Program Overview

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Secondary History (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.

Our ‘Lead Partner Route PGCEs’ were previously named ‘School Direct PGCEs’

Recent changes within the government’s Department for Education have led to a change in nomenclature, but the courses remain the same in both build and delivery. The way we work with our partners and local schools has not changed.

Accreditations

• Alliance of Leading Learning
• Sandstone Trust
• Salop Teaching Partnership
• Teach Cheshire
• Wade Deacon Trust

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 History (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. 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.

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

Who You’ll Learn From

Dr Daryn Egan-simon

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

Professional and academic learning takes place within 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 honours degree
• Have GCSE grade C/grade 4 in English and Mathematics

Apply for Teacher Training through the Department for Education’s Apply service.

International Students

• Hold or be expected to gain a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree
• Have GCSE grade C/grade 4 in English and Mathematics

Apply for Teacher Training through the Department of Education’s Apply service.

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.

Please note that the University does not accept previous DBS checks from other registered bodies or the update service.

For details about the cost of the DBS and for further information please visit our DBS web pages.

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 programme 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

• The location
• Modern learning resources and library
• Fitness facilities
• Student Services
• Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces
• Accommodation
• Catering

Exton Park is close to the city centre of Chester, a city like no other and an amazing place to live as a student. While it is undoubtedly beautiful and packed with history, Chester is also a bustling 21st-century city balancing big-name shopping, eating and living with a thriving independent scene.

Our Facilities

• School of Education, Foyer
• School of Education, Cinema Room
• School of Education, Auditorium
• School of Education, Art and Design Room
• School of Education, Science Lab CML109
• School of Education, Science Lab CML103

Fees and Funding

Home Students

• £9,535 for the full course (2025/26)

Guides to the fees for students who wish to commence postgraduate courses are available to view on our Postgraduate Taught Programmes Fees page.

International Students

• £14,450 for the full course (2025/26)

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships for postgraduate study, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Additional Costs

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

Bursaries

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

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.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs.

Related Courses

• Secondary History PGCE with QTS
• Secondary Geography PGCE with QTS