Program Overview

Introduction to the Secondary Drama with QTS (11-16) - PGCE Program

The Secondary Drama with QTS (11-16) - PGCE program is designed for individuals passionate about introducing the exciting world of learning through drama to children and young people. This program provides a strong grounding for making a contribution to this essential aspect of education, focusing on practice-based learning and international opportunities at every stage, including collaborations with local theatre companies such as the internationally-renowned Big Brum Theatre in Education Company for enriching drama education experiences. The program covers the 11-16 age range, with post-16 enhancement, and is structured around the development of a Progress Journal, demonstrating progress against the ITE Core Curriculum, incorporating the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) and the nationally agreed competences - the Teachers' Standards, which all teachers must meet throughout their career. The program includes Intensive Training and Practice (ITaP) sessions, enabling focus on specific areas of the ITE curriculum, such as assessment, transitions, and adaptive teaching, to develop skills and knowledge drawing together evidence-based theory and practice. The curriculum is designed by research-active subject experts to be integrated between university and school-based training, ensuring trainees are equipped to meet the needs of the teaching workforce now and in the future, with partnerships across the West Midlands and beyond, allowing training in a range of schools and early years settings, preparing trainees for work in a wide variety of schools upon qualification. Trainees complete at least 120 days across a minimum of two placements, supported by a subject mentor in school and a personal development tutor at the university, with the opportunity to gain Master's level credits that can be used towards a full Master's degree. The program meets the Department for Education's (DfE) Criteria for Initial Teacher Training, and successful candidates are recommended to the DfE for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The Secondary Drama PGCE is assessed against the Teachers' Standards (DfE 2012) at the end of the course, ensuring trainees meet the professional standards required for teaching. The program's curriculum includes modules such as Secondary Professional Studies, Secondary Subject Pedagogy: Drama, Professional Enquiry, School Experience 1, and School Experience 2, providing a comprehensive education in the principles and practices of teaching drama.

Program Structure and Modules

• The program takes place over one year full-time, commencing in September, with at least two-thirds of the course spent in school placements, providing valuable hands-on experience in at least two different schools, as well as visits to other schools, including a primary school.
• Modules include:
  • Secondary Professional Studies: Exploring professionalism in education, focusing on the meaning of professionalism in the context of education and being a teacher, and understanding the ever-changing environment of education and the desire for improvement.
  • Secondary Subject Pedagogy: Drama: Examining the nature of drama in the context of learning and teaching in the secondary school, providing substantial support for professional practice in school, assessed through the School Experience modules, and shaping the trainee's rationale for their approach to teaching drama.
  • Professional Enquiry: Introducing active examination of professional practice in the workplace and a reflective approach to personal development, providing a foundation for future study modules and enabling trainees to develop practice-based enquiry skills.
  • School Experience 1 and 2: Providing opportunities for trainees to meet the professional standards and expectations of teaching through practical, school-based experience, working alongside experienced teachers and other education professionals to develop knowledge, understanding, and skill in the classroom and the wider school environment.

Entry Requirements

• Applicants are normally expected to have a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree or a Master's degree in a relevant subject from a UK higher education institution or equivalent.
• Applicants will also need to complete the relevant safeguarding checks for this course.
• All applicants will be interviewed, with the selection interview assessing subject knowledge and personal qualities such as the potential to relate well to secondary age students, enthusiasm, sensitivity, communication skills, and robustness and resilience for teaching.
• A written test will also be taken to assess the standard of English.
• GCSE English Language or English Literature and GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above are required prior to enrolment.
• The Department of Education offers a school experience service for those who wish to gain experience before applying.

Fees and Funding

• The annual tuition fee for UK students starting in 2026/27 is £9,790.
• The Government is proposing to increase the cap on full-time regulated tuition fees, and the University is planning to increase fees to the maximum level once legislation is enacted.
• Part-time fees are charged pro-rata, where applicable.
• Included in the course fees are access to computer equipment, printing, field trips, access to Microsoft Office 365, key software, key subscriptions, DBS check, and occupational health assessment.
• Not included in the course fees are placement expenses, excess printing, personal stationery and study materials, memberships, subscriptions, accommodation, and living costs.
• Financial support is available, including tuition fee loans, maintenance loans, additional financial support for parents or those with disabilities, tax-free bursaries or scholarships, and postgraduate teaching bursaries and scholarships for specific subjects.

Employability and Career Opportunities

• This program offers a high degree of employability within secondary teaching, with a strong demand for trained drama teachers and consistently high employability scores.
• Trainees who successfully complete the course to a high standard have very good employment prospects, with many going on to work in schools across the West Midlands region.
• The program provides opportunities for trainees to develop their skills and experience through placements in a wide range of educational establishments, including at least two different schools and visits to other schools, including a primary school.
• Trainees are expected to take significant responsibility for their own progress and development, encouraging the development of independent, creative practitioners who will be able to take the lead in the future.

Facilities and Staff

• The program is primarily based at the City Centre Campus, in the Benjamin Zephaniah Building, with some practical activities taking place at the City South Campus or other locations.
• The Benjamin Zephaniah Building provides dedicated teaching and learning spaces, including primary and secondary science labs, an innovation and Lego teaching room, flexible space for Design and Technology, an art room, and general teaching rooms.
• The program is led by experienced staff, including Dr. Christopher Bolton, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for PGCEi, who has a keen interest in how drama pedagogy can create spaces for dialogic learning within Initial Teacher Education and the role of autoethnography in exploring professional identity.