PGCE Secondary Education with Physics

Plymouth Marjon University

Course SummaryDo you want to become an outstanding physics teacher? Our specialist PGCE in Secondary Science with Physics is a direct route to a career that helps pupils to make sense of how the world around us works. Physics gives us powerful tools to help us to express our creativity, to see the world in new ways and then to change it. This course develops a range of teaching styles appropriate to the delivery of the Sciences specialising in physics within the National Curriculum and GCSE/A Level specifications. These include conceptual understanding and progressions in learning, purposeful practical work, sequenced learning steps and links to different sectors of Physics industry.You'll be taught by a great team, our trainees scored us 92% student satisfaction for postgraduate teacher training, this puts us in the top 25% quartile of all providers in England (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, 2020).The aim of this PGCE Secondary Science with Physics is to prepare trainee teachers for a first appointment as a teacher of Sceince in a secondary school and assess current developments in the subject and their possible effect on teaching in schools. To develop as a teacher, you will be learning about how to instil in pupils a sense of intrigue and enable students to develop understanding and form questions based both on the knowledge they already have and the insight they wish to gain in the futures. The subject combines practical skills with theoretical ideas and the opportunity to explore the phenomena of the universe and to look at theories that explain what is observed. Furthermore, our PGCE Secondary Science with Physics trainees can take up ‘enhancements’ linked to other curriculum subjects or areas e.g. PSHE or Special Education Needs and Diversity.Teaching physics means helping pupils learn how to solve problems and think critically, skills which make a difference to your pupils both inside the classroom and in their wider lives. Furthermore, our PGCE Secondary Science with Physics trainees can take up ‘enhancements’ linked to other curriculum subjects or areas e.g. PSHE or Special Education Needs and Diversity.How will you be taught?Collaborative learning, critical reflection and a strong culture of support underpin PGCE Secondary Science with Physics, and trainees will enjoy a stimulating and effective learning environment from start to finish.You will have a minimum of 120 days in school in 2 block placements and 12 weeks in University undertaking a range of activities. Teaching includes lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences, tutorials, independent study or research and school based training. Opportunities to be part of seminar and workshops add depth to your experience.How will you be assessed?Assessment relates to your development of practice in school. All are coursework based, you will generate reflective journals, portfolios, essays and presentations.