Secondary PGCE with Qualified Teacher Status

What is the point of doing a PGCE if I am already working in a school?

1. A doctor does not simply learn to recognise symptoms and the best-known response to those symptoms.  He/she knows the deeper causes of each illness and the way such an illness might impact different people.  In the same way, a teacher should know the deeper theoretical background to different teaching strategies, such as mixed ability teaching or differentiation, something which will enable them to teach with professional confidence.  To achieve this they need to read and evaluate recent research and texts.
2. Although part of a teacher’s ability depends on their subject knowledge and force of personality, there are specific skills (the ‘craft of the classroom’) which need to be grasped if they are to be truly effective.  All teachers, for example, need to know about pupils with special needs.  All need to know about the most effective ways of maintaining good behaviour.  All should know about the best ways of ensuring pupils capture what you are teaching them in their long-term memories.
3. Having taken the trouble to gain this qualification will show your employer and future employers that you are a serious, professional employee.
4. The PGCE with QTS will enable you to apply for jobs at the many schools that require teachers to have qualified teacher status.
5. The PGCE at The University of Buckingham is a Level 7 course and is therefore designed to be intellectually stimulating. It leads on to an MA for those who wish to take that more advanced qualification.

Course content

The PGCE is a 37-week school-based course during which time you will work under the guidance of a mentor and receive weekly tutorials to review your progress and to set targets. There are four courses (nine days overall) to attend and these are supplemented by a weekly programme on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will be assigned a University tutor who will visit once per term to assess your progress and guide your development. You will be assessed against the Standards by both your mentor and your tutor and there are three assignments to complete.

For teachers undertaking their first year of teaching we highly recommend your participation in our Ab Initio course as an addition to the PGCE. This will provide you with some basic knowledge and skills to start teaching.

Your subject specialism

Different school subjects demand different teaching methods and resources, so part of the residential course will be taught by a subject specialist.  Our subject specialists this year include Art, Music, Design Technology, Food Technology, Business Studies & Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Computer Science, English, Drama, Classics, Modern Languages, Geography, History, Politics, Religious Studies, Psychology and PE.

Start dates

The normal start date is September. This has the advantage that the whole course can be completed within one academic year. But partly because of Covid-19 we are offering starts in January.

You must be employed as a teacher in a secondary independent or state school and be teaching your subject for a minimum of 50% of a full timetable across two consecutive key stages.
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:

• A degree from a UK university or equivalent.
• GCSE in English Language, Maths at grade C/4 or above or equivalent.

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.

How to apply

Please use the ‘Apply Now’ button or contact The School of Education on +44 (0)1280 820222 or email. To apply you will need to supply:

• copy of degree certificate
• copy of English and Maths GCSE certificates
• copy of passport photo page (and visa/work permit where necessary)
• head and shoulder style photo for your University identity card

If you have questions which need answering before you apply, please read our FAQs.

Student Contract for prospective students

When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the student contract between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the student contract in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the student contract contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the Student Contract

Quality teaching

We offer high quality teaching, which leads to our degrees being recognised around the world. The standards of degrees and awards are safeguarded by distinguished external examiners – senior academic staff from other universities in the UK – who approve and moderate assessed work.

Teaching methods

The course consists of an individualised programme of school-based training, combined with termly three-day residential meetings at Buckingham where trainees will encounter lectures, workshops, seminars and discussion groups led by experts in their field. The course encourages reflective practice, focusing on the subjects being taught, the craft of the classroom and the underpinning educational values of the teacher.

Trainees are also supported by the Education Moodle, a virtual learning environment which links the University and the partnership schools and provides additional resources for trainees. Trainees will be guided by mentors and tutors towards satisfying the requirements of the Teachers’ Standards and if successful will be qualified to teach in both independent and maintained schools in England.

Assessment methods

Once each term students will be visited by a subject specialist tutor from Buckingham, who will help to ensure comparability of standards across the participating schools. The Buckingham tutor and the school mentor will jointly assess the student’s competence as a teacher during and at the end of the course.

See the Education Curriculum Handbook for further course details.

Tuition fees cover the cost of all tutoring as well as food and accommodation when at Buckingham.

Applicants must also pay a £275 non-refundable Registration Fee.

Fees can be paid in termly instalments or in one lump sum. Termly instalments can be arranged directly with the Finance department upon receipt of the invoice.

You may be eligible for a Student Finance England loan. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/funding-for-postgraduate-study

Accommodation for all residentials will be arranged by the School of Education staff. If you have any questions, please contact us: education@buckingham.ac.uk