Secondary with QTS: Physical Education

The university-based version of this course is now full, however there are still places available in School Direct.

Why study with us?

Physical Education has an important role to play in contemporary society. It provides a means of promoting healthy lifestyles and positive attitudes to exercise to children, both at school and throughout life. It has the potential to develop an appreciation of skilful and creative performances across a wide range of physical activities. It can contribute to the development of problem solving skills and the establishment of self-esteem through the enhancement of physical confidence. Physical activity should be combined with the cognitive processes involved in making decisions and selecting, refining, evaluating and adapting skills and movements. If you share these values and beliefs, teaching physical education can be enormously rewarding.

If you have a genuine desire to teach, a commitment and enthusiasm for working with adolescents and a love of physical education and school sport, we look forward to working with you.

What can this course lead to?

This course can lead to a fulfilling career as a high school physical education teacher. With qualified teacher status built in, you'll be able to apply for a position in secondary school immediately after graduation.

Although most graduates are expected to enter the teaching profession as secondary physical education school teachers, some may consider entering further and higher education establishments to lecture on PE and/or sports related courses. This sometimes requires the acquisition of a qualification at Masters level.

Resources and facilities

We have excellent resources to help you excel in your studies. Off-campus, students have access to our Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment and PebblePad webfolio which can provide easy online access to course information, course materials, relevant web links and an online discussion board.

On campus, we have a well-stocked library and a Learning Gateway, which offers an interactive, flexible space to study. You can also take advantage of Library and Student Services (LiSS), which provides learning resources, equipment, student advice, skills training and study space. We have access to a modern four-badminton-court sports hall, a specialist gymnastics floor area and full-sized, floodlit astroturf pitch.

Entry requirements See course specific entry requirements listed below.

More about levels and credits

Credit and UCAS requirements Credit: 60 credits UCAS code: C66X Selection criteria

• A minimum UK 2:1 honours degree or recognised equivalent qualification that contains a minimum 50% Physical Education or Sports Science is required. All successful applicants must have met this requirement by 31 August 2013.

  If you don’t have an undergraduate degree but do have a Masters or other higher qualification, your application will be considered by our academic tutors on a one-to-one basis.

• GCSE grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics or equivalent qualifications. Strong preference will be given to those who hold these qualifications at the point of application and all successful applicants must have met this requirement by 31 August 2013.

• Successful completion of the QTS skills test in literacy and numeracy by 31 August 2013.

• Representative sporting honours (at county, regional or national level) and recognised Governing Body Awards in a range of National Curriculum activity areas.

• A satisfactory academic (university) reference OR a satisfactory professional reference if more than three years since academic study.

• A broad and balanced physical education, sport or dance background, particularly in activities associated with the National Curriculum for physical education.

• We strongly recommend that you obtain a minimum of five days secondary school experience in a mainstream UK secondary school observing a class in your chosen teaching specialism before applying.

• All candidates must demonstrate professional suitability through interview and must obtain medical and enhanced CRB clearance according to established university procedures.

• During interview the applicant’s relationship between degree study, personal experiences and aspects of the National Curriculum will be explored thoroughly. Applicants will be required to demonstrate their subject knowledge through a peer teaching task, group discussion and complete a written task relating to the National Curriculum for Physical Education, as part of the interview process.

Costs

Click the links below to view information on your study type and residence status. If you are unsure of your status, please see the UKCISA website for more information.

University-based students

Home

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £9,000.

As a full-time UK student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which you only start to pay back when you are earning over £21,000 a year if you're from England or £15,795 if you're from Scotland. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan (up to £5,500) and a maintenance grant (up to £3,354). For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.

Teaching Agency bursary

The Teaching Agency awards training bursaries based on subject and the classification of your first degree. For this course, you may be eligible for:

• £9,000 if you have a first class degree
• £4,000 if you have a 2.1

If you have exceptional subject knowledge from another career or postgraduate study (ie PhD or Masters), you may be eligible for a higher bursary than your degree classification would otherwise allow. Find out more about the TA discretionary bursary.

More financial support

Access to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several support funds available to our current students, including:

• Access to Learning Fund
• Utilities trust

EU

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £9,000.

As a full-time EU student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which you only start to pay back when you are earning over £21,000 a year (or the equivalent in your country). For more information about student loans, visit our student finance page.

Teaching Agency bursary

The Teaching Agency awards training bursaries based on subject and the classification of your first degree. For this course, you may be eligible for:

• £9,000 if you have a first class degree
• £4,000 if you have a 2.1

If you have exceptional subject knowledge from another career or postgraduate study (ie PhD or Masters), you may be eligible for a higher bursary than your degree classification would otherwise allow. Find out more about the TA discretionary bursary.

International

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year is £10,800.

Fees are billed annually and may be paid by the student or a sponsor. 75 percent of the annual tuition fees must be paid before or at registration. For students requiring a Tier 4 Student Visa, a deposit of £3,500 is expected as a minimum before a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) will be issued. For more information, visit our international student finance page.

Early payment discount

If you are paying your own fees, you may be eligible for an early payment discount of £1,000. This discount is awarded to students who pay in full before registration.

Additional financial support

Our money doctors will be on hand throughout the year to help you manage your money while you’re in the UK. However, if you do happen to run into financial difficulty during your time here, you may be able to access a small emergency support fund.

School Direct students

Salaried

If you have a salaried school direct place, you won't have to pay a penny; your host school will cover your tuition fees in full. You will not be eligible for any additional funding.

School direct salaries are set by the school and should be in line with unqualified teacher pay scales.

Non-salaried

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £9,000.

As a full-time student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which you only start to pay back when you are earning over £21,000 a year if you're from England or £15,795 if you're from Scotland. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan (up to £5,500) and a maintenance grant (up to £3,354) if you're a UK student. For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.

Teaching Agency bursary

The Teaching Agency awards training bursaries based on subject and the classification of your first degree. For this course, you may be eligible for:

• £9,000 if you have a first class degree
• £4,000 if you have a 2.1

You may receive a 25 percent premium on your bursary if your training is based in a school where more than 35 percent of the pupils are eligible for free school meals.

If you have exceptional subject knowledge from another career or postgraduate study (ie PhD or Masters), you may be eligible for a higher bursary than your degree classification would otherwise allow. Find out more about the TA discretionary bursary.

More financial support

Access to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several support funds available to our current students, including:

• Access to Learning Fund
• Utilities trust

Apply now

University-based
Visit the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) to apply online.

School Direct
See the School Direct course list for application links.

Modules

For detailed summary of all course content please read our programme specification for this course.

Course summary

The course is structured to develop the skills required to teach across the spectrum of activities in the National Curriculum for physical education, with trainees acquiring the knowledge, skills, understanding and professional standards necessary to teach pupils within Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and beyond.

Teaching is a diverse, creative and dynamic activity, and this is reflected in the design of the course. A strong foundation of experiential learning in the school environment is complemented by a comprehensive support system of mentoring and guidance. Trainees are encouraged to experiment with a range of teaching styles and strategies and reflect upon their practice in order to achieve high professional standards.

You may bring an expertise or specialism in one curriculum activity area, but you will learn to teach all six activity areas with confidence. We show you how to run practical lessons effectively and how to share your ideas, while maintaining interest and enthusiasm.

This course blends theories about learning with the wide range of skills that a teacher needs. This helps you develop a reflective and analytical view of your work in the sports hall and classroom, which sustains the high levels of progress we expect.

You learn about the physical education curriculum, from the framework provided by the National Curriculum through to the individual lesson plans that teachers use to support learning in their classrooms. Sessions in university support you in finding out how to use ICT effectively in your lessons, how to mark books and assess work, and how the new Key Stage 3 and 4 curriculum is structured.

You will work closely with both your school-based mentors and university tutors. We make sure that you get all the support you need to become an excellent teacher of physical education.