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The Institute of Education is a high-quality teacher training facility with extensive support, pastoral care, and excellent employment rates for graduates. We are ranked 9th in the UK for Education in the Guardian University Guide 2024.
Our distinctive Secondary PGCE courses are all planned and delivered in collaboration with partner schools, other child-based settings and the local community.
Watch the secondary presentation, delivered by Programme Director Will Bailey-Watson, to find out how you can become a qualified secondary school teacher.
An experienced community of academics will teach you. You’ll benefit from the breadth of their expertise and their understanding of educating and influencing policy. Some of your tutors have national or international reputations as experts in their fields, and their research directly informs the work on the course.
You'll learn through a series of lectures, practical seminars and workshops, where interactive and discussion-based techniques will encourage you to engage, reflect and challenge.
Alongside the University tutors, you will be taught and guided by a team of committed and experienced University-trained school mentors.
"Strong partnerships, mutual trust, thorough knowledge of trainees and a sophisticated blend of subject and pedagogical research, all characterise this exceptionally well-designed training programme”
- Ofsted Inspection Report, May 2024
“Studying at the Institute of Education was a privilege and allowed me to become the teacher that I am today. I do not think I would have found anywhere else where so many people were willing to invest in me and my career.”
- PGCE Secondary Student
At the Institute of Education, we have created an open, inclusive environment that promotes a sense of wellbeing and belonging. We pride ourselves in creating and nurturing a community where students are recognised and valued as individuals.
You will enjoy high levels of personal attention and strong support throughout your studies, training you to become a confident, resilient, creative and ambitious teacher.
Your tutors are on hand to offer regular guidance and support, ensuring any potential issues are addressed as early as possible.
Our relationship with you continues beyond your training and graduation. We recognise the demands placed on our new Early Career Teachers and continue to support you throughout the transition.
On a Secondary PGCE course, you are required to carry out two placements in two different age groups - ensuring you receive a broad range of experiences. We have strong relationships with around 90 schools in the local and surrounding area.
We offer our students a flexible and broad range of settings and educational environments. We make every effort to ensure you will be in placement schools that are local to you, accessible and which meet your learning needs.
Please view the individual PGCE course pages for more information on placements and course content
If you are considering applying to become a teacher, please read our Have you considered training to teach? leaflet.
Look at this leaflet for advice on planning your application and preparing for an interview on one of our primary or secondary postgraduate teaching programmes.
Application support
For support with your application to our postgraduate teaching programmes, contact the University of Reading Admissions Team at teachertraining@reading.ac.uk.
Apply for teacher training is the Gov.uk service where you apply for postgraduate teacher training.
You can apply for up to four teaching programmes in your application.
Visit the Department for Education (DfE) Get into Teaching website for more information on ways to train.
You can also apply for a place directly through our school partners.
We may make completing a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course a condition of your offer.
The tutor who interviews you will discuss this with you at your interview, and it is most likely to be recommended in the following situations:
a) you completed your degree a long time ago, and we think you would benefit from a refresher of the key information.
b) you have a related degree, but we think you need to strengthen specific areas of your subject knowledge before starting the course.
For more information, please visit the Gov.uk website for Subject Knowledge Enhancement.
“I was pretty unsure about making the leap to teaching after years working in the financial sector, but meeting the subject leader for Maths at an open evening held by the University really helped me with my choice."
Our teaching programmes are delivered in collaboration with our partner schools. Learn more about the schools you could be working with.
Are you already an experienced teacher?
Do you wish to gain QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) or EYTS (Early Years Teacher Status)? Without additional training, the Assessment Only route could be your perfect choice.