Secondary Education (Biology) PGCE

About the course

This is a professional training programme introduces you to the requirements for teaching a subject to the 11-19 age range (14-19 for business Education) and leads to Qualified Teacher Status. You will follow courses in subject studies and a professional Studies and learning course that introduces you to principles and theories of secondary teaching.

The programme has been designed to meet the government's requirements for the training of teachers for the 11-19 phases in secondary schools. Local schools and colleges have been involved in all aspects of the programme, from the initial development to day-to-day delivery. We work with over fifty partnership secondary schools and this provides the basis for all school-based elements of the programme.

A unique feature of the programme is the involvement of a team of teacher tutors. They spend part of each week at the University working with students on the subject studies elements. As practising teachers in local secondary schools they bring their knowledge and expertise direct to our trainees. Our students have confirmed that this innovative approach is a major contribution to the overall success of the programme.

What we are looking for

Building Exceptional Secondary Teachers (BEST)

We are looking to select trainees who:

• have the passion, commitment and enthusiasm to teach in secondary schools
• are resilient and able to work under pressure
• have good subject knowledge to train to teach in the area they are interested in

 

Why choose this course?

This Masters level programme offers Qualified Teacher Status for the 11-16 age range with enhancement to 19 in secondary schools. Out of the thirty-six weeks of the programme, you spend twenty-four weeks on practical experience in local secondary schools. You also benefit from the knowledge and expertise of a team of practicing teachers from our partner schools.

We offer training for Art and Design, English, Mathematics*, Modern Foreign Languages*( French, French with German, German with French, French with Spanish) and Biology*, Chemistry*, and Physics*.

Why train with us?

The University of Hertfordshire is a leading regional provider of Initial Teacher Training. Consistently high achieving in its Ofsted inspections and in the Guardian and Times League tables it is recognised as a very good quality training provider by local employers and graduate employability is amongst the highest in the country. 

The PGCE team of tutors are highly qualified and all have had held senior positions and had successful careers in secondary schools.  Key strengths of our PGCE programme are the high levels of pastoral care and support we offer trainees and the effectiveness of our partnership with schools to enhance trainees' subject knowledge and conceptual understanding of teaching to ensure our trainees achieve good levels of attainment.

We take pride in our ex trainees who are currently outstanding teachers working in secondary schools all over the country.

 

Study routes

• Full Time, 1 Years

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Teaching methods

The award of the PGCE is based on your performance in school during placements, passing the formally assessed written assignments meeting the DCSF standards required to gain Qualified Teacher Status.

There are no written examinations except for the Teacher Training Agency skills tests, which all trainee teachers need to pass during their training.

Work Placement

School experience is at the heart of the programme and during the thirty-six week programme you spend twenty-four weeks in school, and the rest of the time on campus. The school experience is made up of a number of serial day placements, including visits to a primary school and a special school and two block placements in partner secondary schools.

Professional Accreditations

Qualified Teacher Status

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Developing Professional Practice - Secondary

  In combination with other modules on this programme, this module aims to prepare trainees as Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs). The module addresses the pedagogic and professional concerns, issues and responsibilities of all teachers and is designed to complement the subject module. Successful trainees will interrogate and critically analyse a range of literature and research associated with these issues. Trainees from all subject areas work together on this module in a mixture of subject-specific and cross-subject groupings. The module is delivered by a variety of lectures, seminars, presentations and workshops, linking with methodologies used in subject studies and drawing on trainees' school placement experiences. Successful trainees will have demonstrated independence of thought and an ability to synthesise and hypothesise when dealing with the material presented to them on this module. They will begin to develop higher order analysis and evaluation skills and an ability to apply some originality to findings.

• Learning and Teaching in Science

  In combination with other modules on this programme, this module aims to prepare trainees as Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs). The focus of this module is to provide trainees with the relevant science subject knowledge and subject underpinning to teach their subject successfully. Trainees will then be expected to analyse, interpret and interrogate the value of a range of issues connected to science pedagogy, drawing independent conclusions that bear close academic scrutiny. Trainees will investigate the relevant knowledge, skills and understanding to plan, deliver and evaluate effective science teaching from 11-16 with enhancement at post-16. They will be introduced to materials and approaches to science teaching and make informed judgements about their effectiveness. The module is regularly updated to include the most current thinking in science teaching with regard to secondary classroom practice.

• School Based Training 1

  In conjunction with other programme components, this module aims to prepare trainees to be Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) in secondary schools. The School Based Training will comply with the current requirements and focus on coverage of the current Standards for qualified teacher status. There will be extended opportunities to observe learning and teaching and to carry out teaching practice. Each trainee will receive training, support and assessment from a school mentor during his/her placement and from a visiting University tutor while on placement. Reflective practice is an essential element for ensuring on-going progress in meeting the Standards.

• School Based Training 2

  In conjunction with other programme components, this module aims to prepare trainees to be Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) in secondary schools. The Secondary Based Training will comply with the current requirements and focus on coverage of the current Standards for qualified teacher status. There will be extended opportunities to observe learning and teaching and to carry out an extended, more concentrated teaching practice that builds on the skills and experience derived from School Based Training 1. Each trainee will receive training, support and assessment from a school mentor during his/her placement and from a visiting University tutor while on placement. Reflective practice is an essential element for ensuring on-going progress in meeting the Standards.

Optional

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £9,000 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply