Program Overview

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Secondary Drama (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. You will be taught in conjunction with Lead Secondary Partnership Schools. We aim to nurture teachers who are passionate about the development of their own and their pupils' learning.

Level

• Postgraduate

Start Date

• September 2025, September 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

• This course replaces the School Direct route, which closed to applications in September 2023.

Course Summary

In conjunction with Secondary Lead School partners, the University of Chester offers Drama (11-16 with sixth form enhancement) as a subject specialism leading to the award PGCE with QTS. Teaching is an extremely rewarding and challenging career. Our 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.

Why You'll Love It

• Professional development: Our course is designed to provide you with the knowledge, understanding, and skills that you need to be an outstanding teacher.
• School-based learning: Subject Enrichment Week for Drama trainees has to date included Amsterdam, Venice, Barcelona, and Prague. You will be encouraged to consider the historical and cultural context of the theatre and educational drama practice you engage with in comparison to that of the UK.
• Teaching opportunities: You will learn how to encourage young people's understanding of Drama. Demonstrating practical skills and knowledge of subject history and become competent in a number of areas that cross secondary school curriculum boundaries.

What You'll Study

• Year 1:
  • Becoming a Teacher: the Professional Transformation
  • Becoming a Teacher: Meeting the Teachers' Standards
  • Professional Knowledge in Secondary Education
  • Enriching the Teacher
  • Building Knowledge for Teaching
  • Learning to teach: Developing Critical Perspectives on the Teaching of the Specialist Subject
  • Subject Curriculum, Pedagogy and Professional Enquiry

Module Aims

• Becoming a Teacher: the Professional Transformation:
  • Develop ATs' commitment to inclusivity, well-being, and safeguarding of children.
  • Develop ATs' understanding of the nature and aims of the National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage.
  • Develop ATs' understanding of legislative and statutory frameworks relevant to teaching, education, and the professional responsibilities of teachers.
• Becoming a Teacher: Meeting the Teachers' Standards:
  • Develop and extend 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.
  • Develop ATs' ability to establish a positive learning environment which generates motivation, autonomy, mutual respect, and positive relationships with pupils.
• Professional Knowledge in Secondary Education:
  • Develop ATs' understanding of the nature and aims of the secondary National Curriculum.
  • Develop ATs' understanding of legislative and statutory frameworks relevant to teaching, education, and the professional responsibilities of teachers.
• Enriching the Teacher:
  • 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.
• Building Knowledge for Teaching:
  • Audit ATs' fundamental knowledge for teaching in English, Maths, and (for Primary and Early Years ATs only) in Science.
• Learning to teach: Developing Critical Perspectives on the Teaching of the Specialist Subject:
  • Develop and challenge 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.
• Subject Curriculum, Pedagogy and Professional Enquiry:
  • Develop and critically examine contrasts and similarities between different placement settings and the culture and practices evident within them.
  • Develop inclusive approaches to teaching which allow all children to access the specialist subject and an empowering curriculum.

Who You'll Learn From

• Una Meehan, Senior Lecturer

How You'll Learn

• Professional and academic learning takes place within the University and partnership settings in lectures, seminars, practical workshops, and tutorials.
• School-based learning is assessed holistically against the Teachers' Standards, and through assignments and directed 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
• English Language Requirements:
  • 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.
• Related Courses:
  • Secondary Drama PGCE with QTS