Secondary Music with QTS PGCE

Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach the secondary school music curriculum for the 11-16 age range.

This is a practical course where you will be immersed in music making, teaching and encouraged to use and develop your musical skills. You’ll be taught through practical sessions, and you will consider topics which support musical learning, using acoustic and IT instruments to develop your subject knowledge. You’ll explore immersive ways to teach music and how to encourage your pupils to engage with musical experiences.

We have a partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and we hold regular study sessions there. At RNCM, you’ll usually have the opportunity to experience guest lectures and concerts.

To help you explore how trips can benefit your students, you’ll typically be encouraged to visit a variety of musical venues across Manchester. This includes theatre schools and music organisations with outreach programmes.

When you’re at Manchester Met, you’ll mainly study with your PGCE music group. They are one of your greatest learning resources.

You’ll consider how to plan lessons, reflect on your planning, learn how research can develop your teaching practice, and look at ways to develop your teacher persona.

You’ll also learn through peer collaboration, sharing knowledge with your fellow music trainees.

You’ll spend at least 120 days on placements in a variety of schools.

This PGCE is available via University-led and School Direct routes.

You will normally have a minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification. Your degree needs to support the subject knowledge requirements of the national curriculum for history. For exceptional candidates, particularly those with substantial relevant work experience in schools or relevant occupations, we will consider applications from those who hold a 3rd class degree.