PGCE with QTS Secondary History (School-based)
Please note that new student recruitment to this course has been suspended for the April 2023 intake. Applications for 2024 should be made through DfE Apply from October 2023.
Page last updated 7 February 2023
Introduction
Our PGCE courses enable graduates to train and qualify as teachers while studying. Study your chosen course over one year full-time or two years part-time.
UWE Bristol is committed to training the best teachers for the future, able to provide first-class educational experiences and make a significant difference to children's lives. We'll train you to do so in partnership with your schools or educational settings.
Teaching is a challenging, exciting and rewarding career, with a high level of job satisfaction. It's a great privilege, as well as a great responsibility, to be able to influence and shape the progress of children and young people. All children deserve to learn well, with enthusiastic specialist teachers.
To undertake the course, you must be in a role, or secure a role, in a school. This will enable you to undertake the required teaching practice specified by the Department for Education (DfE), which must be agreed by UWE Bristol before starting the course.
Your teaching practice will need to include some time spent in an alternative placement school, ensuring you'll gain a variety of teaching experience. The schools involved will need to support your engagement with and progression through the course.
The Secondary Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a course that trains graduates to be secondary school teachers of history. The PGCE Secondary programme has been designed to train teachers to practise as a subject specialist teacher for the secondary age range (11-16). Trainees are assessed against the standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) across the age range. Trainees will also often gain experience of the 16-18 age range, although they won't be formally assessed in this phase.
Do you believe that studying History is central to the broad and balanced education of any young person? We do too, and we're looking for people with a passion for the subject and are keen to share their knowledge in a lively and engaging manner. The course is active and practical, allowing trainees to develop their professional competence through learning and work undertaken in schools. Trainees work with young people, develop their expertise in their specialist subject area, share and discuss educational issues and study relevant educational research. The course will kickstart your continual professional development throughout a challenging and rewarding career.
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.Structure
Content
The PGCE courses are part of the School of Education and Childhood, within the Initial Teacher Education cluster.
Our PGCE programmes are very popular, so the standard of applicants is high. As a trainee teacher, you'll usually complete at least 120 days on placement practice in a minimum of two contrasting schools. During this time, you'll be expected to demonstrate effective progress in your own practice and have a positive impact on pupil progress over time.
The modules you'll study are:
- Learners and Teachers A and B
- Curriculum Studies A and B
- Practice A and B.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to government policy changes and 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 to succeed in their careers. 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 designed so your experience on placement is supported by learning. Seminars, lectures and placement-based learning equip you to meet the Teachers' Standards, enabling you to teach and assess in your chosen phase and/or subject.
Hear what our students think about their time at UWE Bristol.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Personal support
We recognise that embarking on a new course of study can sometimes be challenging. You'll be allocated a personal tutor from your phase who will support you throughout the course. You can also access support on a range of issues, from a Student Adviser or other university support services.
Assessment
This course prepares you for a career as a teacher and leads to recommendation for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) on successful completion.
You'll have assessments, tasks and assignments and the final block school experience. All modules are compulsory, and you must pass all modules to gain the award of PGCE.
You'll be assessed through various assignments and classroom practice against the standards specified by the Secretary of State for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Your final assessment will be marked against the DfE Teachers' Standards.
See our assessment pages for more information.
Features
Placements
Professional Practice
You'll complete two school-based placements that you'll need to organise before starting the course. You may be already employed by a school as a Teaching Assistant or Support Member of staff.
Trainee teachers are supported in schools by their Class Mentor (Primary) or Subject Mentor (Secondary), who is their day-to-day contact and supporter in school during placement.
Study facilities
Get a feel for the Education and Teaching facilities we have on offer here from wherever you are.
Life
Careers
Careers / Further study
PGCE courses include 60 credits assessed at master's level, which you can use to contribute towards a master's degree.
As a trainee teacher, you'll be joining a modern and well-regarded course to train to teach across your chosen age range and gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Fees
Full-time (School based) - April 2023 Entry
Full-time (School based) - April 2024 Entry
Part-time (School based) - April 2023 Entry
Part-time (School based) - April 2024 Entry
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 funding for PGCE students.
Entry
Entry requirements
- An undergraduate degree, or a recognised equivalent qualification. This is typically 2:2 or higher.
- At least 50% of your degree should be in a subject related to what you want to teach, however we may be able to consider other personal, professional or educational experience as evidence of subject knowledge. In these instances, if your application is successful, you may be required to boost your subject knowledge with a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course before starting your PGCE. (Deadlines apply.)
- GCSE grade C/4 or above in English and Mathematics, or equivalent. We do not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificates in Adult Numeracy and Literacy as alternatives to GCSEs.
We will look at all applications against the demands of the course. If you have any questions about our entry requirements, please contact our Admissions team and we can discuss your application.
Our PGCE courses include a high level of placement-based learning and working with children. We would encourage all applicants to get as much relevant experience of working or volunteering with children to help prepare them for this crucial element of their course.
Selection process
Applicants who meet the entry criteria will be invited to an interview, including tasks as appropriate.
Additional requirements
All applicants will be required to complete:
- 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)
- Criminal records checks overseas. 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 even if you are a UK applicant or currently based in the UK.
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.
All information will be treated in confidence.
Standards and requirements
Following the review of Standards and Requirements for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) by the Secretary of State in 2012 (revised in June 2013), our PGCE courses have been designed to be compliant with the latest standards and requirements.
Deferrals
It is not usual practice to accept deferrals for PGCE programmes. However, we appreciate there may be extenuating circumstances to consider and therefore Programme Leaders will consider requests on a case-by-case basis.
English Language Requirement
All International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 6.0 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
Due to a high level of placement based learning and working with children, all applicants should have an effective command of the English language and be able to use it appropriately, accurately and fluently in a school setting. International and EU students will be required to produce a certificate evidencing the necessary IELTS or approved equivalent*.
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section.
Potential exemptions:
If you are a national of one of the following English-speaking countries, you will not be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency. Exempt countries are: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States.
How to apply
Please see the Department for Education pages for guidance on how to apply.
For further information
- Email: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333