PGCE in Secondary Mathematics with QTS

Course Information

On 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 the North West.

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, behavior management, assessment, curriculum, and professional behaviors. In addition to this, you will examine key themes such as research-informed practice, career-focused 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 analyze 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 stay organized 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 learned at university into practice and build your confidence in the classroom. You will start your placement with a period of induction followed by two 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 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 master's credits (a master's degree is 180 credits), which you could put towards further study and career development.

Year 1

Core units

• Subject Pedagogy
• Secondary Professional Studies
• Professional Development and Employability (Secondary Education)
• Placement a (Secondary PGCE)
• Placement B (Secondary PGCE)

Additional information about this course

• Fitness to teach - you will be required to complete an Occupational Health Assessment to ensure that you are fit to teach before you are able to enrol on the course. This will require the completion of a health questionnaire and in some cases this may require a follow-up occupational health appointment. Travel costs to in person health check appointments (which will be within the Greater Manchester area) will not typically be covered by the University.
• Professional Suitability - Students on programmes leading to professional qualifications are required to adhere to professional standards and codes of practice during their studies. Failure to do so may lead to exclusion from the programme on the grounds of professional unsuitability. Students will be briefed about the requirements at the start of the
• Course specific regulations - Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies require students to achieve results that demonstrate their ability to practise safely.

Placement options

Our partner schools cover a wide geographical area and diversity of social, economic and cultural backgrounds, ranging across inner-city, suburban and rural settings.

We organise placements starting with your term-time postcode and matching this with placement offers from schools. You should be prepared to travel up to 90 minutes (maximum) each way from where you live and to arrive in school at least 45 minutes before the school day commences. We take into consideration special circumstances such as disabilities, cultural requirements and medical conditions.

You’ll have a gradual introduction to teaching, observing, getting to know your pupils, classes and teachers, before teaching the classes on your own.

You’ll go on at least two placements in different secondary schools or colleges. You might experience mixed and single-gender schools, city academies, faith schools, comprehensive and selective schools. This will allow you to develop knowledge, skills and experience to teach your subject at Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, GCSE and also to gain an understanding of A level.

You’ll typically spend at least 120 days on placement in two schools. You will be attached to each school for a substantial period of time and will be expected to engage in the full life of the school as a committed professional.

You’ll be required to pass both teaching experiences and should be aware that you may need to teach beyond the typical end point of the programme if you require additional time in school to meet the programme requirement.

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.

• Full-time 21% lectures, seminars or similar; 67% placement; 12% independent study