PGCE Secondary Science with Physics - PGCE

More about this course

Successfully complete this Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)-accredited PGCE Secondary Science with Physics course to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and become a teacher of science for students up to 14 years old and physics for 15 to 16-year-olds. You may also have the opportunity to teach at the 16 to 18 age range.

At London Met you’ll develop your teaching strategies and pedagogical techniques as well as exploring the fundamentals of how children learn. These study sessions will include collaborative projects and school-based work with other trainees, as well as how to implement teaching and pupil assessment.

Our PGCE course uses its London location to widen your experience of teaching in multicultural urban environments. Through your placements at one of our partnership secondary schools you’ll help develop lesson plans and contribute to the development of pupils’ scientific skills and knowledge. London Met also provides you with the opportunity for post-16-year-old teaching experience where possible.

Our commitment to your development has lead to positive reviews from Ofsted:

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

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.

We place great emphasis on feedback from your peers and colleagues on the placement. You’ll complete a weekly reflection and contribute to discussions online in order to further develop your understanding of the role of a secondary teacher.

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 (MSc) in Physics or related subjects including geology, metallurgy, chemical engineering and forensic science
• a pass in professional skills tests for literacy and numeracy
• a valid Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate and Confirmation of Fitness to Teach (eg a London Metropolitan University Health Check) which you will be advised to apply for after an offer is made
• GCSE English, Mathematics and Science grade C (grade 4) 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.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

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 for 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

"London Metropolitan University not only teaches you 'what teaching is' but it also demonstrates and facilitates a way for you to become a great teacher."
Former trainee from our PGCE Secondary Science with Physics

After the course

Upon successful completion of the course you will achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for teaching science at Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14) and Key Stage 4 (ages 14-16) and your physics specialism at Key Stage 4. London Metropolitan University's trainees have an excellent rate of gaining Qualified Teacher Status and finding teaching positions within six months of graduating. Our trainees have gone on to become physics teachers at schools such as Brentside High School in the London Borough of Ealing.

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 are 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.