104 Durham University
Course information
Secondary – English PGCE
Course fact file Course length 1 year full–time.
Begin your career as a secondary school English teacher with this QTS–registered course.
The PGCE Secondary is the first phase of a career–long process of personal and professional development, which will equip you to become a secondary school teacher. This is a course in Initial Teacher Training accredited by the Department for Education, the successful completion of which will accord you Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Entry requirements Please refer to our website durham.ac.uk/ education for up to date entry criteria.
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Our popular English course aims to: provide you with the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills needed to become an effective and innovative teacher of English; extend your awareness of the range and scope of English as a subject in schools today; provide opportunities for you to experience and explore a variety of approaches to teaching the subject; and allow you to develop an appreciation of your own strengths and weaknesses.
Typical course content Core modules: • Professional Issues in School–based Education • Teaching and Learning in the Curriculum • Self–directed Study.
Teaching and learning Subject pedagogy (how to teach the subject for understanding) is explored in curriculum groups, examining techniques for making each subject accessible and stimulating in a classroom environment. You will be based in one of our partnership schools, where you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in a teaching background. The school–based activities involve structured classroom observations, planning and research projects and practical teaching – the latter starting by teaching individual pupils, eventually leading through group work to full classroom teaching.
Assessment The Secondary PGCE is designed to take around 1,500 hours of student work, comprising: readings and preparation for teaching in school, teaching in schools, teaching time in lectures and workshops, professional studies days, conferences, follow up readings after the taught element, independent study and assignment work. Assessment includes an electronic professional portfolio and three assignments; successful completion of which provides 90 credits which can be carried towards a MA Education if you apply within three years of completing your PGCE.
