Secondary Computing (Lead School Partner Route) PGCE with QTS
Program start date | Application deadline |
2025-09-01 | - |
2026-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Secondary in Computing (Lead School Partner Route)PGCE with QTS
Overview
This course is designed to provide you with the knowledge, understanding, and skills that you need to be an outstanding teacher. We aim to nurture teachers who are passionate about the development of their own and their pupils' learning.
Study Options
- Full-Time at Exton Park, Chester
Level
- Postgraduate
Start Date
- Sept 2025, Sept 2026
Duration
- 1 year
Location
- Exton Park, Chester
UK Fees
- £9,535 per year for a full-time course (2025/26)
International Fees
- £14,450 per year for a full-time course* (2025/26)
PGCE Open Day
If you're looking to study a PGCE course with us and would like to visit us, book your place at our PGCE event running in conjunction with our Open Day on Saturday 21st June.
Accreditations
- Our ‘Lead Partner Route PGCEs’ were previously named ‘School Direct PGCEs’
Course Summary
This course replaces the School Direct route, which closed to applications in September 2023. In conjunction with Secondary Lead School partners, the University of Chester offers Chemistry (11-16 with sixth form enhancement) as a subject specialism leading to the award PGCE with QTS.
What You’ll Study
Year 1
- Critical understanding of pedagogy, assessment, and curriculum
- Critical knowledge, understanding, and skills in specialist age phases and subjects
- Critical knowledge and understanding of wider professional issues, e.g., behavior management and inclusive practice
- Enrichment opportunities
- 120 days of school-based learning in a minimum of two schools
Modules
Becoming a Teacher: the Professional Transformation
- Module content:
- Common strands explored throughout the program and within the context of this module include commitments to inclusivity in all its forms; safeguarding and well-being of children; promoting a positive classroom environment conducive to engagement and respecting diversity; and building curricula and sequences of lessons designed to ensure the progression of all.
- Associate Teachers (ATs) will develop an understanding of the nature and aims of the National Curriculum and/or Early Years Foundation Phase depending on the age-phase in which they are training to teach.
- ATs will consider these documents in relation to breadth, balance, and ambition and how pupils and children can be supported to make links between subjects, disciplines, and associated areas of learning to ensure that the curriculum is greater than the sum of its parts.
- Module aims:
- ATs' commitment to inclusivity, well-being, and safeguarding of children.
- ATs' understanding of the nature and aims of the National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage, depending on the age-phase in which they are training to teach.
- ATs' understanding of legislative and statutory frameworks relevant to teaching, education, and the professional responsibilities of teachers.
- ATs' knowledge and understanding of inclusion in all its forms.
- ATs' knowledge of how to generate motivation, autonomy, mutual respect, and positive relationships with pupils.
- ATs' understanding of the principles of professionalism and professional behaviors of teachers.
- ATs' knowledge of Citizenship and PHSE, where relevant, and their relationship to the notion of a healthy and socially responsible community.
- ATs' understanding of how to manage their workload to ensure there is a productive work/life balance and the management of their own on-going learning.
- ATs' knowledge of how to communicate with lay stakeholders, parents, and carers and others in promoting professional cooperation and the engagement of pupils.
Becoming a Teacher: Meeting the Teachers' Standards
- Module content:
- Associate Teachers (ATs) will be supported to manage their own progress in developing and extending their knowledge and understanding of inclusion in all its forms, the promotion of a positive classroom environment which maximizes learning and respects safeguarding and the dignity and diversity of all pupils.
- ATs will also be supported to consistently and confidently plan sequences of lessons which enable the progression of all pupils and engage with colleagues in mutual enquiries to develop the curriculum.
- Module aims:
- ATs' management of their own professional learning, their ability to plan for inclusion, safeguarding, respect for the diversity of pupils, and demonstrate professional behaviors of teachers.
- ATs' ability to establish a positive learning environment which generates motivation, autonomy, mutual respect, and positive relationships with pupils.
- ATs' understanding of the nature and aims of the National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage, depending on the age-phase in which they are training to teach.
- ATs' understanding of legislative and statutory frameworks relevant to teaching, education, and the professional responsibilities of teachers.
- ATs' knowledge and understanding of inclusion and ability to plan for how pupils of all kinds can be supported to develop positive relationships and to access an empowering curriculum.
- ATs' ability to use different types of assessment to ensure planning is responsive to pupils' needs and learning.
- ATs' knowledge of curricular planning and their ability to plan coherent and balanced sequences of learning which promote engagement for all pupils.
- ATs' knowledge of Citizenship and PHSE, where relevant.
- ATs' confidence in communicating with lay stakeholders, parents, and carers and others in promoting professional cooperation and the engagement of pupils.
Professional Knowledge in Secondary Education
- Module content:
- This module is underpinned by common strands explored across the program as a whole.
- Within the context of this module, this includes commitments to inclusivity in all its forms; safeguarding and well-being of children; promoting a positive classroom environment conducive to engagement and respecting diversity; and building curricula and sequences of lessons designed to ensure the progression of all.
- Module aims:
- ATs will be able to know and understand:
- Sensitivities and respect associated with all aspects of inclusion and the principles underpinning a positive environment for learning respecting of diversity.
- Legislative and statutory frameworks (e.g., inter alia those governing safeguarding, SEND, the Promotion of Fundamental British Values, the Equality Act, National Curriculum, etc.).
- Principles of professionalism and professional behaviors of teachers along with establishing professional relationships with staff and pupils and the importance of reading policies, following them, and taking appropriate initiative.
- Citizenship and PHSE and their relationship to developing a healthy and socially responsible school community as well as the Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural development of pupils.
- Cross-curriculum linking (for example in the development of pupils' literacy, reading, writing, oracy, and an enjoyment of engaging with text)
- Legal and ethical principles behind data security and communication with lay stakeholders, parents, and carers and others in promoting professional cooperation and the engagement of pupils.
- How to manage workload to ensure there is a productive work/life balance and that proportionate amounts of time are set out for planning, teaching, and assessment activities. ATs will recognize the importance of their contributions to the wider life of the school.
- ATs will be able to know and understand:
Enriching the Teacher
- Module content:
- ATs will involve themselves in a variety of activities aimed to develop their professional perspectives on teaching and introduce them to broader horizons in the practice of education.
- Module aims:
- Enrich ATs' knowledge, understanding, and skills to work effectively in schools, leading learning for all children.
- Further ATs' insights into inclusivity by broadening their understanding of the width and variety of learning experiences that could be incorporated into a creative curriculum.
- Develop ATs' understanding of issues affecting pupils' engagement and how they, as Associate Teachers, might support pupil progression.
- Enable ATs to develop the skills, knowledge, and understanding needed to devise and deliver their own effective enrichment activities/projects.
- Enable ATs to reflect on their involvement in enrichment and to analyze the impact of these modes of working on pupil development.
Building Knowledge for Teaching
- Module content:
- This module enables Associate Teachers on ITE programs, and their tutors, to establish, track, and develop their fundamental knowledge for teaching in English, Maths, and (for Primary and Early Years ATs only) in Science.
- Module aims:
- Audit ATs' fundamental knowledge for teaching in English, Maths, and (Primary and Early Years only) in Science.
- Signpost ATs' to resources to develop their fundamental knowledge for teaching in English, Maths, and (for Primary and Early Years only) Science.
Learning to teach: Developing Critical Perspectives on the Teaching of the Specialist Subject
- Module content:
- Common strands embedded within the program as a whole and explored within the context of this module include commitments to inclusivity in all its forms; safeguarding, and well-being of children; promoting a positive classroom environment conducive to engagement and respecting diversity; and building curricula and sequences of lessons designed to ensure the progression of all.
- Module aims:
- The AT’s own underpinning philosophy of teaching and learning, and understanding of the principles of professional enquiry by engaging in research and theory that inform effective and inclusive approaches to presenting the specialist subject.
- The AT’s understanding of how all pupils learn (in general and within their specialist subject); the range of concepts and theories which underpin it and the principles underpinning inclusion in all its forms.
- The AT’s understanding of curriculum planning and the range of concepts and theories which inform it and how coherent sequences of learning can promote learning for all pupils.
- The AT's engagement in professional dialogue with colleagues, peers, and carers, in order to meet the needs of pupils.
- The AT's understanding of how to generate motivation, autonomy, mutual respect, and positive relationships with pupils of all kinds.
- The AT's development of responsive approaches to planning in the light of pupils' prior learning.
Subject Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Professional Enquiry
- Module content:
- This module straddles two contrasting placements and as such provides an arena for exploring contrasts between curriculum and pedagogy within the specialist subject and between institutions.
- Module aims:
- Contrasts and similarities between different placement settings and the culture and practices evident within them.
- Inclusive approaches to teaching which allow all children to access the specialist subject and an empowering curriculum.
- Alignment between ATs' aspirations for their pupils and the learning evident in classrooms through ethical methods and methodologies of practitioner research and enquiry.
- ATs' professional knowledge, and participation in a Professional Learning Community in relation to subject pedagogical and curriculum expertise and thus provide insight into the contribution of the specialist subject to an engaging whole school curriculum.
- ATs' critical thinking and reflective capacity by ensuring interactivity between theory, research, and practice.
- ATs' understanding of pedagogical and curriculum concepts and the teacher/school’s role in enacting them.
- ATs' understanding of the philosophical, historical, and socio-political influences upon the curriculum and how curriculum intention is mediated by teachers and pupils.
- ATs’ planning of sequences of lessons, including purposeful homework activities, which fit into broader curricular frameworks and objectives.
- ATs’ understanding of the contribution of their subject to the development of pupils’ literacy, reading, writing, and oracy.
- Assessment practices and the data they yield including from the use of dialogue and questioning and what this mean in terms of giving pupils a voice and understanding their perspectives and identifying barriers to learning.
Who You’ll Learn From
- Mark Sibson, Senior Lecturer
How You'll Learn
- Professional and academic learning
- School-based learning
- This course is designed around in-person study
- There may be some online learning activities
Beyond the Classroom
- On this course, you’ll spend time out on placement where you’ll apply what you have learnt to real scenarios in the workplace, giving you genuine experience and insight that will prepare you for your future career.
Entry Requirements
- Home Students:
- Hold or be expected to gain a minimum of a 2:2 honors degree
- Have GCSE grade C/grade 4 in English and Mathematics
- International Students:
- Hold or be expected to gain a minimum of a 2:2 honors degree
- Have GCSE grade C/grade 4 in English and Mathematics
Safeguarding / Suitability
- All successful candidates who receive an offer of a place for this course and choose the University of Chester as their Firm choice will be required to undergo checks with regards to their suitability to practice.
- A couple of months prior to admission to this course, the University will contact you to request that you complete a self-declaration form detailing any relevant convictions or other information that you believe may have an impact upon your ability to undertake work with children or vulnerable adults.
- You will also receive instructions on how to complete an online application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check through the University as a registered body, there will be a charge for this.
English Language Requirements
- Please note, applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate they can meet one of the following English language criteria for this program at the point of application:
- IELTS 7.0 overall (with no less than 5.5 in each band)
- UK degree with a 2:2 or above (studied and completed in the UK)
Where You'll Study
- Exton Park, Chester
Our Facilities
- Modern learning resources and library
- Fitness facilities
- Student Services
- Chapel, chaplaincy, and multi-faith spaces
- Accommodation
- Catering
Fees and Funding
- Home Students: £9,535 per year for a full-time course (2025/26)
- International Students: £14,450 per year for a full-time course* (2025/26)
- Additional Costs:
- Books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery, and related materials
- Specialist clothing
- Travel to placements
- Optional field trips
- Software
- Bursaries:
- The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.
Your Future Career
- Careers service:
- The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice, and guidance.
- Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed, and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.
University of Chester
Overview:
The University of Chester is a public university located in Chester, England. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines. The university is known for its modern learning facilities and its historic city setting.
Services Offered:
The university provides a comprehensive range of services to its students, including:
Accommodation:
On-campus and off-campus housing options are available.Student Support:
A dedicated team provides academic, personal, and financial support.Fees and Finance:
Information on tuition fees, scholarships, and financial aid is available.Careers and Employability:
Services include career guidance, job search assistance, and internship opportunities.Sport and Active Lifestyle:
The university offers a variety of sports clubs and facilities.Student Life and Campus Experience:
Students at the University of Chester can expect a vibrant and engaging campus experience. The university is located in a historic city with a rich cultural heritage, offering numerous opportunities for exploration and leisure. The university also boasts a strong student community with a variety of clubs, societies, and events.
Key Reasons to Study There:
Award-Winning University:
The University of Chester has received numerous awards for its student experience, including being ranked 1st in the UK for its international student experience.Modern Learning Facilities:
The university offers state-of-the-art facilities, including libraries, laboratories, and computer labs.Historic City Setting:
Chester is a charming city with a rich history and culture, providing a unique and enriching learning environment.Strong Student Community:
The university has a vibrant student community with a wide range of clubs, societies, and events.Academic Programs:
The University of Chester offers a wide range of academic programs, including:
Undergraduate Programs:
The university offers a variety of undergraduate programs across various disciplines, including nursing, midwifery, social work, teaching, and business.Postgraduate Programs:
The university also offers a range of postgraduate programs, including master's degrees and research degrees.Other:
The university has several University Centres located in Birkenhead, Nantwich, and Warrington, offering a range of professionally-focused, practice-based courses. The university also has a strong commitment to sustainability and conservation.