PGCE Secondary (History)

Why study this course

“A charming embrace of tradition and modernity” – Geography trainee 2021

“The enthusiasm, and passion, of staff about their specialist areas shines through” – Science with Biology trainee 2021

This is a course with its heart and soul in education – we get to know you and will support you every step of the way to becoming a fully qualified teacher

You will be able to participate in our sector-leading in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion week which we have proved positively impacts knowledge, understanding and confidence

Course summary

This PGCE course prepares you to teach History in either the 11-16 (with post-16 enhancement) or 14-19 age phases. It is a very practical course with around two thirds of the time spent in schools, mostly working with teachers and pupils, and around one third spent on directed study, with partnership training in the University and school. It is an integrated academic and professional preparation for teaching, combining study at either postgraduate or professional level with practical training to meet the Teachers’ Standards by the end of the programme.

This course is Subject to Revalidation. Learn more.

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Key facts

Award	PGCE
DfE code	32LK
Duration	1 year
Mode of study	Full-time
Start date	September
Awarding institution	Bishop Grosseteste University
Institution code	B38

Course details

About this course

You will consider the broader aspects of teaching, contexts for learning, the latest government initiatives and contemporary issues in teaching, learning and assessment. You will also work alongside trainee teachers of other subjects to consider cross-curricular aspects of education. These topics will introduce you to your career in the teaching profession.

Throughout your year of study, you will explore all aspects of your subject. This includes those areas that are your strengths, as well as areas you may need to improve upon. You will study how pupils learn in your subject area, how you need to assess them and how to keep abreast of new developments within your subject. You will learn how to plan and deliver topics in ways that include all types of learners in meaningful ways.

You will spend two-thirds of the year in partner schools and other educational settings gaining rich and varied experiences designed to support meeting the minimum requirements for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Working with peers, tutors and school-based colleagues, you will develop your abilities to promote effective learning among 11-16-year-olds. You will also have opportunities to gain experience of the key stages before and after the ones in which you will qualify.

This course is demanding and stimulating. We aim for you to be prepared to take responsibility for your own learning, be open to creative and innovative ideas, and be competent, reflective practitioners both in your training year and beyond. Success on the course means you will have completed a postgraduate (with 60 credits at Master's level) or professional graduate qualification, have met the minimum requirements to be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status and you will be fully prepared to start the next year as an Early Career Teacher.

This Secondary PGCE course is available through both Core and School Direct routes.

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When you're ready to apply, the route you take will depend on your personal circumstances and preferred method of study. Click the relevant button below to start your application journey.

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Entry requirements

For all PGCE Secondary specialisms you will normally need:

GCSEs at grade 4 (previously C) or above (or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics. Please see our list of accepted equivalents.
A relevant honours degree at a 2:2 classification or above. (Where the degree result is to be awarded in the year of application, we will require a predicted degree classification as part of an academic reference provided on the application)
Experience – please see below information below
Declaration of Health
DBS (formerly the CRB) Enhanced Disclosure

When shortlisting for interview, we will consider the following aspects of your qualifications:

GCSE grades (or equivalents) and relevance of subjects
A Level grades (or equivalents) and relevance of subjects
Degree Class and relevance of content
Additional relevant qualifications

Modules in or closely related to the subject being applied for will need to form at least 50% of the degree content.

Experience

Experience in a relevant setting is useful as it will help you to make sure that you are aware of the role of a teacher in the twenty-first century. The course is intensive and demanding and you need to be aware of what a career in the teaching profession entails.

We encourage you to gain some experience in schools as this is a good starting point for you to gain an interview for the Secondary PGCE.

Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) – formerly the CRB and Health

In addition you will be required to obtain a satisfactory Declaration of Health Form, or if required, a medical examination. In addition, all students will need to pay for an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (formerly the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)). A successful Enhanced Disclosure is required before commencing the course.

If you have any questions about the entry requirements for this course, please contact our Enquiries team for advice on +44 (0) 1522 583658 or email enquiries@bishopg.ac.uk

Further information

Click here for important information about this course including additional costs, resources and key policies.

In accordance with University conditions, students are entitled to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, RP(C)L, based on relevant credit at another HE institution or credit Awarded for Experiential Learning, (RP(E)L).

How you will be taught

This is a very practical course where you'll spend at least two-thirds of your time in schools, mostly working with teachers and pupils, and around one third spent on your own study with training sessions in the university or locally to your school.

Academic staff

Kimberley Edwards

Assessment

Formative assessment and feedback will be provided throughout the course to help you gain the knowledge and skills of our curriculum and to put them into practice. The portfolio of evidence you will compile during the course will form the main evidence in assessing that you have met the minimum requirements to be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). This summative assessment will take place at the end of the course. Assessment of the academic modules is through written assignments.

Careers & Further study

The teaching profession has a well-structured career pathway which moves progressively from initial teacher training through to Early Career Teacher (ECT) status to qualified teacher. Many continue to work in our partner schools, becoming mentors to our trainee teachers, pursuing further study to full Master's and Doctoral level at BGU and taking on leadership roles.

What Our Students Say

Discover what life is like at Bishop Grosseteste University from our students.

Support

Studying at BGU is a student-centred experience. Staff and students work together in a friendly and supportive atmosphere as part of an intimate campus community. You will know every member of staff personally and feel confident approaching them for help and advice, and staff members will recognise you, not just by sight, but as an individual with unique talents and interests.

We will be there to support you, personally and academically, from induction to graduation.

At BGU we have so much support available for our students, the type of support that has won us awards recently in the What Uni Student Choice Awards 2023, such as the Chaplaincy team, the Student Advice team, CELT, BGFutures and representatives at the Students’ Union.

Fees & Finance

A lot of student finance information is available from numerous sources, but it is sometimes confusing and contradictory. That’s why at BGU we try to give you all the information and support we can to help to throughout the process. Our Student Advice team are experts in helping you sort out the funding arrangements for your studies, offering a range of services to guide you through all aspects of student finance step by step.

Click here to find information about fees, loans and support which will help to make the whole process a little easier to understand.

For all applicants, there are full instructions here to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate.