Secondary Education (English) PGCE

Programme overview

We have a long history of training teachers and are currently rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Our one-year programme is available in a range of secondary subjects and will lead to both a postgraduate qualification (PGCE) and qualified teacher status (QTS), enabling you to teach across the 11-19 age range. In addition, you will gain up to 60 master's-level credits that you can put towards an MSc in Education.

We work in partnership with more than 60 local schools offering two routes into teaching: University-led and School Direct, allowing you to choose the route that suits you. Our programmes are current, challenging and innovative, and are informed by both our own extensive research in the field of education as well as current practice.

You will spend two-thirds of your time on placement in at least two contrasting schools. Notably, our programme includes a short placement in a primary school as well as offering the opportunity to gain experience in a special school. The remaining time is spent at University where you will join our diverse student community.

At Bristol you will be given a personal tutor in your specialist subject, ensuring you receive the very highest levels of both pastoral and professional support. Our strong community and student support us apart from other providers and is frequently commented on by both students and external inspectors.

Careers

The programme is approved by the Department for Education and leads to recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

A large proportion of our student teachers were employed in education after completing the PGCE programme, with many finding employments in the south-west. As a teacher from the University of Bristol PGCE, you will be highly valued by schools both locally and nationally; they will appreciate your thorough preparation in teaching and high level of subject knowledge. Our 2018 Ofsted inspection report praised the standard of our newly qualified teachers who are ‘exceptionally well-prepared’ for their first job’.

Prior to admission to the programme, all students are required by the Department for Education (DfE) to have: at least GCSE or 'O' level at grade C or 4 (if taken after summer 2017) or an equivalent overseas qualification in English and Mathematics; a degree (with a 2:2 or above) or an equivalent qualification, in a subject relevant to the proposed main teaching subject. NB: Equivalence tests for GCSEs will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Such applications will be assessed and reviewed by the subject tutor, programme director and PGCE administration manager.