Drop in to one of our dedicated Open Evenings where our staff will be on hand so you can find out all you need to know about our PGCE courses including how the course is structured, entry requirements, skills tests, bursaries and funding and student loans. Dates are 10th November, 8th December 2017, 9th February, 9th March, 20th April, 15th June 2018 but drop in as soon as you can as our courses fill up quickly. 

The PGCE is an intensive programme, which combines an exploration of principles and methods of teaching and learning with practical school-based teaching placements. It lasts for 36 weeks from early September to late June.

The Secondary programme prepares you to work with pupils aged 11-16. At the heart of our programmes is a vision that our student teachers’ teaching will impact positively on pupil progress over time in schools and that our Partnership activities with schools will contribute to school improvement. We aspire for all our students to be outstanding teachers.

The PGCE Secondary courses are structured around three modules, which share a generic General Professional Education (GPE) component. The GPE programme involves an enquiry based learning approach, which combines taught sessions with independent professional learning activities (PLAs). These PLAs require independent research, which is either school-related or school-based. The three PGCE modules are:

1. Education Studies I

This module covers the following GPE themes:

• Professionalism, values and reflective practice;
• Safeguarding, child protection and e-safety;
• Understanding curriculum and the National Curriculum;
• Supporting learners, learning and effective behaviour management;
• Inclusive education, with a specific focus on supporting pupils with SEND and SEBD;
• Effective planning and teaching to promote pupil progress;
• Assessment and its role in promoting effective learning.

You will also focus on teaching and learning issues of particular concern to your phase or subject specialism.

2. Education Studies II

This module covers the following GPE themes:

• Applying for your first post;
• Understanding data analysis to support effective teaching and learning;
• Behaviour for learning and the wider professional responsibilities of the subject teacher;
• Inclusive education, with a specific focus on supporting pupils with English as an Additional Language, pupils receiving the Pupil Premium and able pupils;
• Safeguarding with a focus on the Prevent and Channel national strategy and bullying and homophobic bullying.

You will also continue to focus on teaching and learning issues of particular concern to your phase or subject specialism.

3. Education Studies III

This module focuses specifically on supporting student teachers to make an effective transition into their first post and examines the following themes in GPE:

• Preparing for induction and the professional learning action plan for your first post;
• Pathways into leadership in education;
• Learning outside the classroom;
• Contributing to the wider aspects of the formal and informal curriculum and your wider professional role as a teacher.

Subject Specific Course Content

The Science with Physics PGCE programme at Brunel aims to facilitate your transformation into a well-educated, confident and motivated science educator. Once qualified, you are likely to teach National Curriculum general science in Key Stage 3, and you may also be required to teach general science to Key Stage 4, as well as teaching physics to A level.

Along with English and mathematics, science is one of the three core subjects of the National Curriculum and since all pupils have to study a broad, balanced curriculum in science there is a demand for well-qualified and skilled physics teachers. Most pupils entering secondary school are excited at the prospect of working in a fully equipped laboratory, and secondary school physics teachers have to build upon and sustain this interest for the subject.

To meet this challenge we need capable, skilled and enthusiastic teachers who are able to motivate young people and lead them to discover the wonders of science.

The Brunel Science with Physics Postgraduate Certificate (PGCE) is an M level course with 60 credits that can contribute to further Master's level study in Education, subject to approval. The course will equip you with the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to teach physics such that you are able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the vital role of the teacher and the school in ensuring excellence in the educational experiences of young people;
• Undertake professional practice which enables you to evidence the Teachers’ Standards which facilitate the award of Qualified Teacher Status;
• Understand the relationships between Education and science within current national and government frameworks, and critically reflect on the impact of these in the work of schools and the educational experiences of young people;
• Recognise the contribution that science as part of the whole school curriculum makes to the development of the individual learner and groups of learners;
• Think critically about what it means to be scientifically educated and how this informs curriculum planning and design within the subject area;
• Apply a thorough knowledge and understanding of the science National Curriculum to the planning of curriculum experiences for pupils in school;
• Demonstrate competence and confidence in your ability to teach across the contexts for pupil learning in the science National Curriculum, applying principles of continuity and progression;
• Use subject knowledge and relevant course specifications to plan and teach the 14-16 curriculum for physics;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the subject knowledge and specification requirements for the 16-19 curriculum for physics;
• Utilise a range of teaching strategies to meet the identified learning needs of a wide range of pupils;
• Utilise a range of resources, including information and communication technology, to enhance pupil learning in science;
• Understand the importance of safe practice and safeguarding and apply these in working with young people both within and beyond science lessons;
• Use a wide range of class management strategies to maximise pupil learning;
• Understand the principles of inclusion and apply these to ensure equality of opportunity for all pupils in science;
• Understand national frameworks for assessment within the subject area and use these to support the recording and analysis of data, and the subsequent use of this to plan the next phase of learning;
• Raise the status of the subject area by demonstrating high standards of professionalism at all times;
• Understand the crucial role of professional learning for the teacher, the pupils and schools.

• A minimum score of 55% - 65% or 2.75/4 - 3.25/4. Offers within the grade range are determined by the higher education institution attended.
• IELTS: 7 (min 6 in all areas)
• Pearson: 64 (51 in all subscores)
• BrunELT: 70% (min 60% in all areas)