Program Overview

Overview

The Secondary Art and Design PGCE with QTS is a one-year postgraduate certificate in secondary education. This course is designed for individuals who have an undergraduate degree and are striving to become secondary school Art and Design teachers. The program aims to develop subject specialist knowledge alongside hands-on classroom experience.

Key Information

Entry Requirements

• An Honours degree (2:2 or above) with at least 50% relevant content in Art and Design.
• GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4 or above (or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme) or equivalent.
• If your first language is not English, you will need IELTS 7.0 overall, with no element less than 6.5.
• If all or part of your qualifications are from outside the UK, we’ll need a UK ENIC statement of comparability.

Other requirements:

• You must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, and that you have the intellectual and academic potential to meet the required Teachers’ Standards by the end of the programme.
• You should provide two references. Where applicants have current or recent experience working with children or young people, one of the referees should be a member of staff who can comment on their potential to train to teach.
• Offers are subject to satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced disclosure checks and applicants must not previously have been barred from teaching or working with children. We also ask you to complete a health declaration to ensure that you have the health and physical capacity to teach.

All conditions must be met by 31 August for entry in September in the year of application.

Start Dates

• 8 September 2025

Duration

• 1 year full-time

Course Detail

The course is divided into two main themes:

1. Initial Professional Development:
   • This theme allows you to explore creative ways to interpret your knowledge into a language a child can understand.
   • It helps prepare you for the classroom, allowing you to develop your own thinking, teaching skills, and subject curriculum knowledge to a level which you can trial in your placements.
   • Themes include how young people learn, behaviour management, assessment, inclusion, creative and innovative teaching methods, and designing learning.
   • You will research theories of child development, gain a greater understanding of current professional issues in secondary schools, and develop your own educational philosophy.
2. Art and Design Specialist Subject Pedagogy:
   • This theme provides the opportunity to develop your subject teaching in a stimulating way, using different methodologies and new technologies to inspire and engage young people.
   • It helps develop your understanding of the Art and Design curriculum; progression in Art and Design; planning and curriculum development in Art and Design, examination requirements, and inclusion issues in Art and Design.

Modules

• Developing Specialist Subject Knowledge:
  • In this module, you will develop the subject content and pedagogical knowledge to support effective teaching in your specialist subject area.
  • You will develop a systematic understanding of the statutory and non-statutory curriculum frameworks and public examination specifications for your subject and critically analyse and evaluate current research policy and practice.
  • You will be encouraged to further develop your personal subject knowledge, skills, and understanding, and to develop specific teaching strategies to support pupils’ progress in the subject.
  • For the assessment, you will submit a critical account of the place of your specialist subject in the curriculum, and evidence that demonstrates successful teaching in the specialist subject.
• Pedagogies for Support Learning and Progress in the Secondary School:
  • This module develops your understanding of pedagogy, focusing on the key areas of how pupils learn and how to support their progress; planning and teaching well-structured lessons; and adapting teaching to support the needs of all learners.
  • The assessment provides a structured opportunity for you to plan and teach a sequence of lessons with an acute focus on meeting the needs of all learners, and you will critically evaluate the impact of the sequence on pupils’ learning and outcomes.
• Professional Values and Practice in Secondary Education 1, 2, and 3:
  • These modules support your professional learning in the assessed phases of your school-based training.
  • They begin to develop the theoretical knowledge, understanding, attributes, values, and skills that underpin the Teachers’ Standards.
  • You will gain a clear understanding of teachers’ statutory duties, professional expectations, and responsibilities.
  • You will develop your classroom and behaviour management skills and build your confidence as a teacher, focusing on creating a positive climate for learning and setting high expectations for pupils’ learning and behaviour.

Placements

• During your time on the course, you will be required to complete 120 days of compulsory placements across at least two of our partner schools.
• Our network of partner schools spans Kirklees, Calderdale, Oldham, Manchester, Rochdale, Wakefield, Barnsley, and Bradford, offering a diverse range of educational settings.
• You’ll gain valuable insight into the role of a secondary school teacher, supported by both a mentor within the school and your dedicated Personal Academic Tutor (PAT).

Facilities

• The University of Huddersfield offers a range of facilities to support your learning, including open access computer rooms and teaching spaces designed to simulate real-world environments.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - Full-time

• The maximum fees we will charge for UK-based students on undergraduate courses in 2025/26 will be £9,535 per year for full-time students (subject to parliamentary approval).

Additional Costs

• Your placements could be based in areas some distance from your point of study, so please be aware of potential associated travelling costs.
• A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required to enable you to undertake placements in settings with children. We arrange this as part of the application process. Please note that there may be a charge for the DBS check.

Scholarships and Bursaries

• The Department for Education provides financial support for trainee teachers on some secondary subjects, either as a bursary or scholarship.
• The eligibility requirements for financial support vary depending on your individual circumstances and the amount you can expect to receive will depend on the subject you choose to teach and your degree classification and relevant academic qualifications.

Career Support

• Upon successful completion of the programme, we recommend Qualified Teaching Status be awarded by the Department for Education.
• This accreditation is reviewed on a regular basis.
• Previous graduates from courses in this subject area have gone on to work in a variety of roles such as a Secondary School Teacher, Community Education Officer, Learning Mentor, Education Consultant, Family Support Worker, and Education Mental Health Practitioner.

Research Excellence

• The University of Huddersfield is committed to research excellence, with a focus on making a real difference to people's lives.
• Our researchers carry out work that is world-leading and internationally excellent, and we are in the top 50 UK universities for Research Power.

Student Support

• At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life.
• Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you navigate through your personal student journey.