Overview

This PGCE course prepares you to teach English in either the 11 to 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.

About The Course

The BGU Secondary English PGCE is run by tutors who relish the opportunity to work with the next generation of English teachers. It will equip you to become an outstanding secondary school teacher. The course is vibrant and participatory and includes taught seminars, active workshops and 1:1 tutorial support. English trainees work in a supportive group, sharing classroom experience and teaching resources, and cascading individual expertise. The course benefits from a close working relationship with Drama PGCE colleagues, enabling expert input into drama within English. Additionally, the course includes outside enrichment such as visits to theatres such as The Globe in London, visits from authors and being involved with national reading and poetry projects.

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 English. 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.

Careers & Further Study

The teaching profession has a well-structured career pathway which moves progressively from initial teacher training through to newly qualified (NQT) status to qualified teacher. Many continue to work in our partner schools, becoming mentors to our trainee teachers, pursing further study to full Masters and Doctoral level at BGU and taking on leadership roles including Headships.