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What makes PGCE Secondary English at Worcester so special?

Unique opportunities to:

  • Develop your own philosophy for learning and teaching in English
  • Enrich your subject knowledge drawing on the expertise of an experienced English tutor
  • Engage in practical workshops with a drama consultant (formerly with the Royal Shakespeare Company)
  • Benefit from resources and a bespoke workshop delivered by the National Association of Teachers of English
  • Explore progression in learning English through primary school experiences
  • Attend a joint Primary and Secondary Reading Conference
  • Deliver an ‘A’ level English workshop with your peers at the University Sixth Form Conference
Overview

Overview

Key features

  • Explore your vision of purposeful and creative teaching of English with expert guidance
  • Enjoy collaborative learning with peers as you develop your own practice
  • Develop your own understanding of how to teach English effectively to 11-18 year-olds
  • Develop the skills to be a self-reflective classroom practitioner
  • Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to have a successful career in teaching

NB English is offered through both Core and School Direct routes.

  • Register your interest
    Enter your details below and we will keep you up to date with useful information about studying at the University of Worcester.

"I really enjoyed my PGCE year at Worcester; it gave me a very supportive start to my teaching career."

Victoria Honeybourne, PGCE Secondary graduate

teacher RT

Scholarships and Bursaries

If you study this course you may be eligible for a tax-free bursary or scholarship.

Visit the Get Into Teaching website for information on eligibility and how much funding may be available to you.

Visit the Get Into Teaching website
Entry requirements

What qualifications will you need?

Entry requirements

  • Honours degree (normally 2:2 or higher) from a UK higher education institution or equivalent qualification, in English Language or Literature, or a very closely related subject.
    Applicants with a 3rd class degree will be considered on an individual basis.
  • Grade C/level 4 at GCSE in English Language and Mathematics (or equivalent) passed at the time of entry.
  • School experience is desirable, but not essential prior to an interview. At interview we will discuss relevant prior school experience or opportunities applicants have had to work with school aged children. It is at this point that we would discuss with a candidate whether additional school experience would support an individual in their decision that teaching is right for them

Qualifications not listed? Contact the Admissions Office for advice by email: AdmissionsA@worc.ac.uk

 

Other information

If you have lived, studied or worked overseas for three months or more in the last five years a Certificate of Good Conduct from the country of residence will be required. Further information and guidance associated with additional costs are available from the Home Office.

You will also be subject to the usual prohibition list and criminal record checks.

The DfE requires all trainee teachers to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, which you will need to pay for.

Visitors at a University of Worcester open day

Book your place at an Open Day

Want to know why so many students love living and studying in Worcester?

Our Open Days are the perfect way to find out.

Book your place

Taster evenings

Our PGCE taster events give you the opportunity to take part in taster sessions, ask questions about the course, explore our facilities and meet a selection of practising teachers. The upcoming dates are:

  • 4 February 2020, 5pm-7pm
  • 17 March 2020, 5pm-7pm
  • 12 May 2020, 5pm-7pm

These events are designed for those considering applying for the course, rather than those who have already applied. To request a place email insiders@worc.ac.uk.

Course content

What will you study?

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course. If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative. 

Subject Knowledge with a Deep Understanding
  • Experience space and time to work collaboratively with peers to explore aspects of teaching English language and literature.
  • Participate in focused taught sessions, suggested reading and activities to undertake with peers in sessions.
  • Watch the tutor model how to teach aspects of the curriculum and have the opportunity to reflect on this in light of your own practice and experiences.
  • Enrich your subject knowledge drawing on the expertise of tutors with national profiles in partnership with school mentors with excellent current practice in your specialist area.
  • Extend confident subject knowledge and an understanding about how pupils learn.

Specialist Subject Opportunities
  • Engage in four practical workshops with a drama consultant (formerly with the Royal Shakespeare Company).
  • Opportunity to engage with the subject association (National Association of Teachers of English), receive a bespoke workshop and free resources.
  • Visit primary schools in groups to explore progression in English.
  • Attend a joint Primary and Secondary Reading Conference.
  • Deliver an ‘A’ level English workshop with your peers at Sixth Form Conference held at the university.
  • Visit an educational bookshop to explore up to date reading resources for 11 to 18 year olds.

Pedagogy
  • Understand and apply theory and research on how children learn and develop.
  • Explore a range of learning and teaching styles, and classroom organisation.
  • Discover how to promote progress through observing, planning, teaching and assessing learning.

Professional Studies
  • Explore a range of practices and wider issues of education.
  • Understand equality and develop inclusive teaching strategies.
  • Develop your research skills as teachers with these skills are capable of bringing about change.

Enhancement Activities
  • Gain expertise through one of our unique Enhancement Activities: Citizenship - Developing a Second Subject - English as an Additional Language - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities - Technology Enhanced Learning

School Experience
  • Grow through at least 120 days placement in our strong school network across the counties. Experience at least 2 contrasting schools.
  • Be supported and challenged by our blend of school-based Mentors and Personal Academic Tutors.

Your career
  • Become a reflective self-evaluating practitioner.
  • Enjoy great employment prospects; our support takes you from trainee to NQT and onwards.
  • Prepare for leadership and your Masters with 60 credits and a strong research foundation.

Nothing is more valuable than supportive university tutors and school mentors. When faced with challenges I was able to persevere because I knew that they had confidence in me and they equipped me with the skills, advice and knowledge I needed to succeed.

Helena, Trainee Teacher

Teaching and assessment

How will you be taught?

PGCE students doing group practical work

Teaching approach

  • School experience in a range of settings.
  • Professional Studies sessions in school and at University.
  • University-led workshops, lectures, seminars, fieldwork and guest lectures.
  • Study of key texts and supplementary reading.
  • Participation in high level professional discussion, peer presentations and debate.
  • Directed studies, case studies and problem solving tasks; development of practice-based competence and skills of critical reflection through guided individual mentoring during placements.
  • One-to-one academic and personal tutorial support including access to our first class Firstpoint services
Students doing practical group task

Assessment

  • Assignments are carefully designed to develop your skills as a teacher.
  • Assessments that move from highly structured to more open briefs as you develop your professional skills.
  • The opportunity to develop skills as a research informed practitioner.

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.

Meet the team

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course.

You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Louise Beattie

Louise was appointed as a Senior Lecturer in Secondary English in September 2013. She has twenty years of working in a range of secondary schools in a variety of roles. She has worked at Head of Department level and more recently spent ten years working as an English Adviser in a local authority. This afforded her the opportunity of working in a wide array of secondary schools, special schools and primary schools.

She has worked with English teachers on improving teaching, learning and rates of pupil progress. Some particular areas of interest are; the use of drama in the English classroom and the explicit teaching of speaking and listening.

Anita Iddon

Anita Iddon

After a teaching career spanning 36 years, Anita joined the PGCE Secondary Team at the University of Worcester as an Assistant Lecturer in 2017. Her experience in secondary education began as an NQT in English and ended as a Head of Department, a position she held for the last ten years of her school career. Before that she worked part time as an AST (Advanced Skills Teacher) for Worcestershire as well as continuing her role as an English teacher at Pershore High School.

One of Anita’s roles in school was mentoring English PGCE trainees; an opportunity to nurture and share good practice which she always embraced and one which she is delighted to continue developing as a PGCE English tutor at the University.

Bronwen Duggan

I became an English teacher straight from University and have enjoyed 22 years working in a variety of roles across a range of schools in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.   My experience working as Lead English teacher, Head of English and as Whole School Literacy coordinator afforded me the opportunity to liaise closely with schools across the region and observe some of the best practice in the profession.  Most recently, I have enjoyed working as Professional Mentor to University of Worcester trainee teachers during their placement in school.  I am now hugely excited to be joining the English PGCE team at the University.

Careers

Where could it take you?

PGCE student on placement
  • Great employment prospects
  • Prepare for leadership and your Masters with 60 credits and a strong research foundation
  • Many University of Worcester trainees gain promotion within the first few years of teaching
Cover of the 2020 University of Worcester prospectus

Request or download a prospectus

Request now
Costs

How much will it cost?

Full-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard tuition fee for full-time UK and EU students registering in the academic year 2020/21 will be £9,250 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international (non-EU) students registering in the academic year 2020/21 will be £13,700 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Teacher training funding

You can get help with the costs of teacher training. A student finance package will include a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan. You may also be eligible for extra help if you have children or have a disability.

Most courses are also eligible for a tax-free bursary or scholarship depending on your subject, degree classification or highest academic qualification.

Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for essential books, stationery, printing and photocopying.

Travel costs for placements vary depending on the location of schools and your mode of transport, sometimes these may be reclaimed depending on your individual circumstances.

We organise occasional visits to increase subject knowledge. Travel costs are at your own expense but we do encourage car sharing. In addition there is sometimes a fee but this is not normally more than £20 in total.

In addition, we encourage you to join subject specific associations. The cost is typically between £25 to £50 for which you benefit from their support, guidance and resources.

The DfE requires all trainee teachers to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, which you will need to pay for.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience, and our welcoming student communities are great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our halls of residence. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Hall' at £105 per week to 'En-suite Extra' at £169 per week (2020/21 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.

Subject Knowledge Enhancement

Not sure about your subject knowledge?

Build up or refresh your existing knowledge with a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) programme before the course.

Subjects offered:
English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, design technology (food), French, geography

Find out about the bursary.

How to apply

How do you apply?

Part-time route

You can apply to study this course on a part-time basis.

The part-time route runs for 4 school terms and starts in September each year. You will spend terms 1 and 2 in one school and terms 3 and 4 in a second school. In the first 3 terms you will typically spend 3 days per week on the course, either in school or university. Term 4 will be full time in school.

The bursary will be spread across four terms, and the fees will be the same as the full time route.

For more information get in touch via details below. You can also discuss this route in more detail at interview.

Applying through UCAS Teacher Training

UCAS Teacher Training is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry onto PGCE courses

Read our How to apply pages for more information on applying and to find out what happens to your application. 

UCAS Code

QXXX

Apply Via UCAS

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.

Admissions office

admissions@worc.ac.uk
01905 855111

Secondary PGCE Office

secondary@worc.ac.uk

Louise Beattie

Personal Academic Tutor
l.beattie@worc.ac.uk
01905 855045

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