School Direct (PGCE)

About this course

Become a primary or secondary teacher while training in a school from the start of your course on one of our School Direct PGCE programmes. School Direct is a school-based training model with substantial links to the University. You'll spend most of your time in school placements: a major school placement in your ‘home’ school, and a shorter, contrasting placement to develop your skills. You'll also attend training days at the University.

For secondary training, we offer our own School Direct PGCE which is run through Southampton University Partnership Alliance (SUPA). This brings together the expertise of teachers in secondary schools across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire and the academic support of the University.

As a SUPA trainee you'll gain classroom experience by attending a school placement from Monday to Thursday. You’ll spend Fridays at the University, learning from teaching experts.

We also work with other school alliances to offer both training and salaried School Direct PGCEs in primary and secondary education.

All our School Direct lead schools are experienced in initial teacher training (ITT).

The format of placement and University input varies, so please discuss your options with the school alliances.

With all School Direct routes, you'll gain qualified teacher status (QTS), a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) and credits towards a master’s degree.

Careers

Successfully completing this course will give you Qualified Teacher Status in addition to your PGCE award. This means you'll be able to work as a teacher in state-maintained and special schools in England and Wales.

School Direct courses often lead to you working in the school you’ve been training in. We also have high employment rates from all of our PGCE courses.

If you choose to continue your studies, the credits you build up from your master’s-level modules can be put towards a future master’s degree qualification.