Postgraduate Certificate in Education Secondary Level (11-16 years with post-16 enhancement experience)

Organisers and Tutors: Caroline Still, Dr Jill Cowie and Simon Arthur

PGCE Course Overview

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), one-year, full-time, Secondary course prepares graduates to teach in secondary schools (age range: 11-16 years with post-16 enhancement experience). The course is assessed against 'M' Level criteria - leading to Qualified Teacher Status and 60 credits at Masters Level.

This is an interesting, often very demanding but tremendously rewarding age group to work with as pupils mature from early adolescence to adulthood. The course is designed to equip you to teach your main subject and to make an effective contribution to the work of schools beyond your subject.

The UEA partnership scheme has attracted national and international attention for its successful close inter-weaving of school and university-based work. It provides you with the opportunity to engage in the systematic study of theory and current good practice both in schools and in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning at UEA. The PGCE course has received a series of excellent grades in OfSTED inspections.

The 36 week long course includes an extensive 24 weeks of placement in two of our partnership schools near, or within reasonable distance of, your home. This emphasis on practical teaching provides you with a broad range of teaching experience in different schools.

At university sessions you will discuss experiences with others on the course and learn more about the theory and practice of teaching. Expect to be involved in a range of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars and practical workshops.

Subject Specific Information - Science (with Biology, Chemistry or Physics)

We are looking for Science graduates who are committed to a career in teaching and who, like us, are enthusiastic about Science Education and are capable of becoming subject leaders in either Biology, Chemistry or Physics teaching. You will therefore have a good background at degree level in one of these subjects or in a closely related area.

Since you will be expected to teach some Key Stage 3 Science in school, a wider Science background knowledge would be an advantage. However, we look at each application on its merits and interview a high proportion of applicants.

At interview we are looking for good communication skills, evidence of a commitment to teaching and a willingness to build on your existing Science knowledge. Before attending for interview, it would be very helpful if you have been able to spend some time observing in a secondary school Science department and have some knowledge of the National Curriculum for Science. Click on the link to access further information about how you can gain school observational experience.

This course is in two parts, core Science and an additional course in your own Science specialism. It is designed to equip you to teach all three Sciences up to at least the end of Key Stage 3 (Year 9) and your specialism subject to GCE A-Level.

Core Science

For the majority of the course you will be taught in a group containing Biology, Chemistry and Physics specialists. The course will introduce you to the aims, objectives and methods of teaching Science set in the context of the National Curriculum for Science. You will have opportunities to develop your skills in practical work through 'hands-on' activities. The production and evaluation of teaching materials, how to use demonstrations and the place of laboratory safety are also featured. Lesson planning and evaluation are covered with an emphasis on the management of practical work in the laboratory. Assessment is an important element in the course, including the assessment of open-ended investigations. You will be introduced to the ways in which information technology can be used to enhance the teaching of Science. All the work at UEA is complementary to and integrated with the work you will do in your two placement schools.

We also consider the problems relating to teaching outside your main Science specialism. For example there are sessions on the teaching of Biology, Chemistry and Physics for the non-specialist. In addition, for your work in schools, most of you will be paired with a partner who has a different main Science discipline. 

For those with a specialism in Biology

Organiser and Tutor: Caroline Still

This part of the course will only be taken by those opting for Biology as their specialist subject. It will focus on the teaching and assessment of A-Level Biology and the biological elements of the National Curriculum at Key Stage 4. This will include practical work and the assessment of coursework for both A Level and GCSE examinations.

The role of information and communications technology in the teaching of Biology will be addressed. We will discuss fieldwork which is supported by a fieldcourse on the North Norfolk coast. Also we will explore some exciting and innovative aspects of molecular biology and DNA technology within the classroom.

Our PGCE Teacher Training Prospectus for September 2013 entry, providing further detailed information, will shortly be available to download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.

For those with a specialism in Chemistry

Organiser and Tutor: Dr Jill Cowie

This part of the course will only be taken by those opting for Chemistry as their specialist subject. The course will examine the chemical dimension of the National Curriculum and will consider the development of key ideas and content from Key Stage 3 into Key Stage 4 and post-16 Chemistry teaching. Throughout the course students will consider the role of practical work, the sessions are 'hands-on' and very practically based. The course will consider the material used to support a number of GCSE courses, the assessment of pupils' course work and the role of teacher assessment in Key Stages 3 and 4.

Our PGCE Teacher Training Prospectus for September 2013 entry, providing further detailed information, will shortly be available to download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.

For those with a specialism in Physics

Organiser and Tutor: Simon Arthur

This part of the course will only be taken by those opting for Physics as their specialist subject. The course will cover the main ideas, concepts and materials used to teach the Physics elements of National Curriculum Science at Key Stage 4 including the assessment of pupils' course work for GCSE examinations. This work will be extended to consider the organisation, resources and assessment issues related to the teaching and assessment of A-Level Physics. We will also consider the role of information and communications technology in the teaching of Physics. The work on A-Level Physics will be supported by school-based activities.

Physics teacher training scholarships

The Institute of Physics (IOP) has 100 teacher training scholarships worth £20,000 available to physics trainees starting their teacher training in the 2013/14 academic year. To be an IOP Scholar you will need to have outstanding knowledge of school-level physics and the potential to become an inspirational physics teacher. Each scholarship also includes a package of benefits including membership and early career mentoring. Applications are now open; you can view the full eligibility criteria and apply on the IOP website. Scholarships will be instead of the standard government bursary, but trainees who are not awarded a scholarship will continue to be eligible for a standard bursary.

Our PGCE Teacher Training Prospectus for September 2013 entry, providing further detailed information, is available to download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format. 

Science Enhancement Courses

Trainees wishing to teach Science whose Chemistry or Physics subject knowledge has gaps or needs to be updated may be eligible for one of our 2-week long Subject Knowledge Enhancement Courses. Please note that trainees must have secured their place at an initial teacher training institution before applying.

High Recommendation

Who better to endorse the quality and positive experience of our course than our past students:

Lewis Hearnden, Simon Phaup and Steven Fox are three recent trainee graduates. Check out their views on the course and of life in school post-training.

 

Career Opportunities

Many of our trainees are appointed to teaching posts in Norfolk and Suffolk. Career opportunities within secondary teaching are now far wider and more diverse than ever before. Within a few years of beginning teaching many are able to gain promotion to leadership positions within their subject or for pastoral responsibilities. There may also be opportunities to become an Advanced Skills Teacher (AST), this allows effective classroom teachers to gain recognition for their excellence in the classroom without needing to move to more administrative positions. After experience of middle management successful teachers can progress to senior management as Senior Teacher, Deputy Head or Head.

Secondary Teaching Information Event

Our next Secondary Teaching Information Event will take place in October 2013.

In the meantime, if you have any queries, please do contact the UEA PGCE Admissions Team.

Application Procedure and Selection Process

All candidates starting the PGCE in 2013 are required to pass the professional skills tests before starting the course. More information can be found via the Teaching Agency website.

Candidates are required to apply via the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). This is the central "clearing house" which deals with all applications for PGCE courses across the country. Application forms for 2013 entry are available from October 2012.

Candidates are required to supply an academic referee as their first reference if they have completed their studies in the last 5 years.

Primary candidates are advised by the GTTR to make their application by 1st December 2012 - however please note that we will be accepting applications (through the GTTR) after this date if we have vacancies.

There is no specified deadline for Secondary candidates. However, all candidates are advised to apply as early as possible in the application cycle.

NB: You are advised to ensure that your principal referee is available to submit their reference immediately upon request (usually electronically via GTTR). Your chosen institution will not receive your application until the principal referee has submitted their reference. Please see the GTTR Referee Guidance for information on selection.

Candidates are encouraged to prepare thoroughly. Application forms should be able to demonstrate not only your depth of subject knowledge but also your enthusiasm and commitment to a career in teaching. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with our PGCE Teacher Training Prospectus and the information available from the Teaching Agency and related educational establishments. These sources will help you to gain knowledge of the current issues facing teaching, specifically in the subject area for which you are applying. During interview you will be expected to be able to answer questions about these issues, and what has prompted your desire to choose teaching as a career.

Candidates are normally chosen on the basis of their application form, references and an interview.

Training Incentives

TA Training Bursaries are available for the PGCE Secondary Science course for entry in 2013.

Click on the link to access further information about Financial Information.

Further Enquiries

If you would like to discuss your application further please contact us by email:pgceinfo@uea.ac.uk, by telephone: +44 (0)1603 592855 or write to us:

PGCE Admissions
Room 0.20, School of Education and Lifelong Learning
Admissions, Recruitment & Marketing
University of East Anglia
Norwich Research Park
Norwich NR4 7TJ UK

Online Prospectus

Our PGCE Teacher Training Prospectus for September 2013 entry is available to download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.

Thank you for taking the time to view this website. We hope it has given you some idea of what we have to offer and that, if you are thinking of training to be a teacher, you will consider applying to us.