team, will help support me in the future.

 

Kieran Picken

PGCE Secondary Mathematics Student

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus PGCE Full-time, Stoke-on-Trent campus 8 September 2025 Apply now

Rules and regulations

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

Students of University of Staffordshire 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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