Professional Graduate and Post Graduate Certificate in Education – Secondary

TDA Category A provider.  Graded 'Outstanding' by OFSTED for quality of training in all subjects and for Management and Quality Assurance.

Course Introduction

The Professional/Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Secondary) is a one year, full-time professional teacher training course and is aimed at people who would like to work in the secondary school sector. The course facilitates the development of 'the professional teacher' with an emphasis on self-directed learning combined with a reflective practice approach.

The PGCE Secondary (11-16) is offered in five subjects:

English      Geography       Mathematics      Modern Foreign Languages      Science

In addition the PGCE (14-19) is offered in Business Studies

Course Aims

The aims of the course are:

To enable the development of good practice to a recognised national standard To encourage a reflective approach to experiences and knowledge relating to teaching and learning in order to improve professional practice To generate professional self-confidence

Mode of Study

This is a one year full time course

Course Outline

The PGCE has three interconnected strands:

Curriculum Studies         Professional Studies             School Experience

Work carried out at the University will be followed up and built upon in schools.

University lead sessions include a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops, guided preparatory reading and active group participation. The course encourages the development of teaching skills specifically for this education sector and incorporates both work-based learning experience and supervised teaching practice.

Teaching experience is provided in at least 2 partnership schools and offers opportunities to develop professional teaching skills involving planning, assessing and evaluating teaching sessions and also includes observed teaching practice.

Tutorial support is provided at the university by academic tutors. In the teaching experience placement, a professional mentor provides general educational support whilst a subject mentor provides specific guidance relating to teaching and learning skills.

Two thirds of the time is spent in schools, where you will receive training from school-based mentors. The strong relationship between partner schools and the School of Education and Continuing Studies means that over 80% of our trainees obtain jobs in the area.

The PGCE lasts for a minimum of 36 weeks, beginning in September and finishing at the end of June.  Some students attending the Subject Booster courses may be required to attend from the 1st September.  Twenty-four weeks are spent in schools and the course generally follows the school holidays.

We offer both the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education route and the Postgraduate Certificate in Education route, the latter enabling you to achieve 60 credits at Masters level which can then be used towards a full Masters award when you are teaching.

Comments made by present students

What made you decide to come to the University of Portsmouth to enrol on your course?

“The quality of the course and the teaching staff.  Portsmouth seems much better organised than other universities and better respected by many of my local schools, so it was the obvious choice”.

How has the course affected your life?

“The course helped me realise that I really do want to teach””.

Would you recommend your course and/or studying with the School of Education and Continuing Studies to others?

“Definitely! I would recommend my course at Portsmouth due to there being a good sized group of trainees, lots of opportunities to enhance subject knowledge and the course seems very well thought out in terms of which assignments we do when, placement length etc."“The M-level option has encouraged me to consider doing an MA next year which otherwise I wouldn’t have done.”

Entry Requirements

A relevant honours degree or its equivalent plus GCSE Mathematics and English Language (grade A* -C) or equivalent.

Finance Details

Training Bursaries

The bursary is worth £9,000 for full-time students training to teach secondary Mathematics and Science.  It is worth £6,000 for full-time students training to teach Business Studies, English, Modern Foreign Languages and Geography.  Further information regarding student finance can be found here on the student finance web page.

Golden Hello

The Golden Hello scheme is intended to help the recruitment of teachers of shortage subjects.  Further information can be found on the TDA website. 

For subject specific details please click on the course that you are interested in

Business Studies          English               Geography

Mathematics              Modern Foreign Languages             Science

Or for general enquiries

The Admissions Secretary

School of Education and Continuing Studies

Tel:  + 44 (0) 23 9284 5204

Fax: + 44 (0) 23 9284 5365

Email: secs.enquiries@port.ac.uk