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What makes PGCE - Secondary - History at Worcester special?

Age phase: 11-16 with post-16 enhancement

Encourage curiosity in the next generation by teaching young people to ask the right questions and develop their understanding of the world around them. Delve into the captivating stories of the past with the beautiful backdrop of Worcester - a city steeped in valuable history, best known for its central role in the English Civil War.

The PGCE Secondary History course is an innovative and evidence-based course that encourages teachers to explore a diverse history through an engaging and inspiring programme. The curriculum ensures that you will develop the professional qualities and attributes of a passionate and innovative teacher of History. Our staff have extensive experience as specialist history teachers, providing you with a strong foundation for a long and successful career in teaching. Leading institutions in historical preservation and education will complement your learning, including access to bespoke training to help expand your subject knowledge and critically reflect on our nation’s history.

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

  • Helps you develop your own vision about the nature and purpose of a history education
  • Helps you develop your own understanding of how to effectively teach history in secondary schools
  • Helps you know how to arouse pupils curiosity about the past and encourage them to care about the people who inhabited it
  • Helps you develop the skills to be a thoughtful and self-reflective classroom practitioner
  • Equips you with the knowledge and skills to have a long, enjoyable and 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

"Leaders across the secondary phase have established a truly high-quality provision. From subject tutors to subject mentors, everyone has an unequivocal understanding of their role in helping to develop trainees."

Ofsted 2023

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Please consult individual subject specialism pages for full details of entry requirements, but most specialisms ask for:

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. 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 Secondary 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

Course content

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

  • University based subject teaching sessions to equip you with the most up to date, research informed guidance about how to effectively teach history in secondary schools.
  • Individual sessions to focus on how to teach the ‘key concepts’ of history, providing you with practical and engaging ways to help pupils develop a more sophisticated understanding of the nature of history.
  • You will also be fully prepared to teach the National Curriculum at Key Stage 3, GCSE and A-Level History.
  • In school, you will have the opportunity to put many of these ideas into practice, teach across the age and ability range and receive high quality feedback from your subject mentor.

Specialist Subject Opportunities

  • Learn to consider innovative ways to make history memorable and exciting in the classroom.
  • Develop your skills in understanding how to enhance pupils’ learning in the historical environment through a range of opportunities to work with local heritage organisations.
  • Benefit from a one-day course with the Centre for Holocaust Education, sharing the most up to date, research-informed training for teaching effectively about the Holocaust
  • Links to subject associations

Pedagogy

  • Understand and apply theory and research about how children learn – most university teaching sessions will model or demonstrate classroom practice currently used in school.
  • Deepen your understanding of subject specific pedagogy by engaging with literature, much of which is written by practicing history teachers and university tutors.
  • In school, learn by initially observing and then practising the skills of teaching in a safe and supportive environment. Benefit from opportunities to share and learn from your fellow trainee teachers.

Professional Studies

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

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.

The History PGCE programme at Worcester is a masterclass of overcoming your fears. It was one of the most exciting, daunting but enjoyable years of my life

Padraig Reade, PGCE Secondary graduate

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

Teaching and assessment

Re-enactment of English Civil War scene

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.

Rachael moore

Rachael Moore

Rachael is the PGCE secondary subject lead for history. She spent over 17 years in secondary education, before moving into a career in ITTE. Her experience includes teaching history since 2002 in a comprehensive secondary school in which she worked as a subject mentor for PGCE history trainees, professional mentor and helped run a successful ‘Schools Direct’ partnership at her school.

Rachael was a subject leader for History with another ITTE provider from 2014-2018 and an associate lecturer in history education at the University of Bristol.  Rachael is currently working on a masters module in Holocaust education with UCL

Careers

Careers

  • 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

Here are just a few of our alumni who have moved their career on:

  • Head of Year - Amena Iqbal
  • Head of Humanities - Natalie Jones
  • Head of Year – Kieran Walker
  • Head of History – Kelly McElroy
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

Fees and funding

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 'Chestnut Halls' at £131 per week to 'Oak Halls' at £221 per week (2024/25 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.

How to apply