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Secondary Physical Education PGCE

UCAS code B738

Study options Award

Duration

9 Months

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Apply now

Want to inspire young people to keep physically active and help nurture their sporting talents? Whether playing competitively or just practising their skills, PE is also an ideal platform for building teamwork. Our Secondary Physical Education PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) 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 and other evidence-based approaches.

On the PGCE, you can also use a free online platform to support your subject knowledge and theory of PE.

You’ll get hands-on experience on placement. To help prepare you for going into a school, we run extra-curricular development sessions in areas such as tennis and football.

We also offer the opportunity to take additional sport and activity-based qualifications alongside your course. And our trainees can complete first aid training too.

Facilities you can use on campus include our Sir Stanley Matthews Sports Centre, with kit powered by MATRIX Fitness, a sports hall and gym. Outdoors, there are 3G pitches and AstroTurf.

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.

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 Physical Education

Work placements

At the University of Staffordshire, we have partner schools in the Midlands and North West. As well as close links with those in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire, we work with schools in Derbyshire, Shropshire and Birmingham.

Where possible, travel time will be kept to 60 minutes, however this may increase to accommodate rural locations or public transport restrictions.

Course content

Entry requirements

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

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 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.

The Sir Stanley Matthews Sports Centre

Our Sport and Exercise students have access to our on-campus sports centre and gym which features MATRIX fitness equipment, 3G pitches and a sports hall. Read more

Find out more about our Sir Stanley Matthews Sports Centre.

View virtual tour

Careers

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

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

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.

Staff

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

Dr Rebecca House

Lecturer

Rebecca is a Lecturer in Physical Education and a PhD Researcher in Sport Sociology. In particular, her main areas of academic interest include inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals in PE and sport, PE curriculum designs, and alternative activities in PE.

Rebecca's profile

Fees

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

Tuition fees for PGCE-Full-time, Stoke-on-Trent campus
Study option	UK / Channel Islands	International
Full-time	£9,250 per course	£16,750 per course

Included in tuition fees
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.

Not included in tuition fees
Not included in the fees:
You'll need a branded PE kit, which will cost approximately £60.

Accommodation and living costs
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 also be eligible for a University of Staffordshire bursary when you choose to study one of our postgraduate Education courses. Visit our Bursaries and Scholarships page to find out more.

Apply

Location	Award	Study option	Start date	Apply Link
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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