PGCE Secondary Physical Education

Benefit from evidence-based teaching, extensive sports resources and equipment, and consistently high employment rates on our well-regarded PGCE Secondary Physical Education.

Please note: Applications for 2024/25 are now closed.

This Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary Physical Education course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach the 11-18 age group in secondary schools in England and Wales.

The programme provides an interesting, stimulating, and challenging learning journey. It is an exciting time to become a PE teacher with the subject increasingly recognised in contributing positively to pupils' personal, social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.

During the course you will see a variety of teaching strategies, hear different opinions and be taught by a collaborative network of teachers. It will be up to you to decide which methods suits you and for you to develop an understanding of your own personal teaching philosophy and pedagogy.

Topics and pedagogy are revisited during the course in a ‘spiral curriculum’ fashion to build on and develop skills as the course progresses.

Enrichment opportunities allow you to learn outside of the classroom, whilst practical sessions allow you to practice teaching PE in micro-teaching sessions, to work on class pedagogy and organisation as well as develop your subject knowledge.

You will be taught by staff with national and international reputations as experts in the field of physical education; these staff are supported by expert practitioners from local schools.

Our excellent teaching facilities, including a sports hall and gymnasium with extensive resources and equipment, will provide the setting for your practical teaching.

Sessions may include:

• interactive workshop sessions

• National Governing Body qualifications

• presentations by subject experts

• working on tasks in groups

• individual tutorials

• visits to schools or other education settings

• writing assignments on aspects of subject teaching and Professional Studies

These learning activities will help you to develop a toolkit of knowledge and skills, ensuring you are well prepared to tackle challenges and opportunities throughout your training and your career.

Alongside the University tutors, you will be taught and guided by a team of committed and experienced University-trained school mentors.

Climate and sustainability education

At the University of Reading we believe that climate and sustainability education is everyone’s responsibility. This is why we have set out our vision that all initial teacher trainees should be able to access training that empowers them to effectively incorporate climate education within their teaching across all levels and subjects as part of our National Climate Education Action Plan.

Across all of our ITT programmes at the Institute of Education, you will learn about:

• what is happening to our climate, how to help children learn about climate and sustainability in an age-appropriate and accessible way, and how to develop your own positioning as a teacher

• climate justice, the impact of current and future changes to our environment and climate on ourselves and others and implications for teachers

• how to translate knowledge and theory into change and personal action through building climate and sustainability education into your planning, teaching, and children’s learning.

Modules

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2024/25. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change. 

Core modules:  

• Shared Implementation Secondary

• Guided Implementation Secondary 

• Independent Implementation Secondary

• The Reflective Teacher

• Investigating Practice

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.
Entry requirements: You are normally required to have at least a 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent from a university outside the UK) in a subject that is related to the subject you intend to teach.

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5

You will need to have achieved Grade 4 (or C) or above in GCSE Mathematics and English Language or equivalent qualifications.

As part of the application process for this programme, you will be required to attend an interview.

You will also need to demonstrate competence in Fundamental English and mathematics by the end of the course. This is a new DfE requirement which replaces the QTS skills tests in literacy and numeracy.

If you accept an offer with us you will also be required to successfully complete Occupational Health and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure checks.