PGCE Secondary English with Drama - PGCE

More about this course

Through this course you'll learn how to work flexibly and creatively in the classroom and drama studio, inspiring pupils with a love of arts and literature and giving them the vital skills to communicate effectively. You’ll learn how to promote high standards of language and literacy, developing a strong command of the spoken and written word. Through the skills you learn on this course, you will enable your pupils to develop their creativity and powers of expression.

This exciting course leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and to the academic PGCE qualification, which is worth up to 60 credits at Master's level. The course benefits hugely from our London location and will broaden your understanding of teaching in diverse and urban environments.

Through study, discussion and teaching you’ll develop an understanding of how children learn and the methods you can use to help them develop effective English and drama skills.

Assessment

Assessment for the University taught components of the course (60 credits) is implemented through a variety of coursework instruments and practical tasks. One assignment involves a portfolio of tasks relating to teaching, whilst the second assignment is a research report. The portfolio assignment includes several opportunities to receive formative feedback from tutors and peers.

These credits are associated with hybrid modules and can thus be awarded at either Level 6 or Level 7. Your work is marked according to one assessment criteria grid, and an overall mark is identified:

(1) Level 7 Distinction
(2) Level 7 Pass
(3) Level 6 Pass

If you gain 60 credits at Level 7 will be awarded the Post Graduate PGCE; others passing both modules but failing to gain 60 Level-7 credits will be awarded the Professional Graduate PGCE.

Assessment of the School Experience modules (60 credits at level 6) is through observation of teaching and professional practice in relation to the professional Teachers’ Standards for QTS.

Professional accreditation

The University does not award Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), but makes a recommendation for the award of QTS, currently to the Department for Education (DfE), when you successfully complete the PGCE including both school experience modules. The rules governing QTS have been set by the government.

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

• a UK degree, preferably grade 2.2 or equivalent, in a relevant subject or with a considerable proportion of the content in the subject
• GCSE English and Mathematics grade C/4 or above (or equivalent)*
• London Met Health Check
• literacy and numeracy tests — these are university-based tests, which you will be asked to undertake at your interview

If you hold a third class degree, you may still be considered, particularly if this qualification is supported by a completed Master's degree or relevant work experience.

If you feel your qualifications are slightly lower than our requirements, contact the Admissions Office for further advice before applying.

We are looking for dynamic, energetic, enthusiastic and caring trainees. As a teacher you will need to be passionate and enthusiastic about your work, as well as the desire to make a real difference to young people's lives and futures.

Ideally, you:

• are able to express your passion for teaching English and Drama
• have visited a local school in order to observe and gain experience of how teaching and learning is organised
• have participated on the School Experience Programme
• can discuss current educational thinking e.g. The Times Educational Supplement.

Trainees are subject to an enhanced DBS check and are required to make a declaration about any criminal convictions.

Please note, we will need to see originals of documents, qualification certificates etc. It is usually possible to order duplicates if these are lost.

*If you need to take an equivalency test for any of the required GCSEs, once you've received an offer from London Met please sign up for the BCU equivalence tests, which are the only approved ones to work entirely online. They are only available to teacher training offer-holders, so cannot be taken prior to application.
BCU offer all three GCSE equivalencies. An individual applicant who is holding an offer at an ITE provider will pay a one-off admin fee of £25, irrespective of the number of equivalencies needed. You'll then pay a fee of £75 for Maths, £75 for Science and £90 for English. This will give you access to four areas of learning, which can be engaged with through repeat sessions (the same areas but with different examples that give you a chance to revisit before taking the test). You'll then have the opportunity to take two tests, a first attempt and one resit.

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Tier 4 student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Modular structure

After the course

Most of our trainees go on to take up roles in schools as Newly Qualified Teachers (NQT) including with many of our partner schools or in their placement schools.

Graduates of our PGCE training courses are spread across the educational world, in many cases reaching positions of leadership including Head teachers and advisors.

Additional costs

Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees.

Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.

Funding

Funding is available for many postgraduate courses leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Depending on your teaching subject and degree classification, you may be eligible for a bursary or scholarship of up to £30,000 through the teacher training bursary.

Top tips for applications

• Ask somebody you trust to check your personal statement, both for accuracy of writing and for focused, relevant content.
• Ensure that your personal statement addresses your reasons for choosing the exact course, phase or subject specialism. Make sure that all potentially relevant experience is referred to in your statement – if you don’t tell us, we won’t know!
• Don’t wait until you have passed all relevant qualifications before applying (but make sure you tell us about them – otherwise, again, we won’t know).
• If your qualifications are from another country, you will have to get a NARIC statement of equivalence.
• Make sure you have read all the relevant course documentation and requirements before applying.
• If in doubt, ask!

When to apply

Please apply as early as possible to maximise your chances of securing a place. The application window opens in early October for courses starting the following September.

Do not wait until you’ve met all the criteria before applying.

If you’re not sure whether you meet the criteria, please do one of the following:

• Contact us to enquire about the eligibility of your qualifications and experience. We’ll be able to let you know whether the Level 2 Maths certificate that you have is accepted for teacher training, or whether your degree is considered relevant to the secondary course you’re applying for.
• Apply early through UCAS and in your personal statement make it clear what steps you propose to take to get the relevant qualifications or experience.

Places are limited by the Teaching Regulation Agency and are offered on a first come, first served basis. We also operate waiting lists for these courses.