Secondary Qualified Teacher Status and PGCE

This course is available to teachers who are currently employed in maintained or independent schools in England.

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Course overview

  • 2026
  • Full-time
  • Sep, 37 weeks
  • Postgraduate
  • PGCE
  • Online
  • *See below for full fee information

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    Entry Requirements

    You must be employed as a teacher in a secondary independent or state school, be teaching your subject for a minimum of thirteen hours and know about four consecutive school years (teaching in at least two of them).

    Every year some of our applicants have arranged to work in a school for the specific purpose of gaining this training, others have worked in the school for a year or two, some for longer than that.

    You will be expected to have the following qualifications:

    • UK degree. For equivalent qualifications, contact education@buckingham.ac.uk to confirm that your qualification meets the University entry requirements
    • GCSEs in English Language or Literature and Maths at grade 4 or above or equivalent. For equivalent qualifications, contact education@buckingham.ac.uk to confirm that your qualification meets the University entry requirements.

    In addition, you must:

    • Demonstrate competence in literacy and numeracy.
    • Attend an interview.
    • Provide a reference from your headteacher supporting your application to undertake a PGCE.
    • Obtain the commitment from your school to release you for the second school placement and to provide a suitable mentor.
    • Provide a satisfactory criminal record check and show the physical and mental fitness to teach.

    The employing school must be able to fully support a candidate through the course, enabling them to demonstrate all of the Teachers’ Standards across the full age and ability range of training.