Taught course

PGCE Secondary Modern Languages

Institution
London Metropolitan University · School of Social Professions
Qualifications
PGCE

Entry requirements

Along with the University's standard entry requirements, you will be required to have:

You will be required to have:

  • a UK degree, preferably grade 2.2 or equivalent, in the language you want to teach. If you do not have a degree in that language but hold an alternative degree at the required level, then you should be a native speaker. You should also ideally have spent a significant amount of time in a country where the foreign language you intend to teach is spoken.
  • literacy and numeracy tests — these are university-based tests, which you will be asked to undertake at your interview
  • 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 and Mathematics grade C (grade 4) or above (or equivalent)*

If you hold a third class degree, you may still be considered, particularly if this qualification is supported by a completed Master's degree or relevant work experience.

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.

*If you need to take an equivalency test for any of the required GCSEs, once you've received an offer from London Met please sign up for the BCU equivalence tests, which are the only approved ones to work entirely online. They are only available to teacher training offer-holders, so cannot be taken prior to application.
BCU offer all three GCSE equivalencies. An individual applicant who is holding an offer at an ITE provider will pay a one-off admin fee of £25, irrespective of the number of equivalencies needed. You'll then pay a fee of £75 for Maths, £75 for Science and £90 for English. This will give you access to four areas of learning, which can be engaged with through repeat sessions (the same areas but with different examples that give you a chance to revisit before taking the test). You'll then have the opportunity to take two tests, a first attempt and one resit.

Professional requirements

Before you can be permitted to enrol to this course:

  • 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.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Why study this course?

Train to teach Modern Languages to 11 to 16-year-olds with London Metropolitan University and begin your fulfilling career in secondary schools. You’ll learn the principles of effective Modern Languages teaching and how to develop school children's love of the foreign word. Your placements at our partnership schools will back up what you have learnt with hands-on practical experience.

Attendees of our Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)-accredited PGCE Secondary courses attain high results, with 95% achieving an Ofsted good or outstanding grade by the end of the course.

More about this course

This Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)-accredited PGCE Secondary Modern Languages course leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and prepares you to teach 11 to 16-year-olds (Key Stages 3 and 4) in a secondary school environment. It also gives you the opportunity to teach the 16-18 age range.

The modern languages included are French, Spanish and German, and you will be developing pupils’ skills in speaking, reading, listening and writing the language they choose to learn.

At the University, you’ll study teaching methodology, pupil assessment and how children learn. There will also be collaborative and school-based projects with other trainees.

Based in London, this PGCE course will broaden your understanding of teaching in multicultural urban environments. Through your two school placements, you’ll learn how to help 11-16-year-olds develop their foreign languages effectively and fluently.

This commitment to high standards has led to positive reviews from Ofsted:

"Headteachers are particularly complimentary about the fact that the trainees and Newly Qualified Teachers are well prepared to meet the specific challenges of teaching pupils in the London environment."
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 throughout 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.

You'll share feedback with your peers and colleagues on the placement, completing weekly reflections and contributing to online discussions in order to further develop your understanding of the secondary teacher role.

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)

Information for international students

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.

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Fees and funding

UK students
International students

.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • PGCE
    full time
    12 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

Applicants with little or no French may be advised to take a six-month, TDA-sponsored French Extension course. Applicants with French but no second teaching language can apply for a place on a German Extension Course, if sucessful; you can search for providers of such courses on the TDA website.

Course contact details

Name
Course Enquiries
Email
courseenquiries@londonmet.ac.uk
Phone
+44 (0)20 7133 4202