PGCE Secondary Physical Education with Qualified Teacher Status

Course summary

• Combine practical teaching with academic study to begin your teaching career.

• Develop subject expertise through university and placement-based training.

• Apply theory, research and evidence to develop as a critically reflective practitioner.

• Study inclusive practices to promote positive outcomes for learners.

• Learn from expert colleagues and educational partnerships.

You’ll join our dynamic Sheffield Institute of Education and undertake work-related learning in the community. You'll learn about the key aspects of a teacher’s role – including theories of learning, pedagogy, assessment and behaviour management. As well as your Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Physical Education, you’ll also gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and 60 Masters-level credits.

How you learn

What it's like to study a PGCE course at the Sheffield Hallam University

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.  

We have been rated outstanding by Ofsted across all initial teacher education courses (March 2024). We offer sector leading initial teacher training in early years, primary, secondary and post-16 and we are rated outstanding in all four areas by Ofsted.

Inspectors said that ‘Subject sessions are precise in their focus on the latest pedagogical research. This is connected expertly to classroom practice and the impact on pupils’ and that ‘the university’s work with partner schools is exceptional’.

On this course you’ll develop your professional skills by working with a trained school mentor and other expert colleagues in the school setting, as well as with experienced university tutors. You’ll be introduced to subject-specific pedagogy and skills during university sessions and school-based experience – critically engaging with research and theory. 

Throughout the course you’ll be encouraged to critically reflect on, and apply your theoretical knowledge and understanding in a variety of professional contexts and experiences.  

You learn through: 

• Seminars 

• Directed tasks 

• School-based experiences 

• Collaboration with expert colleagues

• Intensive training and practice opportunities 

• Independent study 

• Online learning and collaboration 

• Subject-specific practical work 

• Assessment tasks  

• Critical reflection

• Classroom debates

• Research-informed practice

Key themes

You are introduced to Physical Education-specific skills through university sessions and school-based work. You’ll consolidate your development – both in university and in schools – by researching appropriate material and accessing wider resources.

The three modules on the course cover key aspects of professional and pedagogical development, as well as your school-based training. Your professional skills will be assessed by a range of strategies – from observation of your teaching to evaluations, reviews, target setting and action plans. 

Your performance in schools will be monitored and reviewed by a trained school mentor and assessed in collaboration with an experienced university tutor. The other modules you study are assessed through formal academic assessment tasks. 

Course support

You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards Qualified Teacher Status through a number of key areas. These include:

• Access to our unique student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development

• Access to our Skills Centre with opportunities for one-to-one support, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments 

• Employability activities specific to early entry into the teaching profession