Postgraduate Certificate in Education: Secondary Science with Biology

PGCE

Full-Time

This course is available in Clearing, call us on 0845 271 3333 for more information

Course overview

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is a one-year full-time qualification that will prepare you to be a subject-specialist science secondary-school teacher working with pupils aged 11 to 16 and beyond.

This course will develop your theoretical and practical understanding of secondary education and its contemporary issues, and will enable you to meet current professional standards as a practising teacher for this course. 60 of the 120 credits will be at Masters degree level.

Throughout your studies you will explore the different ways in which pupils and young people learn, and how you can support this process. You will examine the importance of professional values as well as classroom organisation and management. Key themes will include working with parents and other professionals, creativity, equality, inclusion and ICT.

In particular, this course will focus on developing the pedagogical understanding and professional knowledge you need to teach your specialist subject (biology) to 11-16-year-olds, and will include practical tasks and activities that can be completed with pupils.

We will provide you with opportunities to reflect on strategies for learning, and teaching, and to develop your subject knowledge, as well as consider national policies and initiatives.

Primarily concerned with meeting the professional standards required by the appropriate bodies, this course is also about supporting you in developing the abilities and confidence to become an inspired, and inspiring teacher.

Module guide

Core modules
  • Initial School Experience

    This module will focus on the development of professional practice skills: planning, preparation, delivery and evaluation in a practical context, with the support of an experienced mentor. It provides an initial experience of teaching and learning in a secondary school environment. You will have the opportunity to observe, shadow and interact with a range of professionals.

  • Qualifying School Experience

    Here, you will develop your confidence and competence to lead learning and meet the professional standards to achieve Qualified Teacher Status. You will also be prepared for your induction year as a newly qualified teacher.

  • Theories, Themes and Issues in Education

    This module will focus on your professional development as determined by your Personal Development Plan (PDP) and integrates theory and practice through delivery in professional settings. You will explore theories and principles of teaching and learning, the derivation and design of the curriculum and the role of schools and education within the wider community.

  • Knowledge and Pedagogy

    You will be taught how to organise, synthesise and disaggregate your subject knowledge to provide access, progress and assessment for the benefit of the children and young people with whom you will work. You will have an opportunity to develop a philosophy for teaching your subject discretely and in a cross-curricular context.

  • Curriculum and Pedagogy

    This module will enable you to apply and evaluate your subject pedagogy, focusing on the practical aspects of your subject. It reconceptualises topics covered in Knowledge and Pedagogy, with an emphasis on developing the delivery of subject knowledge or skills. You will consider the role of your subject in enhancing the capacity of children and young people to learn.

Assessment

You will be assessed on your practical teaching ability through a series of formal observations during the year. These are carried out by your placement schools and are moderated by Anglia Ruskin tutors. Academic assignments enable you to develop your own subject knowledge and to become familiar with the literature and research around teaching your subject. In addition, you will keep a professional development portfolio to provide evidence that you have met the standards for qualifying to teach.

Hours of study

This is a full-time, intensive course, involving private study, research and full-day school placements (possibly also involving evening commitments at school).

Facilities

We have a select number of specialist rooms including: 1 dedicated Science Laboratory; 2 dedicated Art Rooms; 1 room equipped for Design and Technology; 2 collaborative ICT Learning Suites; and a fully-resourced gym.

Study abroad options

Optional four week placement in France for non-language trainees to develop Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) methodology.

Special features

You will undertake two school placements, where you will be supported by a supervisor from our University as well as a school-based mentor. Additionally, you will complete an alternative placement in an appropriate educational setting. You will spend some time in a primary school in order to appreciate teaching and learning prior to beginning secondary education.

Professional recognition

On completion of the course, we recommend you for Qualified Teacher Status. This is then confirmed by the General Teaching Council for England. Provided all elements of the course have been successfully achieved, you'll be awarded Qualified Teacher Status to teach Secondary students from the ages of 11 to 16.

Work placements

You'll undertake two school placements, where you'll be supported by a supervisor from Anglia Ruskin and a school-based mentor. Additionally, you'll complete an alternative placement in an appropriate educational setting. You'll also spend some time in a primary school in order to appreciate teaching and learning prior to secondary education.

You'll be advised of your school experience placement as soon as possible after the start of the academic year. Our Partnership Office will contact you for details of your term-time address before the start of the course. Every endeavour will be made to find a school placement within a reasonable distance of where you live. You should, however, be prepared to travel up to 35 miles where necessary. Your journey may take up to 1½ hours.

Associated careers

After graduation, you will ideally be equipped to enter the teaching profession as a secondary school biology teacher.
Entry requirements
Honours degree 2:2 or equivalent with at least half in the subject to be studied (significant work experience will be considered).
GCSE English and Maths C grade or above.

Non-academic conditions
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Check, Occupational Health clearance and General Teaching Council (GTC) Suitability clearance.

Please note
Our university will accept the GCSE Equivalency Testing in English and Mathematics from www.equivalencytesting.com. However, candidates are advised to contact Anglia Ruskin if they have any queries before undertaking an equivalency test or submitting their application to seek verification.


Expectations

You will need to be very clear about why you want to become a teacher, the skills involved and what you can bring to the profession in the personal statement and at interview. We expect you to have thoroughly researched the role of the secondary school teacher and it's recommended that you visit a school department for your subject area before applying.

Booked holiday arrangements

Anglia Ruskin will not permit teacher training students to take holidays outside the identified holiday dates. You're advised to cancel previously arranged holidays.

Short listing

Short listing is where your application is assessed to ensure your qualifications meet our entry requirements and your personal statement is relevant. From this assessment a judgement is reached on suitability to be interviewed. Non attendance at an arranged interview, without prior explanation, may result in your application being withdrawn.

Interviews

If your application is shortlisted you will be invited to attend an interview at our University. This interview will comprise of a talk about the course, a written assessment, a subject specific task, a group task, an individual presentation (to the interview panel) and an individual interview. The interview is a crucial part of the application process and it is important to attend, if you choose not to attend an interview it is essential to inform us as this will allow another suitable candidate to be interviewed.

You will be expected to bring your original educational certificates and also identification documentation in order for an enhanced level Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) disclosure to be progressed.

International applicants

Given the sensitive nature of the role of the teacher, and the vital importance of personality and character within the profession, all international candidates will be required to attend an interview in the UK (at Chelmsford), in the same way that EU candidates are. It must be understood that an invitation to attend an interview is not an automatic guarantee of a place on the course.

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check

An enhanced level Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure is a check with police forces and local authorities in the UK to ascertain whether or not you're suitable to work with certain groups of vulnerable people. These checks are required to be carried out on all prospective students to ensure the safety of our client group.
  • A CRB disclosure check will only be sent for processing to the Bureau if you're offered a place which you firmly accept.
  • CRB disclosure checks are only valid for 6 months. For this reason your CRB disclosure check will be processed 2 months before the start of the course. If your interview is within 2 months of the start date of the course, then your CRB disclosure check will be sent for processing 5 days after your offer has been made.
  • You'll be requested to bring a completed CRB application form with you to your interview, together with supporting documentation and payment fees for this check.

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

We welcome applications from International and EU students. Please select one of the links below for English language and country-specific entry requirement information.

How to apply

Location

Duration

1 year

Teaching times*

This is a full-time,
intensive course involving private study, research and full-day school placements (possibly also involving evening commitments at school).

Available starts

September

Student finance

Open Day

Saturday 13 July
Postgraduate Open Day

Faculty

Health, Social Care & Education

Department

Education

Contact us

UK and EU applicants:International applicants:

 

*Teaching days and times are for guidance only and are subject to change each academic year. We advise all applicants to wait until they are in receipt of their timetable before making arrangements around their course times.

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