PGCE Secondary History with QTS

Entry requirements

Degree

You will normally have a minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification. Your degree needs to support the subject knowledge requirements of the National Curriculum for History. For exceptional candidates, particularly those with substantial relevant work experience in schools or relevant occupations, we will consider applications from those who hold a 3rd class degree.

GCSEs
You will also need GCSEs at grade C/4 or above in English Language and Mathematics. However, applicants are able to apply with GCSEs pending for this course as we can offer MMU GCSE Equivalency tests. .

We do not accept the following qualifications as equivalent to GCSE: Adult numeracy and literacy, Functional Skills or Key Skills

Experience in educational settings

Successful candidates will demonstrate a good understanding of teaching and learning within a secondary school setting.

Candidates may wish to evidence their understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools or other learning settings.

Professional skills tests in Numeracy and Literacy

All PGCE applicants will need to pass pre-entry Professional Skills Tests in Numeracy and Literacy. We recommend you check the Department of Education website at www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching for the latest updates

A Disclosure and Barring Service Check and DfE Fitness to Teach test are also required.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach across the History secondary school curriculum.

You’ll explore inclusive ways to teach history, and develop your ability to teach different historical concepts such as causation, interpretation, change and continuity.

Some of the key topics you’ll consider include how to use sources, the importance of the medium of language when teaching history, differentiation in the history classroom, and gender and ethnicity in the teaching and learning of history.

You’ll typically have a series of guest lectures, by speakers from The National Archives and Historic England to local teachers, to help you explore ways to teach History.

You’ll also go on trips to history museums in the local area, as well as a history tour of Manchester. These activities give you the opportunity to focus on the preparations teachers do before a class trip, and the experience your students will gain outside of the classroom.

When you’re at Manchester Met, you’ll mainly study with your PGCE History group. You’ll consider how to plan lessons, reflect on your planning, learn how research can develop your teaching practice, and look at ways to develop your teacher persona. You’ll also learn through peer-collaboration, sharing knowledge with your fellow history trainees.

You won’t simply explore ways to teach your class about World War One or migration and the British Empire. You’ll spend at least 120 days on placements in schools, gradually increasing your involvement to become the class teacher.

This course is available via University led and School Direct routes.

We also offer an Assessment-Only route to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) aimed at experienced, but unqualified graduate teachers, wishing to complete a formal qualification.

Fees and funding

For further information on potential sources of funding for postgraduate students, visit www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate

Qualification and course duration

PGCE(QTS)