PGCE Secondary
Share your learning by teaching others.
Structure and Content
The PGCE is a school-based professional training programme. You are prepared for teaching in partnership with schools that are formally linked to St Mary's. This partnership provides an excellent framework within which you have the opportunity to develop your skills.
You will be allocated two school placements during the 36-week course. In total, you will spend 25 weeks in school. You are required to accept the placement in partner schools organised for you by college.
In line with the University College Mission Statement, the programme seeks to prepare teachers for both religious and secular schools at home and abroad with special provision for those intending to teach in Roman Catholic and other Christian schools.
The PGCE aims to produce teachers of the highest quality. This quality is achieved when you match the commitment and dedication of teachers and tutors throughout the programme.
School-Based Work
You will begin your course with observation in schools: some time is spent in a primary school and some in a secondary school.
A programme is then followed which focuses on the chosen specialised subject from early years to A Level. Our course will enable you to experience classrooms at Key Stages 3 and 4 and also at post-16, though formal assessment is normally only for two of these phases.
Our partnership schools offer a rich and experienced training programme for our trainees. We work with partner schools throughout London and south-east England. During your placements, you will be guided from working with small groups of pupils alongside a subject teacher towards full class responsibility.
Opportunities are provided over a range of pupil ages and abilities. An experienced teacher acts as mentor during the school placement and contributes to your overall assessment as a new teacher.
St Mary's-Based Work
The content of St Mary's-based work aims to equip you with an understanding of how pupils learn. The subject-specific sessions cover such fundamentals as teaching methods, lesson preparation, monitoring and assessing pupils' work and classroom management.
A variety of methods and approaches are considered. You are encouraged to follow up taught sessions through your practical work in schools. You must be prepared to take an active part in group work and presentations, and to carry out preparatory and follow-up work outside of daytime attendance hours.
