PGCE Secondary Mathematics - PGCE

More about this course

Our Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)-accredited PGCE School Direct Secondary Mathematics course trains you to teach mathematics to 11 to 16-year-olds and leads to Qualified Teacher Status for Key Stages 3 and 4. You'll also have opportunities to develop your A-Level teaching.

Drawing on current debates in mathematics, we'll introduce you to a range of interactive teaching styles including computer presentations and group work. This will help you raise pupil standards and participation in mathematics. If you need help improving your own mathematics knowledge, you can attend our short Subject Knowledge Enhancement course.

The London location of your placement schools will introduce you to teaching in diverse and multicultural urban environments. You’ll discover how these children learn and the techniques you can use to develop their mathematics skills.

As Ofsted notes, the high quality of our training has enabled attendees of the course to secure work as teachers across London:

"Headteachers are particularly complimentary about the fact that the trainees and Newly Qualified Teachers are well prepared to meet the specific challenges of teaching pupils in the context of London schools."
Ofsted, 2015

To help you in your application, Department of Education (DfE) bursaries are available for this course and vary according to the standard of your first degree.

Assessment

Your assessment will consist of four elements:

• School placement A
• School placement B, where your teaching ability will be assessed in relation to the standard for Qualified Teacher Status
• a Professional Practice Portfolio which is compiled across the year, detailing personal experiences and reflections on your development as a teacher, largely in relation to your practical teaching experience
• the Educational Research Assignment, which allows you to explore an educational issue

There are no examinations.

You'll share feedback with your colleagues on the course, completing a weekly reflection and contribution to online discussions that will further develop your understanding of the secondary teacher role.

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

• minimum of a 2.2 UK degree or master’s (MA/MSc)
• Professional Skills Tests in Literacy and Numeracy
• a valid Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate and Confirmation of Fitness to Teach (eg a London Metropolitan University Health Check) - you will be advised to apply for these after an offer is made
• GCSE English and Mathematics grade C (grade 4 from 2017) or above (or equivalent, see Equivalency Testing or A Star Teachers)

We do make conditional offers (with strict deadlines) so it is important that you include all pending qualifications in your UCAS application.

The University will assess any overseas qualifications for equivalence using a number of resources including our own internal guidelines, the UK National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) and the Overseas Degree Table.

We highly recommend the one-to-one tailored advice on eligibility and equivalency offered by the Department for Education Get Into Teaching service.

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.

Professional requirements

Before you can be permitted to enrol to this course:

• you must take and pass the Professional skills tests as required by the Department of Education - if you have not already passed these tests this will be made a condition of your offer with a strict deadline for completion (in practice London Met would prefer these results are confirmed before offering an interview)
• you must not already hold QTS or be qualified to teach in another EU/EEA country

Prior to the interview for this course, London Met recommends:

• you have a minimum of 10 working days recent experience in a school
• you are prepared for your understanding of current teaching practice and issues in schools to be assessed
• you have an awareness of multiculturalism and other contexts unique to urban schools
• you're aware you may be invited to interview based on information given in your application

Some offers may recommend further school experience if required.

Due to statutory requirements, we are not able to offer sponsorship under the Tier 4 visa route for this course. We will be happy to consider those falling into this category for an alternative suitable course on request. EU nationals may be considered for admission, as well as overseas nationals who already hold an alternative visa in a suitable category or have been granted permission to remain in the UK indefinitely, but please note that an additional international enhanced police check will be required.

Modular structure

What our students say

“Choosing to complete my teacher training at London Met was the best career decision I ever made. Studying in the heart of London while being surrounded by a diverse body of staff and students was exactly the preparation I needed for teaching at inner-London secondary schools. London Met’s commitment to tackling the challenging issues surrounding modern urban education was, I believe, a key factor in my rapid progression to the position of head of department after just four years of teaching.

Having gained a unique insight into the value of teacher education throughout my undergraduate studies, I then embarked on a master’s in Education, again with London Met. After successfully completing this, I am now in my eighth year in the profession and currently considering application for a Doctorate in Education.”
Rosie Walsh, former PGCE Secondary Mathematics student

After the course

This compact PGCE leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which enables you to teach mathematics to 11 to 16-year-olds. Our trainees have gone on to secure mathematics teacher roles at schools including Langdon Academy, Islamia Girls School and Stoke Newington School & Sixth Form.

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.

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.

When to apply

The UCAS application schedule provides guidance on when to apply.

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

To find out more, see our information on the process of applying for teacher training courses.