Geography (PGCE)

About this course

Gain the knowledge and skills to become a fully qualified geography teacher on this PGCE Secondary course at the University of Southampton. You’ll divide your time between school placements and the University as you learn how to teach secondary school pupils aged 11 to 16 (Key Stages 3 and 4). With this qualification you’ll be able to teach in state-maintained and special schools in England and Wales.

On this Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) geography teacher training course you’ll learn how to be a geography teacher at secondary school level within the UK’s National Curriculum for Geography framework.

You’ll build on your existing knowledge of geography and learn the most effective methods for helping young people to understand and enjoy the subject.

Your training will also teach you essential skills such as:

• managing the classroom
• monitoring and assessing pupils
• teaching inclusively

You'll spend a minimum of 120 days in placement schools in the Southampton area, where you’ll observe lessons and work with small groups of pupils before being gradually being introduced to whole-class teaching. You’ll have the support of a school-based mentor throughout your placements.

The rest of your time will be spent at the University, where you’ll prepare you for your placements, evaluate your school-based work, and develop subject-specific skills and good practice.

Careers

Successfully completing this course will give you Qualified Teacher Status in addition to your PGCE award. This means you'll be able to work as a teacher in state-maintained and special schools in England and Wales.

We have high employment rates from our PGCE Secondary courses, with many trainees going on to work in our partnership schools.

If you choose to continue your studies, the credits you build up from your master’s-level modules can be put towards a future master’s degree qualification.

Students will need an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject strong subject knowledge, GCSEs (minimum grade 4/C) in English language and maths.