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What makes PGCE - Secondary - English at Worcester special?

Age phase: 11-16 with post-16 enhancement

At the University of Worcester, we understand that your PGCE in Secondary English will become the foundation of your future, successful teaching career. As an Ofsted rated Outstanding Provider, we know that our specialist (QTS) English programme equips you with the knowledge and skills to propel yourself into a rewarding career in teaching.

You will have the opportunity to explore a broad professional field of English teaching, by providing you with the self-developmental opportunities to gain ‘on the job’ experience, through our active approach to learning. Your practical, professional experience will be supported with access to valuable resources provided by the National Association of Teachers and opportunities to debate English pedagogy with your peers and industry experts – both in and out of the classroom.

This course is open to graduates of a variety of English-related degrees, from Creative Writing to Media and Culture, because you can engage with our subject enhancement courses. We will support all graduates to uncover a range of inspiring, subject-specific knowledge by working collaboratively with cross-departmental guest lectures and activities. Our PGCE supports you as you discover and shape your own philosophy for learning, equipping you with the skills to go on to inspire future generations

We are proud that our Secondary PGCE was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in March 2023. Ofsted identified that:

‘Trainees benefit from an exceptional learning experience at the University of Worcester. This experience instils in them a deep-rooted commitment to making a difference to the lives of the children and young adults in the communities they serve.’

Placements, university sessions and mentors will support your development and our trainees are ‘exceptionally well-prepared for their first teaching post’ (Ofsted, 2023)

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
Ofsted Outstanding logo

Ofsted has rated us as "Outstanding" in training Primary and Secondary Teachers 2023.

The University of Worcester’s education of future primary and secondary teachers has been given the highest possible grade with inspectors stating that, along with its partners, the University creates “a learning community that places children at the heart of everyone’s endeavours”.  

Read our full news story

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

Victoria Honeybourne, PGCE Secondary graduate

Entry requirements

What qualifications will you need?

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

  • Honours degree normally (2:2) or higher from a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent qualification, in a relevant subject area. Applicants with a 3rd class degree will be considered on an individual basis.
  • All entrants have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade 4 (formerly grade C) in the GCSE examinations in English Language or English Literature and Mathematics. (applicants must have these qualifications by the start of the course). Alternatively, we offer an equivalency test if you don’t have the required GCSE grade to apply for our courses. Trainees who begin courses before providing evidence of the required GCSE standard (or equivalent) will not be eligible for financial incentives, such as bursaries or grants until they achieve the required standard.

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

Additional requirements

  • An Enhanced DBS check. You will be sent details of how to apply for your DBS in the summer term. You will need to pay for this.  You may already be part of the DBS update service. Find out about the update service here. As part of the DBS process you will be checked against the Children’s Barred List.
  • A check against the Prohibition List.
  • 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.
  • An online occupational health check. All those on a teacher training programme must be certified as meeting national requirements for physical and mental fitness to teach, as set by the Department for Education.
  • International students: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent

Other information

To help you prepare for your interview you can expect questions covering the following:

  • the subject knowledge required for teaching the subject curriculum in school
  • your ability to critically reflect on your prior experiences in relation to your future development as a teacher
  • your understanding of the UK education system and the wider role of a teacher
  • how you have overcome challenges in your life and shown resilience
  • how you plan to meet the academic and teaching demands of the course.

In addition, we are looking for enthusiasm, commitment, and potential. Clear verbal and written communication skills are integral to this which you will have an opportunity to demonstrate throughout the interview.

  • School experience is desirable, but not essential.
  • Interviews will be conducted online. Applicants will be contacted directly with more details.

All applications for PGCE should be made via the Government's Find Postgraduate Teacher Training website.

Additional useful information is available on the Government's Get Into Teaching website.

Course content

What will you study

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 at the University of Worcester:

English, biology, chemistry, physics, design technology (food), religious education.

Find out about the bursary.

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 of how pupils learn.

Specialist Subject Opportunities
  • Engage in two practical drama workshops
  • Opportunity to engage with the subject association (National Association of Teachers of English), receive a bespoke workshop and free resources.
  • Visit an educational bookshop to explore up to date reading resources for 11 to 18-year-olds.
  • Receive academic lectures on one Shakespeare play and staging craft at Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
  • Observe the teaching of English in a SEND setting and an EAL department.

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
  • Learn the expectations, standards and behaviours which are appropriate to the profession and the wider responsibilities of a teacher.
  • Be informed by the research and evidence about effective teaching at a general level before applying this knowledge to subject-specific approaches.
  • Develop adaptive teaching strategies to respond to the unique needs in a range of contexts, leveraging the diversity inherent in schools.

Enhancement Activities
  • Gain expertise through one of our unique Enhancement Activities: PSHE and Citizenship, Careers Education, Education in Climate Emergency, Teenage Mental Health, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Technology Enhanced Learning.  In addition, we also offer an Aspiring Leaders programme.

Your career
  • Become a reflective self-evaluating practitioner.
  • Enjoy great employment prospects; our support takes you from trainee to ECT (Early Career Teacher) and beyond
  • Prepare for leadership and your Masters with 60 credits and a strong research foundation.

"Leaders have ensured that the curriculum is carefully and deliberately constructed around subject and phase. Expert subject tutors have constructed a highly ambitious curriculum which is rich and suitably broad in its content."

Ofsted 2023

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.


Teaching and assessment

How will you be taught?

A male teacher is talking animatedly to a class

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

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.

Bronwen Duggan smiling at camera

Bronwen Duggan

Bronwen is the subject lead for PGCE Secondary English. She spent 22 years in secondary education, before moving to a career in ITTE. During her time working across three schools, she held various roles including Head of English, whole-school literacy lead and professional mentor for ECTs and trainee teachers. Alongside her responsibilities in school, Bronwen was an examiner for AQA and WJEC.

She joined the university in 2019 and is now subject lead. Having already established herself in the team, her focus is on strengthening consultation and partnership with mentors in placement schools and growing the English cluster group to share best practice. She is also responsible for whole school literacy training across the secondary PGCE.

As part of her wider role in education, Bronwen also has responsibilities in co-planning and delivering the professional studies programme with a focus on behaviour. She is the link tutor for the Prince Henry South Worcestershire SCITT and a visiting fellow for Prince Henry’s Ambition teaching hub, working with new teachers and their mentors on the early career framework.

Bronwen is currently working on her dissertation for her MA in Education, investigating the motivation behind post -16 students’ A level subject choices.

Louise Beattie

Louise Beattie currently works in the Partnership Team on the Secondary PGCE course and is EAL Lead.

She joined Worcester University as a senior lecturer in 2013 and became English Subject Lead in 2017. She previously worked in schools in the West Midlands, culminating in the role of Head of English before moving to a Local Authority position as Secondary English Advisor for 11 years.

In recent years, she has focused on developing her writing for publication. She has co-authored two books with a primary colleague and contributed chapters to a book on subject mentoring. She recently published an article in Social Learning Relationships in Primary Schools. She is a fellow of the HEA.

Anita Iddon

Anita Iddon

Anita Iddon English Anita is a member of the PGCE Secondary English tutor team. She is an experienced English teacher who has enjoyed teaching for 34 years working in a variety of roles across two schools in Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire.

She has substantial experience working as a Lead English teacher, Head of English and an Advanced Skills teacher for Worcestershire affording the opportunity to liaise closely with many schools. Her most rewarding role for a number of years was that of ITT subject mentor; leading to her joining the Secondary Team as an associate lecturer in 2017 and then appointed as a permanent part-time PGCE English tutor in 2019.

Careers

Where could it take you?

  • 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
Two students are walking next to each other and smiling

Careers and Employability

Our Graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a wide variety of employment sectors.

Find out how we can support you to achieve your potential
A female teacher training student in a classroom working on placement as part of her degree to get into teaching.

PGCE Alumni Scholarship

If you are a University of Worcester graduate starting a full-time PGCE in September 2024 then you may be eligible for a £500 Cash Scholarship.

See our scholarships page for more details.
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 enrolling on a PGCE in the academic year 2024/25 will be £9,250 per year.*

* Please note that for EU students training as Physics or Languages teachers and in receipt of the UK government bursary/relocation package the fee is £17,400 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on a PGCE in the academic year 2024/25 will be £17,400 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.

Some 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, trips, 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. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Hall' at £131 per week to 'En-suite Premium' at £221 per week (2024/25 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.
How to apply

How do you apply?

Apply now

Applications for PGCE courses should be made online through the government's Find Postgraduate Teacher Training website.

Visit the Get Into Teaching website for detailed information on how to apply for a PGCE.

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

Course code - QXXX

Make an application

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

Bronwen Duggan

PGCE English lead
b.duggan@worc.ac.uk
01905 542083

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