Secondary Mathematics – PGCE

There’s currently a shortage of maths teachers in the UK. This shortage means that newly qualified mathematics teachers tend to find it easier to secure their first job.

Maths is so crucial to every aspect of life that there’s a very fulfilling challenge in helping people gain confidence in the subject.

Mathematics is a priority subject, so you may even be eligible for a tax-free bursary.

What you achieve on this PGCE course
This course enables you to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). It equips you to teach National Curriculum mathematics at Key Stages 3 and 4 and prepares you for higher level Key Stage 5 and post-16 teaching.

During the course you

• deepen your subject knowledge and skills• learn to use relevant literature, research and educational theories relating to teaching mathematics and the wider curriculum
• build your confidence and enthusiasm to become a successful teacher of pupils at all levels of ability
• develop a wide range of interactive and engaging teaching strategies
• develop your classroom management and behaviour management skills
• use a variety of techniques for monitoring pupils' progress
• learn about the wider role of teachers in school
• learn about the way schools and the education system function
• apply your skills and knowledge in a school context
• develop your evaluation and critical reflection skills
• meet the QTS standards for teaching

Teaching placements
With our PGCE you complete two contrasting placements in 11–16, 11–18 or post-16 settings. This allows you to experience the full progression from Key Stages 3 to 5. In total you spend around 120 days on placement.

While on placement you benefit from excellent support and mentoring from a university-trained mentor. We have placement links with over 600 schools and other institutions, and a third of our students end up being offered teaching jobs where they did a placement.

Subject knowledge enhancement
We also offer a two year route into teaching mathematics through our subject knowledge enhancement course which will boost your specialist subject knowledge and develop your confidence before proceeding to the PGCE.

Schools Direct
Through the Sheffield Teaching School Alliance, you can train to teach in a Sheffield school, gain a PGCE from Sheffield Hallam and also be guaranteed a teaching post for the following year in a Sheffield school.

This offer is available for a September 2012 start as part of the new School Direct pathway into teaching.

For more information visit www.shu.ac.uk/schooldirect