Program Overview

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PGCE with QTS Secondary Chemistry with Science

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary Chemistry with Science is a one-year course that leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). You'll train to become a Chemistry with Science teacher for the secondary age range (11-16). You'll gain 60 academic credits at Master's level as part of the course.

About the Course

Teaching is both a challenging and a rewarding career with a high level of job satisfaction. It is a great privilege, as well as a great responsibility, to play such a key role in young people's lives. We focus on supporting our trainees to thrive, and we do this alongside teachers and mentors in school. We also facilitate you to collaborate with your peers, and to graduate with a ready-made, supportive professional network.

All our courses are future-facing and underpinned by a strong values base. Our provision directly addresses education for sustainable futures. We equip you to be able to work thoughtfully, creatively and successfully with your learners. At UWE Bristol, we're committed to training reflective, innovative, and adaptable teachers for the future.

Entry Requirements

• An undergraduate Honours degree with a 2:2 or above, or an equivalent qualification, in a Science related subject.
• GCSE grade C/4 or above in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
• Candidates with substantial and relevant professional experience with a degree in any subject (and GCSE English and Maths) would be considered on an individual basis.

Personal Statement

We are looking for candidates who can explain why they want to be a teacher and specifically why they want to study to teach a chosen subject. This is your chance to highlight your skills, knowledge, experiences, and passion for teaching. As part of your application we ask for a personal statement with detailed responses to the following questions:

• Why do you want to study for the PGCE at this point? How will this help you realise your career aspirations? What inspires you about the wider context of education, such as challenges you've seen in education, importance of teachers in supporting young people?
• How do your interests align with the UWE Bristol PGCE course? This could include your personal interests, subject knowledge, interest in supporting diverse learners or addressing inequalities, amongst other things.
• What academic and subject expertise do you possess that makes you suitable to teach your subject? In relation to your chosen subject, you could elaborate here on your understanding of the current national curriculum in England, or how any relevant work or other experiences is relevant. You could also use examples from your qualifications, such as your degree, degree modules, A Levels or higher degrees. We would also like to hear if you have any evidence of studying or working in Physics and Biology.
• What further skills and qualities could you bring to the PGCE and to a school community?

Work Experience

Whilst work experience is not a requirement we recommend that you get experience of working with or volunteering with children to help prepare you for the placement-based learning involved in this course.

Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online Teams interview. Your interview will include a short task so please make sure that you read your interview invitation in order to be able to prepare.

After interview a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course may be required, if so this will be included as a condition of your offer.

Additional Requirements

• Health checks for Fitness to Teach.
• A clear Enhanced DBS Disclosure including check of children's barred list.
• Satisfactory references including one from your latest employer and/or latest role involving working with children.
• Verification of identity and right to work in the UK.
• Check for sanction, restriction or prohibition on teaching issued by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) (if in teaching role).
• Overseas Criminal Record check, if you've lived, studied or worked overseas for five months or more in the last five years.

Structure

Content

On the Secondary Chemistry with Science PGCE at UWE Bristol you'll learn:

• how to get pupils excited about science and to make learning it irresistible, even for those who don't choose to take sciences beyond GCSE.
• that in all areas of science children will bring ideas into lessons and that these ideas are generally wrong. You'll learn how to work with these misconceptions to strengthen their understanding.
• how to use models to make abstract ideas like electricity, structure and bonding and genetics more accessible.
• how telling stories can be used to get across difficult concepts.
• how to use demonstrations and practical work to consolidate learning and bring the subject to life.
• how to assess learning dynamically during the lesson so that you can adapt how you teach to ensure that no child gets left behind.

You'll study the following modules:

• Curriculum, Pedagogy and Practice (Secondary)
• Becoming a Transformational Teacher (Secondary)
• Professional Practice A (QTS)
• Professional Practice B (QTS).

Learning and Teaching

The PGCE courses are part of a broad range of specialist education provision in the School of Education and Childhood at UWE Bristol.

You'll be supported in school by a mentor, who liaises closely with your UWE Bristol tutor. You'll work with close support and encouragement to develop your understanding and skills, set targets, and evidence your progress. We'll challenge you to evaluate and improve throughout your course, and we'll help you to celebrate your achievements.

The PGCE course is designed so that your experiences on placement are complemented by university-based learning. You'll learn through lectures, seminars, directed tasks, school-based experiences, intensive training and practice opportunities, independent study, online learning and collaboration, subject-specific practical work, assessment tasks, reflection and debate. Research-informed practice underpins the course.

Fees

Full-time Course

• Home Annual (Per Year) Fee: Ł9,535
• International Annual (Per Year) Fee: Ł17,000

Indicative Additional Costs

• Additional Course Costs Indicative Maximum Cost Per year: Ł650

Features

Placements

As a trainee teacher, you'll complete 120 days in school placement practice blocks in at least two different schools, plus further focused teaching experiences. You'll practise as a subject specialist teacher for the secondary age range (11-16), and gain experience of the 16-18 age range.

The schools and settings within our Initial Teacher Training partnership are geographically diverse, with placements in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and Wales. We work hard to match placements to trainee teacher needs, experience and locations.

Careers

Careers / Further Study

PGCE programmes include 60 credits assessed at Master's level.

As a trainee teacher, you'll be joining a modern and well-regarded programme to train to teach across the 11-16 age range and gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).