PGCE with QTS Secondary English
Applications for 2026/27 can be made through the Department for Education from 7 October 2025.
About
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary English is a one-year course that leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). You'll train to become an English teacher for the secondary age range (11-16). You'll gain 60 academic credits at master's level as part of the course.
Teaching is both a challenging and a rewarding career with a high level of job satisfaction. It is a great privilege, as well as a great responsibility, to play such a key role in young people's lives. We focus on supporting our trainees to thrive, and we do this alongside teachers and mentors in school. We also facilitate you to collaborate with your peers, and to graduate with a ready-made, supportive professional network.
All our courses are future-facing and underpinned by a strong values base. Our provision directly addresses education for sustainable futures. We equip you to be able to work thoughtfully, creatively and successfully with your learners. At UWE Bristol, we're committed to training reflective, innovative, and adaptable teachers for the future.
This course may be eligible for a Government bursary. For funding options, please see the Government's scholarships and bursaries page.
As time spent on campus is limited, many students choose to commute from further afield.
Find out why you should train to teach with us.
Studying a PGCE at UWE Bristol
PGCE students talk about the support they have received from the PGCE programme at UWE Bristol. This is the first of three talks. Find out more.
Entry
Typical offers
Entry requirements
- An undergraduate Honours degree with a 2:2 or above, or an equivalent qualification, in a related subject.
- GCSE grade C/4 or above in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
Candidates with substantial and relevant professional experience with a degree in any subject (and GCSE English and Maths) would be considered on an individual basis.
Personal Statement
We are looking for candidates who can explain why you want to be a teacher and specifically why you want to study to teach your chosen subject. This is your chance to highlight your skills, knowledge, experiences, and passion for teaching. As part of your application we ask for a personal statement with detailed responses to the following questions:
- Why do you want to study for the PGCE at this point? How will this help you realise your career aspirations? What inspires you about the wider context of education, e.g. challenges you've seen in education, importance of teachers in supporting young people?
- How do your interests align with the UWE PGCE programme? This could include your personal interests, subject knowledge, interest in supporting diverse learners or addressing inequalities, amongst other things.
- What academic and subject expertise do you possess that make you suitable to teach your subject? In relation to your chosen subject, you could elaborate here on your understanding of the current national curriculum in England, or how any relevant work or other experiences is relevant. You could also use examples from your qualifications, such as your degree, degree modules, A Levels or higher degrees.
- What further skills and qualities could you bring to the PGCE and to a school community?
The personal statement forms part of your application, and will be used to decide whether you are shortlisted for an interview. Failing to provide and/or failing to address the specific questions posed will lead to delays in your application being considered.
Work Experience
Whilst work experience is not a requirement we recommend that you get experience of working with or volunteering with children to help prepare you the placement-based learning involved in this course.
Selection process
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online Teams interview. Your interview will include a short task so please make sure that you read your interview invitation in order to be able to prepare.
Additional requirements
- Health checks - for Fitness to Teach.
- A clear Enhanced DBS Disclosure including check of children's barred list.
- Satisfactory references including one from latest employer and/or latest role involving working with children.
- Verification of identity and right to work in the UK.
- Check for sanction, restriction or prohibition on teaching issued by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) (if in teaching role).
- Overseas Criminal Record check, if you've lived, studied or worked overseas for five months or more in the last five years.
The university will also check that candidates are not:
- subject to a prohibition order issued by the Secretary of State
- disqualified from childcare or have obtained a childcare disqualification waiver from Ofsted.
Read more about professional checks.
Deferred places
We accept deferred places.
English Language Requirement
All International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 7.0 with 6.5 in each component or approved equivalent. For more information please see our English language requirements.
How to apply
You'll apply using the GOV.UK online application system.
For further information
- Email: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333
Structure
Content
On this course, you'll be encouraged to investigate how you can help young people to learn. You'll analyse the dynamics of what happens when students talk together about an issue that concerns them and how they use talk to advance their own thinking. Furthermore, you'll investigate strategies to scaffold this happening in your classroom. How best to monitor and assess the learning that takes place and identify targets to support your students' development will be important areas for discussion.
You'll be asked to read and to understand, analyse and evaluate a wide range of texts.
To develop expertise in your specialist subject area you'll:
- build your subject knowledge of literature and drama from the UK and across the globe
- read and discuss both influential and cutting-edge research to develop criticality
- experience and practise a range of effective and empowering pedagogies
- take part in workshops with expert teachers, academics, and practitioners across the field of English and Drama.
You'll be encouraged to develop your own subject knowledge for teaching supported by experienced university tutors with many years' classroom experience. We focus on principled practice, deep and rigorous subject knowledge, and purposeful playfulness.
You'll be supported to create an inclusive, energetic, exciting classroom environment targeting a diverse range of students.
You'll study the following modules:
- Curriculum, Pedagogy and Practice (Secondary)
- Becoming a Transformational Teacher (Secondary)
- Professional Practice A (QTS)
- Professional Practice B (QTS).
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
The PGCE courses are part of a broad range of specialist education provision in the School of Education and Childhood at UWE Bristol.
You'll be supported in school by a mentor, who liaises closely with your UWE Bristol tutor. You'll work with close support and encouragement to develop your understanding and skills, set targets, and evidence your progress. We'll challenge you to evaluate and improve throughout your course, and we'll help you to celebrate your achievements.
The PGCE course is designed so that your experiences on placement are complemented by university-based learning. You'll learn through lectures, seminars, directed tasks, school-based experiences, intensive training and practice opportunities, independent study, online learning and collaboration, subject-specific practical work, assessment tasks, reflection and debate. Research-informed practice underpins the course.
Throughout the course you'll be supported by your tutors, external specialists, and expert colleagues in early years settings and schools to apply your knowledge and understanding in school to equip you to meet the Teachers' Standards, to teach and assess in the Secondary English (11-16).
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Assessment
Assessment is based on professionally focused assignments and the final block school experience.
To gain the award of PGCE, you need to pass each academic assessment as well as pass classroom practice against the standards specified by the Secretary of State for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Learn more about assessments.
Fees
Full time course
Supplementary fee information
The PGCE is financed as an undergraduate course. More information on fees can be found on our tuition fees pages.
For funding options, please see the Government's scholarships and bursaries page.
Features
Placements
As a trainee teacher, you'll complete 120 days in school placement practice blocks in at least two different schools, plus further focused teaching experiences. You'll practise as a subject specialist teacher for the secondary age range (11-16), and gain experience of the 16-18 age range.
The schools and settings within our Initial Teacher Training partnership are geographically diverse, with placements in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and Wales. We work hard to match placements to trainee teacher needs, experience and locations.
At UWE Bristol, we'll support you to become an authentic, effective, thoughtful teacher. Towards the end of your course, your progress review will enable your entry to the teaching profession and your ongoing development as an Early Career Teacher (ECT).
Study facilities
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Education and Teaching facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Careers
Careers / Further study
PGCE courses include 60 credits assessed at master's level.
As a trainee teacher, you'll be joining a modern and well-regarded programme to train to teach across the 11-16 age range and gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Life
Postgraduate support
Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
