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PGCE Secondary - Geography

Different course options

Study mode

Full time

Duration

1 year

Start date

SEP-24

Key information
DATA SOURCE : IDP Connect

Qualification type

PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate of Education

Subject areas

Geography Teaching (General)

Course type

Taught

Course Summary

Course Summary

The PGCE Secondary is the first phase of a career-long process of personal and professional development, which will equip you to become a secondary school teacher. The PGCE Secondary is a course in Initial Teacher Training which is accredited by the DfE, the successful completion of which will accord Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Our course has recently been inspected by Ofsted which resulted in an “Outstanding” grading for all aspects of our provision.

Students who have successfully completed the PGCE at Durham in the previous academic year have the option to use 90 credits they have accredited towards a part-time MA Education. These students only need to do the core modules, Education Enquiry and the Dissertation over 2 years, to complete the course.

Subject pedagogy is explored in curriculum groups, examining techniques for making each subject accessible and stimulating in a classroom environment..

After a preparatory 5 days in a primary school the course begins a series of school visits, curriculum sessions and tutorials which combine the theoretical and research based dimensions of the course, school observations and personal perspectives of issues prior to the short Preliminary practice. This pattern is repeated in the New Year before the long practice.

Course Learning and Teaching

Issues addressed usually include:

Lesson planning and planning for progression and differentiation
The National Curriculum, examination courses and Geography's contribution to the wider curriculum
Teaching styles including fieldwork and approaches to teaching the most and least able
Cultivating the imagination and thinking through Geography
Monitoring and assessing children's progress
The potential of I.C.T., audio-visual aids and other resources for enhancing Geographical learning
Geography's contribution to the development of core skills, personal development and cross-curricular themes

You will be based in one of our Partnership schools where you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in a teaching background. The school-based activities involve structured classroom observations, planning and research projects and practical teaching - the latter starting by teaching individual pupils, eventually leading through group work to full classroom teaching. Most people have vivid memories of their school fieldwork experiences and not only is it highly motivating for pupils, it plays an important part in the enquiry process. The course features a fieldwork course in Durham City exploring approaches to fieldwork, planning activities in the field and, in the summer, taking pupils from a local school to undertake them. Career opportunities in education are wide and include classroom teaching, educational leadership and management, administration and policy development.

Modules

The Self-directed Study module draws on students? experience during weekly visits to schools and their own small scale action research, and links this to critical engagement with published educational research.

Tuition fees

UK fees
Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

£9,250

International fees
Course fees for EU and international students

For this course (per year)

£23,500

Entry requirements

Students need to have: UK 2:2 honours degree of which approximately 50% is comprised of Geography or a similar subject. If your degree is from an overseas institution you must apply for a Statement of Comparability from NARIC; Significant and relevant subject knowledge and recent experience of the science teaching environment. This should be demonstrated at both application and interview; A demonstrable an interest and involvement in the lives and development of young people; GCSE English and Mathematics at Grade C or above (or equivalent) which must be achieved at the time of application. If your equivalent qualifications are from an overseas institution, you must apply for a Statement of Comparability from NARIC; Applicants with non-standard qualifications, for example, access routes into higher education are welcome to apply; Applications from mature applicants pursuing a career change; Pass the QTS Skills Tests by 1st August prior to the beginning of the programme; Must have undertaken, or intend to undertake, at least ten days of work experience in a UK mainstream school environment within the last three years. This must be completed before 1st August in the year of entry; Must have completed the 10 day Primary School Experience in a UK Primary School (or a Primary School which follows the English National Curriculum) prior to commencing the University course in mid-September. Offer holders will arrange this for themselves in their own local area.