PGCE Secondary Chemistry

Program Overview

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About our foundation years

Our Foundation Year courses are perfect for you if you...

• are returning to education after a long time, or you don't have the qualifications for direct entry into our degree programmes
• are thinking of re-training and would like an introduction to the area
• are an international student wanting an additional year to adapt to the UK academic system
• are still evaluating which degree pathway at UEL is the right one for you

Please note: Foundation years can only be studied full-time. However, you can transfer to part-time delivery once you have completed your foundation year. Please apply to the full-time option if you wish to study in this way.

Secondary Chemistry PGCE

Overview

This course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for the 11-to-16 age range, which qualifies you to be a teacher in secondary schools in England and Wales. Where possible, we also give you the chance to gain experience in the 11-to-18 age range.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects are integral to the success of the UK economy and STEM education has long been identified as a major priority for schools.

Teaching chemistry challenges you to find creative ways of ensuring all pupils have the same opportunities to understand the subject and its importance in everyday life.

By training to teach such an important subject, you could be eligible for the highest range of tax-free training bursaries - or a prestigious scholarship from the Royal Society of Chemistry if you have a top degree.

Course options

• PGCE
  • Start date: September 2025
  • Duration: 1 year
  • Tuition fees:
    • Home applicant: TBC per year
    • International applicant: £15,560 per year

Entry Requirements

• Academic requirements
  • Bachelor's degree with minimum Second Class (2:2) or equivalent in the subject applicant plans to teach.
  • GCSE English and Maths grade A*-C/9-4.
  • Satisfactory references.
  • Satisfactory personal statement.
• International Qualifications
  • We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications.
• Mature applicants and those without formal qualifications
  • As an inclusive university, we recognise those who have been out of education for some time may not have the formal qualifications usually required.
• Interview
  • An interview is required with a member of the academic teaching team.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
  • Applicants for this course are required to complete a Student Suitability Declaration and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Health check
  • Applicants for this course are required to complete an occupational health check.

Fees, funding and additional costs

• Fees
  • EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course from September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees.
  • Tuition fees are subject to annual change.
• Funding
  • Home students
    • Postgraduate Loans Scheme: £10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme.
    • Postgraduate Scholarship: Apply for a 50 per cent discount on your tuition fees!
    • Alumni Discount: up to 15% fee waiver (exclusions apply).
    • Early Payment Discount: 5% fee waiver.
    • Asylum Seekers scholarship: 100% fee waiver.
    • Civic Engagement: £1,000.
    • Hardship Bursary: up to £2,000.
    • Sport Scholarships: Up to £6,000.
  • International students
    • Living costs for international students: £1,265* per month to cover your living costs.
    • How to pay your fees: Deposits and paying by instalments.

Course modules

• Year 1
  • Developing Subject Expertise and Subject Specialism Core Module
    • Learning outcomes:
      • To use mechanisms to identify areas of development within the chosen subject.
      • To select one area of development to improve expertise.
      • To implement strategies to develop subject expertise within the chosen area of development.
      • To understand pedagogy and its impact upon learning within the chosen subject.
      • To identify the different pedagogic models related to the chosen area of development.
      • To develop and implement a pedagogic approach that is appropriate and relevant to context of the chosen area of development.
      • To reflect on the implementation of the pedagogic model and to identify modifications or adaptations for future practice.
  • Active Enquiry and Intervention: Impacting upon Learner Progress Core Module
    • The aims of this module are:
      • To develop knowledge and understanding of critical thinking, reflective practice and educational research;
      • To develop an awareness of action research - its processes, practices and relevance for reflective educational practice and change;
      • To develop knowledge of pedagogy, through primary research and the critical evaluation of theory and literature;
      • For trainee teachers to carry out a classroom intervention informed by reading and research activity and to reflect critically on the process;
      • To demonstrate a practical appreciation of evidence-informed teaching;
      • To identify appropriate classroom strategies to develop learning and teaching which are informed through educational research, evidence and scholarship.
      • To apply classroom strategies informed by scholarship to a specific educational context and setting.
  • School-Based Learning: Reflections on Practice (Mental Wealth) Core Module
    • This module focuses on the development of professional practice in a practical context.
    • It provides an initial experience of teaching and learning in a secondary school environment.
    • This module focuses on best practices in secondary teaching, based on current research.
    • With the support of an experienced mentor, this module aims:
      • to support students in understanding a range of key issues and curriculum initiatives related to teaching practice, and to implement this knowledge during their school-based experience
      • to enable students to meet the relevant Teachers’ Standards for Qualified Teacher Status
      • to enable students to support children’s learning and development effectively in the classroom
  • Securing Pupil Progress Core Module
  • Research informed practice Core Module

What makes this course different

• Rated Good by Ofsted
  • Our secondary education provision has been rated good by Ofsted highlighting that we provide exceptional teacher education and training.
• 100 partnership schools
  • The number of secondary schools we work with in East London and Essex where our students undertake full placements.
• 90% of trainees in a teaching post within six months
  • The overall proportion of our Secondary PGCE teacher trainees who are in a teaching post within six months of completing the course.

Your future career

• Industry links
  • The partnership works with input and support from the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Redbridge.
• Further study
  • You may also decide to do further study at the University of East London, either at the end of your course or after gaining teaching experience, perhaps specialising in Special Educational Needs or taking our MA Leadership in Education.
• Career options
  • Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.

How we support your career ambitions

• Career Zone
  • Our dedicated and award-winning team provide you with careers and employability resources, including:
    • Online jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work.
    • Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
    • 1-2-1 career coaching services
    • Careers workshops and employer events
    • Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight
• Mental Wealth programme
  • Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme which issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you’ve mastered.

How you'll learn

• Teaching
  • The university-based training initially consists of weekly generic lectures and subject-specific workshops, which effectively prepare trainee teachers to successfully move into a school environment when they begin their school placements and gradually start practising and developing their teaching skills with pupils in the classroom; this enables you to link theory and practice.
• Placement
  • It is expected that you will undertake two school placements in contrasting schools totalling approximately 24 weeks.

How you'll be assessed

• To pass your PGCE and be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status, you have to demonstrate that you have met the Teachers' Standards and passed the three core modules:
  • Active Enquiry and Intervention: Impacting upon Learner Progress
  • Developing Subject Expertise and Subject Specialism
  • School-Based Learning: Reflections on Practice (Mental Wealth)

Campus and facilities

• Stratford Campus, London, E15 4LZ
  • Our historic Stratford campus is located in one of the best-connected areas of London: close to Stratford's thriving town centre, the 2012 Olympic Park, just 15 minutes from London's West End and 20 minutes from Canary Wharf.

Who teaches this course

• This course is delivered by School of Childhood and Social Care
  • The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers.

Related courses

• PGCE Further Education
• PGCE Secondary Physics