Program Overview

PGCE Secondary Physical Education with QTS

The PGCE Secondary Physical Education with QTS is a one-year postgraduate certificate in education that prepares students to teach across the secondary school physical education curriculum for the 11-16 age range.

Course Overview

Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach across the secondary school physical education curriculum for the 11-16 age range. When you are at Manchester Met, you will practically engage and study physical activities and sports in the English PE curriculum throughout key stage 3 and key stage 4, as well as GCSE and A-Level PE.

Features and Benefits

• Employability – You will have the knowledge, skills and experience to teach physical education at Key Stage 3-4, GCSE PE and potentially A-level PE.
• Teaching experience – You will spend at least the minimum Department for Education (DfE) required time in schools (approximately 120 days) on placements, gaining experience in mainstream secondary schools.
• Postgraduate credits – When you graduate, you’ll achieve 60 masters level credits (this is one-third of a masters degree). You can put these towards a masters degree to help you develop your new career.
• Partnerships – We have partnerships with over 500 schools, colleges and educational organisations, meaning we are able to provide students with a range of school experiences.
• Research-led teaching – Many of our staff are active researchers in education and their research influences our programmes.

Year 1

Here are the core modules you'll be studying:

• Subject Pedagogy: The module seeks to develop you as a student teacher. You will gain the ability to reconceptualise your knowledge and understanding of your subject and to apply this to planning, preparation and classroom teaching.
• Secondary Professional Studies: This module explores current and critical issues, educational theory and research connected to practice in schools. It also develops reflective practice and professional development based on key aspects of early practice.
• Professional Development and Employability (Secondary Education): This practice credit module supports and challenges students to reflect upon and develop their professional practice and teacher identity.
• Placement A (Secondary PGCE): This practice credit module is one of two practice credit modules that enable student teachers to demonstrate their progress toward meeting the Standards for Qualified Teacher Status.
• Placement B (Secondary PGCE): This practice credit module is the second of two practice credit modules that enable student teachers to demonstrate their progress toward meeting the Teachers' Standards for Qualified Teacher Status.

Study and Assessment

• Full-time: 21% lectures, seminars or similar; 67% placement; 12% independent study
• Full-time: 50% coursework; 50% practical; 0% examination

Entry Requirements

• Degree: You will normally have a minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification.
• GCSE: You will also need GCSE at grade C/4 or above in English language and mathematics.
• Other requirements: Appropriate post-16 qualifications, an ability to communicate effectively in spoken and written English, excellent interpersonal skills, and an informed and realistic understanding of the complexities and challenges of teaching in a secondary school.

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are still being finalised for all courses.

Careers Support and Prospects

Most of our graduates go on to work as PE teachers in secondary schools. The PGCE programme provides you with 60 masters level credits when you graduate. You could put these towards a masters degree to help you develop your career in the field of education.

Additional Information

Fitness to teach - you will be required to complete an Occupational Health Assessment to ensure that you are fit to teach before you are able to enrol on the course. This will require the completion of a health questionnaire and in some cases this may require a follow-up occupational health appointment. Travel costs to in person health check appointments (which will be within the Greater Manchester area) will not typically be covered by the University.