Program Overview

---

Secondary PGCE

Course Overview

Our Secondary PGCE course will support you in your ambition to become a confident, engaging and research-informed teacher, who, in turn, enables pupils to reach their full potential in the classroom and beyond.

Due to our strong, long-standing partnership with 150+ local schools serving diverse local communities, you will benefit from significant school-based teaching experience in a range of different contexts. Not only will you learn from experienced school-based colleagues, you will also learn from the pupils you will teach. Your placements also provide a useful networking opportunity, helping you to decide what kind of school you want to work in once you qualify.

Personalised support for our beginning teachers is important to us. We offer this in many ways through personal tutors, school-based mentors and coordinators, student support groups, and our wellbeing team. On top of this, you can access all the university’s support services.

Additional enrichment opportunities including time in an alternative provision, immersive practice days, special interest groups and School of Education seminars and events, ensure you have a range of rich, exciting learning experiences throughout the course.

Key Features of the Secondary PGCE

• Rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted in our 2022 inspection
• Qualified to teach Key Stage 3 to 5 (11-18 years)
• PGCE qualification (60 masters-level credits) with Qualified Teacher Status
• Working across school and university settings from the first full teaching week
• Second school placement starts in January
• University-based days spread across the year
• 20 'immersive practice' days, focussing on key aspects of teaching
• Subjects offered: English, geography, history, maths, modern languages, science
• Your 60 PGCE credits can be used towards an MA Education, and 30 credits can be used towards other MA courses

Alumni Profiles

View our Secondary PGCE alumni profiles.

Why Choose This Course?

• Top 60 in the world for education (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
• Over 100 years of experience in the field of education
• Support from experts across our partnership. You'll work with excellent teacher educators and school-based mentors.
• Rated 'Outstanding' in our recent Ofsted inspection
• High employment level: Many of our graduates secure employment in our local partnership schools.
• School partnerships across the East Midlands

Course Content

This programme is designed to equip you with the skills you need to become an effective educator and to enable you to develop your own theories of learning and models of good practice. It gives you extended placements in at least two schools, enabling you to gain a broad experience of different and contrasting educational settings.

Your school placements will be supported by university-based teaching days, immersive practice days and periods of independent study.

Immersive practice days, taking place across school and university-based days will provide opportunities to work with a range of experts and your peers, to develop your understanding of, and practice, key aspects of teaching.

Placements

We have a very strong, collaborative partnership with the schools we work with. University tutors, school mentors and coordinators work closely with you, and each other, throughout the year to support and challenge you to become the best teacher you can be.

We firmly believe that learning to become a great teacher isn’t about teaching as many lessons as you can as quickly as possible. It is about gradually building up your experiences and working with experienced teachers in lots of different ways. Your school-based learning will include:

• two main school placements as well as a one-week Alternative Professional Experience (APE) in a different setting
• a carefully structured programme to support your progress each term
• a gradual build-up of teaching
• observations across all key stages with expert teachers
• weekly mentor meetings to discuss your progress and agree targets for development
• involvement in all aspects of school life, for example helping with clubs, supporting school trips, joining staff meetings, and attending parents' events

Throughout your time in school you will undertake a wide range of professional development activities to develop your understanding of teaching and learning and the complex role of a teacher. Although placements are intensive and demanding, we carefully structure your progression, with a gradual build-up of teaching commitments, so you are well prepared to teach in different contexts. During your time on placement you will become part of your school's community and work professionally as a member of a team.

As part of your second placement, you will undertake a small-scale research project where, with the support of your tutor, you will formulate and develop a research project on an area of interest.

You will also experience immersive practice days in different partnership schools to further support your ongoing professional development. In addition to this, you will have the opportunity to have a week placement in an alternative educational setting.

University-Based Learning

You will actively work with tutors and peers, constantly exploring teaching and learning. You will engage with theory and research to make you a better teacher. For example we will look at theories relating to a socially just education in order to help you support the pupils in diverse schools within which you will work. Your university experience will include:

• working with groups of beginning teachers
• modelling of teacher approaches you can use in your classroom
• exploring research and practice
• keynote inputs from experts, for example staff that specialise in special and inclusive education
• peer teaching and learning
• immersive practice days to develop understanding of, and have opportunities to practice, key aspects of teaching
• exploring and practising all elements of being a teacher in a 'safe' space

Modules

• Course structure
• Core modules
  • Learning and Teaching in Schools
  • Schools and Society

Learning and Assessment

• How you will learn:
  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Group study
  • Tutorials
  • Discussion group
  • School-based teaching practice
• How you will be assessed:
  • Presentation
  • Teaching practice
  • Coursework

Your practical teaching will be assessed by school-based mentors and coordinators, in collaboration with university tutors. Your presentations and coursework assignments will be assessed by university tutors. All elements of your work across the year will be taken into account and there are no written exams.

You will need to demonstrate your practical abilities as a teacher and your theoretical understanding of this practice and must fulfil the requirements for the Teacher Standards by the end of the course. We take an holistic approach to assessing whether you have met the standards that avoids gathering pieces of evidence to tick off boxes. Our key message is that if you are engaging successfully with all elements of your course you will be meeting the standards. To achieve your PGCE with QTS, you will need to meet the Teachers Standards and pass your academic assignments at masters level.

Fundamental Mathematics and English Skills

Before being recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you must be able to demonstrate competence in maths and English. At interview we will discuss your current level of ability and if needed, we will direct you to resources to engage with before the course. Throughout the year you will be supported to develop further to ensure you are fully competent by the end of your course.

Entry Requirements

• Home / UK students
• EU / International students
• Alternative qualifications

Undergraduate degree: UK undergraduate degree/equivalent – in all cases we will be looking at the relevance of your degree alongside other qualifications in your proposed teaching subject, plus GCSE/equivalent – English (language or literature) and mathematics, 4 (C) or above

International and EU equivalents: We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world.

IELTS: 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element)

English language requirements: As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.

Fees

Qualification | PGCE ---|--- Home / UK | To be confirmed International | To be confirmed

Funding

• Teacher training bursary: You may be eligible for a bursary of up to £28,000.
• Tuition fee and maintenance loans: You may be eligible to apply for a fee loan which covers the cost of the tuition fee. Maintenance loans are also available.
• University of Nottingham Core Bursary: As a student on a PGCE course, you may be eligible for an income assessed core bursary of up to £2,000.
• University of Nottingham Potential Bursary: These bursaries include support for students with financially dependent children or adults, or students who have been in care.

Careers

• Careers advice
• Job prospects
• Placements
• Partnerships

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate Destinations

Our students are very successful at gaining employment after graduation. Many secure positions in local partnership schools. Some graduates go overseas to work as a teacher.

Other graduates have gone on to work as counsellors, education advisers and vocational/industrial trainers and instructors.

Successful completion of your PGCE will give you 60-masters level credits which can be used towards a masters degree in education at the University of Nottingham. Or you can use 30 credits against a selection of other MA courses.