PGCE Primary with QTS

How do children respond to different teaching methods? Does experience outside of the classroom help children to learn? How does educational research influence and inspire the way you teach six-year-olds?

Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach the primary curriculum. 

You will specialise in either early years and key stage 1 or key stage 1 and key stage 2 and gain experience across the primary key stages so that you are confident in teaching any year group. You will have taught university sessions prior to each of the two placements and will normally spend a minimum of 120 days in schools. 

When you’re at Manchester Met, you’ll learn teaching methods and organisational skills, and how to apply your knowledge in the classroom. Some of the skills you’ll learn include how to plan and teach lessons, assess learning and how to manage children’s behaviour.

You’ll explore creative ways to teach across the curriculum, from subjects such as history and science to English and art. You might, for example, explore how to use drama and role-play to bring history to life. 

We also have specialist teaching spaces for some subjects. For example, we have science laboratories on campus, where you will have taught sessions with our science tutors so that you can develop the knowledge and confidence you’ll need to teach your class. 

On placement you will gradually increase your involvement to become an expert practitioner. You will, with support and mentoring, progress to teaching an 80% timetable in your final school placement. 

On your placements, you will get involved with everything in school, from assemblies to playground duties, to speaking with parents. 

Features And Benefits

• Develop your age phase specialism - 3 to 7 or 5 to 11.  

• Teaching experience - You spend at least 120 days on placements in schools, gaining experience in two different settings. 

• Diverse placements - Varied placement opportunities.   

• Academic and practice-based support - Strong mentor and tutor support for trainees' personal, academic and professional needs. 

• Specialist tutors – Tutors who have subject and phase expertise. 

• Research-led teaching - Our research centre, the Education and Social Research Institute (ESRI), ranks in the UK’s top 10 for research power in education (Research Excellence Framework, 2021). 

• Professional development - Early career teacher support and opportunities for continuing professional development at Manchester Met. 

• Postgraduate credits - When you graduate, you’ll achieve 60 masters’ level credits (this is one-third of a masters degree). You can put these towards a masters degree to help you develop your new career. 

• Application process - You can apply directly to Manchester Met or through one of our lead partner schools.   

Course Information

On your PGCE, you’ll have lectures and seminars at Manchester Met and will typically spend a minimum of 120 days on two teaching placements across the North West.

In university, you will explore key aspects of primary teaching including managing behaviour, planning and assessing learning. You’ll consider approaches to teaching such as: the benefits of learning outside the classroom; practical science experiments and investigations; mathematical problem solving and engaging in experiential learning.  A fundamental part of the course is exploring how theory supports classroom practice.

As part of the Manchester Met curriculum you will explore the fundamental theories of pedagogy, behaviour management, assessment, curriculum and professional behaviours.

In addition to this you will examine key themes such as research informed practice, career focussed teacher development, subject and age phase expertise and teaching for the community.   

You’ll develop research informed practice during lectures and seminars, where you will analyse the latest educational research and theories and use this knowledge in your practice.

When you first arrive, we’ll give you a full overview of the year to help you to stay organised throughout the course and know what to expect and when. 

During your first weeks in university taught sessions, you’ll explore curriculum pedagogies, professional responsibilities and expectations. You’ll work in groups and independently to update your subject knowledge and gain confidence before your first teaching placement. 

You will go on your first placement in late September, where you’ll gradually put the skills you’ve learnt at university into practice and build your confidence in the classroom.

You will start your placement with a period of induction followed by two intensive training and practice weeks in both university and school where you will develop foundational key skills.

You’ll be supported by a class mentor and progressively take on the responsibility of whole class teaching. This will include planning, teaching and evaluating your lessons, assessing the children’s progress, and contributing to other aspects of a typically busy school life.

Your first placement will be followed by time in university before starting your second placement.  In this placement you will, with support and mentoring, progress to teaching an 80% timetable.

When you’re on placement, your class mentor will support, guide and coach you. You will also receive support from your personal tutor at university and a university visiting tutor. 

Additional information about this course

Fitness to teach - you will be required to complete an Occupational Health Assessment to ensure that you are fit to teach before you are able to enrol on the course. This will require the completion of a health questionnaire and in some cases this may require a follow-up occupational health appointment.

Travel costs to in person health check appointments (which will be within the Greater Manchester area) will not typically be covered by the University.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) - You will be required to complete a satisfactory DBS clearance check before you can enrol on this programme.

Professional Suitability - Students on programmes leading to professional qualifications are required to adhere to professional standards and codes of practice during their studies. Failure to do so may lead to exclusion from the programme on the grounds of professional unsuitability. Students will be briefed about the requirements at the start of their studies.

Course specific regulations - Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies require students to achieve results that demonstrate their ability to practise safely.