Secondary Science (Biology) – PGCE

If you would like to share your enthusiasm for the life sciences with others – and you enjoy working with children and young people – then this is the course for you.

Biology is one of the priority subjects which means that you could be eligible for a tax free bursary depending on your degree class.

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

During the course you develop the skills, knowledge and understanding to teach pupils of all abilities by• enhancing your subject knowledge and skills
• learning to use relevant literature, research and educational theories relating to teaching science and the wider curriculum
• building your confidence and enthusiasm to become a successful teacher of pupils at all levels of ability
• developing a wide range of interactive and engaging teaching strategies
• developing your classroom management and behaviour management skills
• using a variety of techniques for monitoring pupils' progress
• learning about the wider role of teachers in school
• learning about the way schools and the education system function
• understanding how to apply your skills and knowledge in a school setting
• developing your evaluation and critical reflection skills
• meeting the QTS standards for teaching

Teaching placements
With our PGCE you complete two placements in 11–16, 11–18 or post-16 settings. This allows you to experience the full progression through at least two key stages. 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 many of our students end up being offered teaching jobs in their placement schools.

Expert academic staff
Our expert science tutors have over 120 years’ teaching experience between them. They have held positions ranging from head of department to assistant head and head of year in a variety of local, national and international schools, where they were responsible for teacher trainees, the induction of NQTs and staff development. They continue to retain close links with many local schools.

Purpose-built school labs
All of our practical sessions take place in purpose-built labs, which replicate the teaching areas typically found in schools.

Your choices on this course
During the course, you’ll be able to choose to complete either the PGCE or the professional graduate certificate in education (ProfGCE). Both qualifications earn you QTS status, but the PGCE also gives you 60 credits towards a masters degree.