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PGCE Secondary Geography

  • Year of entry
    2023/24
  • Course duration
    Full Time: 10 months
  • Year of entry
    2023/24
  • Course duration
    Full Time: 10 months

Develop your teaching skills with the PGCE Secondary Education with Geography, qualify as a Secondary Geography teacher and benefit from our consistently high employment rates on this highly regarded course at the Institute of Education.

This Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary Geography course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach the 11-18 age group in secondary schools in England and Wales.

Your tutors are a diverse and incredibly experienced community of academics. You will be taught by those with national reputations as experts in the field of geography in education.

You will examine a range of pedagogical approaches to geography teaching – physical, human and environmental. You will experience using GIS software and will have opportunities to conduct and reflect upon fieldwork. 

Our course has links with the Geographical Association, the Geological Society, the Ordnance Survey and the Royal Geographical Society, who all provide guest speakers to our sessions, in addition to local Heads of Department, teachers and school mentors.

One focus of the programme is fieldwork and we undertake a residential trip to Nettlecombe Court FSC in Somerset, to allow students to reflect on how to facilitate high quality learning outside of the classroom.

We pride ourselves on cutting-edge geography and ensure that we maintain up-to-date knowledge of technology in teaching, such as ArcGIS and Digimaps. This software is used on the course and is then applied in lessons in schools.

Teaching is through a series of seminars and workshops in a well-resourced campus environment as well as in the field. Interactive and discussion-based techniques will encourage you to engage, reflect and challenge. Your learning may include:

  • participating in workshop style sessions with your peers
  • attending presentations by subject experts
  • working on tasks in groups
  • having individual tutorials
  • visits to schools or other education settings
  • visits to theatres, museums, galleries or sites of educational interest
  • writing assignments on aspects of subject teaching and Professional Studies.

These learning activities will help you to develop a toolkit of knowledge and skills, ensuring you are well prepared to tackle challenges and opportunities throughout your training and your career.

Alongside the University tutors, you will be taught and guided by a team of committed and experienced University-trained school mentors.

Climate and sustainability education

At the University of Reading we believe that climate and sustainability education is everyone’s responsibility. This is why we have set out our vision that all initial teacher trainees should be able to access training that empowers them to effectively incorporate climate education within their teaching across all levels and subjects as part of our National Climate Education Action Plan. Across all of our ITT programmes at the Institute of Education, you will learn about:
  • what is happening to our climate, how to help children learn about climate and sustainability in an age-appropriate and accessible way, and how to develop your own positioning as a teacher
  • climate justice, the impact of current and future changes to our environment and climate on ourselves and others and implications for teachers
  • how to translate knowledge and theory into change and personal action through building climate and sustainability education into your planning, teaching, and children’s learning.

Visit Partnering for the Planet to find out more about the University of Reading’s world-leading work in climate science.

Placements

Placements enable you to develop the skills and knowledge valued and desired by employers - you will build your confidence in the classroom and gain practical teaching experience. Placements also provide you with the opportunity to connect with potential employers and build your professional network.

At Secondary level we have strong relationships with around 90 schools in the local and surrounding area. It is a testament to the strength of these partnerships and the regard with which our graduates are held, that most schools in Berkshire employ at least one graduate of the Institute of Education.

On your Secondary PGCE course, you are required to carry out three placements in two different age groups — ensuring you receive a broad range of experiences. Two placements must be undertaken in a school setting, but the third can be taken in a different setting, allowing you to sample teaching in an alternative environment.

We offer our students an unusually flexible and broad range of contexts and educational environments - you will have the opportunity to gain experience in special needs schools, Pupil Referral Units, independent schools, museums and charities.

You will have plenty of opportunities throughout your course to apply your developing skills in real settings. In schools, you will be involved in:

  • observation of other teachers
  • planning and teaching small groups and whole classes
  • planning and teaching elements of lessons and whole lessons
  • reflecting on and evaluating your teaching
  • receiving feedback on your teaching
  • gaining experience of the range of responsibilities of classroom teachers.

Research

98% of our research is of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Education).

School Direct

This subject is also available via School Direct as well as the University-based route. Those students following a School Direct route may be studying for a PGCE or QTS only. However, all students come together as a subject group in University sessions.

Those taking the PGCE will spend more time in the University than those taking the QTS-only course. The PGCE will involve writing assignments that are designed to help trainees to plan their teaching effectively and imaginatively, and to evaluate their developing knowledge and skills, particularly in terms of the quality of learning achieved by pupils. Successful completion will result in 60 master's-level credits.

For more information, please visit the Institute of Education website.

Overview

Develop your teaching skills with the PGCE Secondary Education with Geography, qualify as a Secondary Geography teacher and benefit from our consistently high employment rates on this highly regarded course at the Institute of Education.

This Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary Geography course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach the 11-18 age group in secondary schools in England and Wales.

Your tutors are a diverse and incredibly experienced community of academics. You will be taught by those with national reputations as experts in the field of geography in education.

You will examine a range of pedagogical approaches to geography teaching – physical, human and environmental. You will experience using GIS software and will have opportunities to conduct and reflect upon fieldwork. 

Our course has links with the Geographical Association, the Geological Society, the Ordnance Survey and the Royal Geographical Society, who all provide guest speakers to our sessions, in addition to local Heads of Department, teachers and school mentors.

One focus of the programme is fieldwork and we undertake a residential trip to Nettlecombe Court FSC in Somerset, to allow students to reflect on how to facilitate high quality learning outside of the classroom.

We pride ourselves on cutting-edge geography and ensure that we maintain up-to-date knowledge of technology in teaching, such as ArcGIS and Digimaps. This software is used on the course and is then applied in lessons in schools.

Teaching is through a series of seminars and workshops in a well-resourced campus environment as well as in the field. Interactive and discussion-based techniques will encourage you to engage, reflect and challenge. Your learning may include:

  • participating in workshop style sessions with your peers
  • attending presentations by subject experts
  • working on tasks in groups
  • having individual tutorials
  • visits to schools or other education settings
  • visits to theatres, museums, galleries or sites of educational interest
  • writing assignments on aspects of subject teaching and Professional Studies.

These learning activities will help you to develop a toolkit of knowledge and skills, ensuring you are well prepared to tackle challenges and opportunities throughout your training and your career.

Alongside the University tutors, you will be taught and guided by a team of committed and experienced University-trained school mentors.

Climate and sustainability education

At the University of Reading we believe that climate and sustainability education is everyone’s responsibility. This is why we have set out our vision that all initial teacher trainees should be able to access training that empowers them to effectively incorporate climate education within their teaching across all levels and subjects as part of our National Climate Education Action Plan. Across all of our ITT programmes at the Institute of Education, you will learn about:
  • what is happening to our climate, how to help children learn about climate and sustainability in an age-appropriate and accessible way, and how to develop your own positioning as a teacher
  • climate justice, the impact of current and future changes to our environment and climate on ourselves and others and implications for teachers
  • how to translate knowledge and theory into change and personal action through building climate and sustainability education into your planning, teaching, and children’s learning.

Visit Partnering for the Planet to find out more about the University of Reading’s world-leading work in climate science.

Placements

Placements enable you to develop the skills and knowledge valued and desired by employers - you will build your confidence in the classroom and gain practical teaching experience. Placements also provide you with the opportunity to connect with potential employers and build your professional network.

At Secondary level we have strong relationships with around 90 schools in the local and surrounding area. It is a testament to the strength of these partnerships and the regard with which our graduates are held, that most schools in Berkshire employ at least one graduate of the Institute of Education.

On your Secondary PGCE course, you are required to carry out three placements in two different age groups — ensuring you receive a broad range of experiences. Two placements must be undertaken in a school setting, but the third can be taken in a different setting, allowing you to sample teaching in an alternative environment.

We offer our students an unusually flexible and broad range of contexts and educational environments - you will have the opportunity to gain experience in special needs schools, Pupil Referral Units, independent schools, museums and charities.

You will have plenty of opportunities throughout your course to apply your developing skills in real settings. In schools, you will be involved in:

  • observation of other teachers
  • planning and teaching small groups and whole classes
  • planning and teaching elements of lessons and whole lessons
  • reflecting on and evaluating your teaching
  • receiving feedback on your teaching
  • gaining experience of the range of responsibilities of classroom teachers.

Research

98% of our research is of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Education).

School Direct

This subject is also available via School Direct as well as the University-based route. Those students following a School Direct route may be studying for a PGCE or QTS only. However, all students come together as a subject group in University sessions.

Those taking the PGCE will spend more time in the University than those taking the QTS-only course. The PGCE will involve writing assignments that are designed to help trainees to plan their teaching effectively and imaginatively, and to evaluate their developing knowledge and skills, particularly in terms of the quality of learning achieved by pupils. Successful completion will result in 60 master's-level credits.

For more information, please visit the Institute of Education website.

Entry requirements

IELTS Requirements: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent)

Entry requirements: You are normally required to have at least a 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent from a university outside the UK) in a subject that is related to the subject you intend to teach.

You will need to have achieved Grade 4 (or C) or above in GCSE Mathematics and English Language or equivalent qualifications.

As part of the application process for this programme, you will be required to attend an interview.

You will also need to demonstrate competence in Fundamental English and mathematics by the end of the course. This is a new DfE requirement which replaces the QTS skills tests in literacy and numeracy.

If you accept an offer with us you will also be required to successfully complete Occupational Health and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure checks.

Structure

  • Year 1

Sample modules:

  • The reflective teacher
  • Action research

Please note that all modules are subject to change. Please see our modules disclaimer for more information.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250

New international students: £21,350

Tuition fee information

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional Costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Careers

The majority of our graduates go into schools and inspire children to develop into happy confident and well-informed individuals. Other alumni take their educational skills to the worlds of business, culture, art, healthcare, human resources, adult learning and further varied fields.

The support and training we give our students enables them to develop into resilient and creative teachers with the ability to adapt and the transferable skills and strengths they gain are also recognised and desirable in many different areas of employment.

The placement opportunities and careers support we give our students ensures they are attractive to employers; this is qualified by the consistently high employment rates our students enjoy in local and regional schools.

Teaching Training: Secondary Geography

The network of trainee teachers and teachers I met was amazing for sharing ideas and for general support. Moreover, it was really rewarding seeing students I taught during training feedback on how things have clicked for them based on my lessons

Francis Highton
PGCE Secondary Geography Graduate

Want to apply for a PGCE?


For more information, please read our how to apply information.

Teacher training information


Register with us to get:

  • general information about training to become a teacher
  • information about the School Direct and University PGCE programmes
  • details about the structure of our courses
  • entry requirements, deadlines and how to apply
  • invited to an online information/Q&A session.

Visit the news and events page on the Institute of Education website to find out more.

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