PGCE in Secondary Education (Science with Chemistry) with recommendation for QTS

Overview

Whether it’s heating up their first test tube over a bunsen burner or staged explosions on children’s television, chemistry is a fascinating subject for all ages.

Of course, there’s so much more to learn about chemistry and a very real industry need for skills in the subject as evidenced by the government’s promotion of STEM subjects to children and young adults.

Most pupils entering secondary school are excited at the prospect of working in a fully equipped laboratory, and as a secondary school chemistry teacher you will have to build upon and sustain this interest for the subject as they journey through the chemistry national curriculum.

As a chemistry teacher you will foster an appreciation of the achievements of chemistry in showing how the complex and diverse phenomena of both the natural and man-made worlds can be described in terms of a number of key ideas which can be applied universally.

The need for qualified, enthusiastic teachers with an understanding of the demands society places on young people has never been greater. The opportunity to educate children and young people, and learn from them in return, is immensely rewarding.

Careers and your future

A Brunel PGCE with recommendation for QTS is a recognised symbol of high quality Initial Teacher Education (ITE). This is demonstrated by Brunel’s outstanding employment rates over time and feedback from Brunel alumni student teachers, our partnership schools and Ofsted inspectors.

Brunel PGCE graduates have gone on to work in our partnership schools, and many in schools where they undertook a placement experience. This allows the department to retain links with former students and often they become school-based mentors for Brunel PGCE students. The department also has a network of alumni in positions of responsibility in schools across the country.

After you graduate, your relationship with Brunel doesn’t stop there. As alumni, you can remain involved in the Partnership in a range of ways including mentoring, and can also sign up to receive invitations to Brunel public lectures, Education Department research seminars, events and steering groups, to ensure you continue to develop through a community of professional practice within, and beyond the school in which you work.

If you decide to pursue further study after your PGCE course, (perhaps an MA, a taught Doctorate of Education or a research based PhD), you will be warmly encouraged by the department with the opportunity of discounted fees as a Brunel graduate.

Our conditions of entry to the PGCE Secondary Education programme require that applicants have: An undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Normally this should be a 2.2 classification or above in preparation for Masters level professional study. Two A levels in Sciences and/or Mathematics. English and Maths Grade 4 (C) or above, or equivalent at GCSE level. Applicants would normally be expected to meet the GCSE requirements at the point of application.