Overview
If you're looking for a rewarding career where you can make a positive difference to other people's lives, teaching is a great choice – and on our PGCE courses, you'll gain you the skills and confidence you need to become an outstanding secondary school teacher.
On this 1-year course, you'll be supported by our tutors and school-based mentors as you learn to plan and deliver lessons with strong subject knowledge, confidence and imagination, while reflecting on what it means to teach.
Our teacher training programmes have been given an outstanding review from Ofsted and we've got excellent links with many schools in the region – so when you finish your course, you'll graduate with excellent career prospects, and eligibility for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) too.
What you'll experience
The PGCE has three interconnected strands – Curriculum Studies, Professional Studies and School Experience – so the skills and knowledge you pick up can be practised and built on with real-life teaching experience. And you'll hone your teaching skills in whichever of the following subject areas you choose:
- English
- Mathematics
- Geography
- Modern Foreign Languages
- Computer Science
- Science (with biology, physics or chemistry)
On this course, you'll:
- Develop your teaching skills through practical activity and the study of theories and contemporary issues in education
- Share your experience and learn from other students through lectures and seminars
- Learn key teaching skills, including lesson planning, classroom management, and special needs and inclusion
- Develop your subject-based knowledge
- Get work experience in a teaching placement, where you'll work closely with mentors and other school staff
- Study a range of topics including pedagogy and practice based research; lesson planning; behaviour management; assessment, and special education needs and inclusion
Work experience and career planning
We'll help you to identify placements, voluntary roles and opportunities that will complement your studies.
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your teaching skills to work.
After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- work-based learning
- supervised teaching practice
- lectures
- group participation
- guided reading
How you're assessed
The assessments that you'll complete on this course are designed to ensure that you meet the Standards for Qualifying to Teach.
In each term you'll be assessed through:
- The development of your teaching skills
- A formal assignment
- An interview in which you'll demonstrate the evidence collected towards the standards including your subject knowledge
Throughout the course, you'll also collate a portfolio of evidence based on schoolwork, observations of teaching, tasks and assignments.
Careers and opportunities
Once you graduate, you'll be ready to start your teaching career. Over 90 per cent of Portsmouth PGCE graduates go into full-time teaching, and once you're an established teaching professional, you'll have opportunities for further career progression in roles including year head and subject leader.
