PGCE Secondary Physical Education

Benefit from evidence-based teaching, extensive sports resources and equipment, and consistently high employment rates on our well-regarded PGCE Secondary Physical Education.

This Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary Physical Education 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.

The programme provides an interesting, stimulating, and challenging learning journey. It is an exciting time to become a PE teacher with the subject increasingly recognised in contributing positively to pupils' personal, social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.

During the course you will see a variety of teaching strategies, hear different opinions and be taught by a collaborative network of teachers. It will be up to you to decide which methods suits you and for you to develop an understanding of your own personal teaching philosophy and pedagogy.

Topics and pedagogy are revisited during the course in a ‘spiral curriculum’ fashion to build on and develop skills as the course progresses.

Enrichment opportunities allow you to learn outside of the classroom, whilst practical sessions allow you to practice teaching PE in micro-teaching sessions, to work on class pedagogy and organisation as well as develop your subject knowledge.

You will be taught by staff with national and international reputations as experts in the field of physical education; these staff are supported by expert practitioners from local schools.

Our excellent teaching facilities, including a sports hall and gymnasium with extensive resources and equipment, will provide the setting for your practical teaching.

Sessions may include:

• interactive workshop sessions
• National Governing Body qualifications
• presentations by subject experts
• working on tasks in groups
• individual tutorials
• visits to schools or other education settings
• 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

• 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 (Research Excellence Framework 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.