PGCE Secondary Modern Foreign Languages with QTS (11-16)
Program start date | Application deadline |
2025-09-01 | - |
2026-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
PGCE - Secondary Modern Foreign Languages with QTS (11-16)
Inspire the next generation by sharing your passion for Modern Foreign Languages with young people. In this specialised PGCE pathway, you can instil a love of languages and creative writing within the children you teach.
Course Overview
Grounded in the learning of our PGCE Secondary programme, this Modern Foreign Language pathway allows you to develop the skills to teach in the secondary school setting, delivering engaging language lessons. This unique specialism gives you the opportunity to inspire a love of other cultures along with nurturing critical thinking and creative expression in the children you teach.
You’ll learn through a blend of theory and hands-on experience, working within the National Curriculum Framework. You'll explore the key concepts and themes of the PGCE curriculum, confidently devising and delivering engaging lessons to children and young people, aged 11-16 years old.
Over half the course will be spent working in the classroom on assessed placement, with school-based enrichment activities alongside your university-based study. You'll take two placements across a variety of schools and settings, building a wealth of experience to help advance your future career.
On this course you will...
- Inspire young people to explore world cultures.
- Benefit from high-quality support from our academics and staff on a programme designed around you.
- Learn from an experienced, highly qualified programme team, working at the forefront of the academic field.
- Enjoy the intimate feel of our course delivery, with small class sizes and your own personal tutor.
Key Details
- Recruiting to: UK / RoI / Settled in UK, EU / EEA / International
- Course Location: Lancaster or School Based
- Institute: Institute of Education, Arts and Society
- DFE Code: 37DT
- Delivery Style: In-person
- Course Duration: Full-time: 1 Year
- Course Start Point: September
- Award: PGCE
Minimum entry requirements
- A satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background clearance check and Occupational Health check prior to starting the course.
- A satisfactory academic (University) reference, or, a satisfactory professional reference if it is more than 3 years since academic study.
What we're looking for
- Motivated applicants with the potential to work at a Masters level.
- Evidence of commitment and appropriate professional values.
- A strong personal statement conveying an enthusiasm for the subject, for working with young people and for teaching and learning.
- Graduates with a 2:2 or above degree classification.
- Aspiring teachers who can bring their passion for foreign languages to the classroom setting.
Fees & Funding
Tuition Fees
- £9,535 - UK (2025-2026)
- £14,900 - International (2025-2026)
- £9,250 - UK (2024-2025)
- £13,575 - International (2024-2025)
PGCE Alumni Scholarship
Scholarship fund worth up to £2,000
We're offering a PGCE Alumni Scholarship worth up to £2,000 to alumni of University of Cumbria.
International Finance
At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses.
Funding
We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us.
Course Structure
What you will learn
Our course ensures that you learn all the skills you need for effective teaching, from the basics of structuring and planning lessons to developing personal skills and confidence.
Modules
- PGSC7011 Investigating Teaching and Learning in Modern Foreign Languages
- PGSC7012 Investigating Teaching and Learning Across and Beyond the School Curriculum
- PGSC9011 Developing Professional Skills, Knowledge and Practice
Teaching & Assessment
How you will learn
As a student at the University of Cumbria, you are part of an inclusive learning community that recognises diversity.
How you will be assessed
Assessment loosely follows two forms; summative and formative.
Progression
The programme also recognises that gaining a PGCE and achieving QTS is not the end of your professional learning journey.
Additional Costs
- Books and Journals: £50 - £100 per year
- Stationery: £30 - £40 per year
- Clothing and Equipment: £300 - £400 (optional)
- Field Trips: students will need to fund their own transport to their placement
Location
- Lancaster Campus
Lancaster is the Red Rose heartland, a student haven full of history and culture. With iconic stone architecture, parkland, and a caring community, this is the place to get involved. The campus houses top-quality facilities tailored to the needs of life-savers, world changers, and future leaders.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This PGCE Secondary Modern Foreign Languages with QTS (11-16) program is designed to equip aspiring teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to teach Modern Foreign Languages in secondary schools. The program emphasizes developing engaging language lessons, nurturing a love for other cultures, and fostering critical thinking and creative expression in students. The program includes QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) allowing students to apply for their first teaching position while studying. The University of Warwick provides accreditation for the QTS element of the program.
Outline:
The program is delivered through a blend of theory and practical experience. Students learn about the National Curriculum Framework and key concepts and themes of the PGCE curriculum, gaining the confidence to design and deliver engaging lessons to students aged 11-16. The program is structured into two phases:
- September-December: Students develop their understanding and implementation of key teaching strategies, working with individual groups of pupils in school and building up to teaching whole classes.
- January-June: Students hone their whole-class teaching experience, fostering achievement and a love of learning in students, in accordance with the requirements of the Teachers' Standards.
Modules:
- PGSC7011 Investigating Teaching and Learning in Modern Foreign Languages: This module explores concepts and structures within Modern Foreign Languages in depth, examining connections between key subject themes.
- PGSC7012 Investigating Teaching and Learning Across and Beyond the School Curriculum: Students develop a secure understanding of the curriculum and how to contribute to the school community as practitioners.
- PGSC9011 Developing Professional Skills, Knowledge and Practice: This module draws together school-based experiences and facilitates the achievement of QTS.
Assessment:
Assessment methods include:
- Summative Assessment: Involves making judgements on student work that are recorded, such as essay writing.
- Formative Assessment: Provides carefully crafted feedback that does not count towards the final grade but helps students develop their professional learning.
Teaching:
- The program is taught by experienced, highly qualified practitioners working at the forefront of the academic field.
- Small class sizes and personal tutors ensure a more intimate learning environment.
- The curriculum is delivered through taught sessions that include students from all PGCE subjects, alongside Pedagogy for Learning (PfL) sessions where students are taught in specific subject groups led by expert tutors.
- The training and skills learned in generic and PfL sessions are known as "Learn That" and are put into practice during a school placement, known as "Learn How To."
Careers:
The program prepares students for a career as a qualified secondary school teacher of Modern Foreign Languages. Graduates can pursue roles in a variety of settings, including:
- Secondary Schools
- Further Education Colleges
- Private Tutoring
Other:
- The University of Cumbria provides a supportive and inclusive learning environment that recognizes diversity.
- Students are encouraged to interact with others in a collegiate, facilitative, and dynamic learning environment.
- The program is designed to allow a seamless transition to a University of Cumbria MA in education.
- The program is accredited by OFSTED and rated 'Good' in 2023.
Tuition Fees and Payment Information:
- UK: £9,250 per year
- International: £13,575 per year