Manchester Metropolitan University
PGCE in Secondary Mathematics with QTS
Manchester, United Kingdom
Postgraduate Certificate
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 21,500 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full-time fee for EU and Non-EU international students
Key Summary
About: The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Secondary Mathematics with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is a one-year programme preparing you to teach mathematics to ages 11–16. You’ll cover numbers, algebra, geometry and data; plan lessons, refresh subject knowledge, address misconceptions and explore strategies for low-attaining learners. You’ll study with your PGCE group and take research-led placements.
Career Outcomes: The programme awards 60 master's level credits and leads to QTS. Most of our graduates go on to work as science teachers in secondary schools. Graduates can also become secondary mathematics teachers, curriculum developers, department leaders or pursue master's in education.
Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach across the secondary school mathematics curriculum for the 11-16 age range.
You’ll learn strategies to help you teach a variety of topics in mathematics classes, including numbers, algebra, geometry, and handling data. You’ll also explore practical activities that you can use in or outside the classroom that encourage students to engage in mastering mathematics.
During the first few weeks of your PGCE, you’ll typically plan short activities, drawing on lesson-based research, and present them to fellow student teachers. This helps you to become comfortable presenting in front of a group and to explore different ways of engaging learners.
When you’re at Manchester Met, you’ll mainly study with your PGCE Mathematics group. You’ll consider how to plan lessons, reflect on your planning, learn how research can develop your teaching practice, and look at ways to develop your teacher persona.
As well as researching methods to teach fractions and discussing the impact misconceptions can have on individuals, you’ll spend time refreshing subject knowledge and considering activities for low-attaining learners.
Features and Benefits
- Employability - You will have the knowledge, skills, and experience to teach mathematics at Key Stage 3, GCSE, and potentially A/AS-level
- Teaching experience - You will spend at least the minimum Department for Education (DfE) required time in schools (approximately 120 days) on placements, gaining experience in mainstream secondary schools
- Postgraduate credits - When you graduate, you’ll achieve 60 master's level credits (this is one-third of a master's degree). You can put these towards a master's degree to help you develop your new career
- Partnerships - We have partnerships with over 500 schools, colleges, and educational organizations, meaning we can provide students with a range of school experiences
- Research-led teaching - Our research center, the Education and Social Research Institute (ESRI), ranks in the UK’s top 10 for research power in education (Research Excellence Framework, 2021)
- Student support - You’ll receive guidance throughout your journey, including academic support from subject tutors and professional mentoring while on placements, helping you develop the skills and knowledge to meet Teachers’ Standards.
Course Information
During your PGCE, you’ll have lectures and seminars at Manchester Met and will typically spend a minimum of 120 days on two teaching placements across Greater Manchester.
At university, you will mainly study with students in your subject specialism. You’ll learn how to plan and deliver lessons through interactive, hands-on seminars. As part of the Manchester Met curriculum you will explore the fundamental theories of pedagogy, behaviour management, assessment, curriculum and professional behaviours. In addition to this you will examine key themes such as research informed practice, career focussed teacher development, subject and age phase expertise and teaching for the community.
You’ll develop research informed practice during lectures and seminars, where you’ll analyse the latest educational research and theories and use this knowledge in your practice.
In addition to your subject studies, you’ll have time to develop all aspects of your professional practice, as well as your ability to reflect critically on your learning. There is also an emphasis on personal tutoring and employability to ensure that you are well-prepared to become an early career teacher (ECT) after completing the course.
When you first arrive, we’ll give you a full overview of the year to help you to stay organised throughout the course and know what to expect and when.
During your first weeks in university taught sessions, you’ll explore subject pedagogies, professional responsibilities and expectations. You’ll work in groups as well as independently to update your subject knowledge and gain confidence before your first teaching placement.
You will go on your first placement in late September, where you’ll gradually put the skills you’ve learnt at university into practice and build your confidence in the classroom. You will start your placement with a period of induction followed by three intensive training and practice weeks in both university and school where you will develop foundational key skills. You’ll be supported by a subject mentor and progressively take on the responsibility of whole class teaching. This will include planning, teaching and evaluating your lessons, assessing the children’s progress, and contributing to other aspects of a typically busy school life. Your first placement will be followed by time in university, including another intensive training and practice week, before you start your second placement. In this placement, with support and mentoring, you’ll progress to teaching an 80% timetable. During both placements you will develop your subject knowledge and understanding of subject specialist teaching.
While you’re on placement, your subject mentor will support, guide and coach you. You’ll also receive support from your personal tutor at university and a university visiting tutor.
When you graduate, you will gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in your subject, and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and can work at any level in schools and colleges.
You will also be awarded 60 masters’ credits (a masters degree is 180 credits), which you could put towards further study and career development.
Core modules
- Subject Pedagogy
- Secondary Professional Studies
- Professional Development and Employability (Secondary Education)
- Placement A (Secondary PGCE)
- Placement B (Secondary PGCE)
Most of our graduates go on to work as science teachers in secondary schools.
The PGCE program provides you with 60 master's level credits when you graduate. You could put these towards a master's degree to help you develop your career in the field of education.
Study
- Full-time 21% lectures, seminars or similar; 67% placement; 12% independent study
Assessment
- Full-time 50% coursework; 50% practical; 0% examination