PGCE Secondary Modern Languages

Course Overview

If you are looking for a career where you can inspire, motivate and make a difference to the lives of young people, teaching is for you.

At UEA, we don’t believe in a prescribed method of teaching. Instead, we will support you in exploring a range of pedagogical approaches and strategies, so that you can meet the needs of pupils and develop your own style of teaching.

As you'll be learning from a variety of experts from our extensive partnership (more than 80 schools), you’ll need to be open minded, trying a range of different methods and finding out what works for you and your pupils.

With a gradual progression in solo teaching hours, our PGCE programme is carefully sequenced to allow you to succeed in the classroom and become a reflective practitioner, whilst supporting you in making learning Modern Languages an engaging, challenging yet fully inclusive experience for pupils.

At UEA, you'll be studying a course developed with our partner, the University of Worcester, that Ofsted rated “Outstanding” in 2023. Our one-year, full-time Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary Modern Languages programme will equip you with the skills, experience and knowledge you need to teach languages to pupils aged 11 to 16, with Sixth Form enhancement. This gives you the opportunity to develop post-16 teaching skills if this is something you are interested in.

Upon successful completion of your PGCE, you'll graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and 90 Master’s credits. QTS will qualify you to teach children up to 18 years old.

Our PGCE Master’s programme closely interweaves school (minimum 120 days) and university-based training to provide a solid foundation for the rest of your career. As well as providing a structured introduction to the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching, our partnership curriculum will provide you with the opportunity to research and evaluate the latest research in teaching practice, helping you understand the optimum ways pupils learn.

By the end of the course, you'll evolve your own style of teaching, not only to meet the differing needs of pupils but so that it matches your personality. You'll be supported by your Subject Lead in starting your career in a school that works for you.

This is an exciting time to become a language teacher. As the curriculum changes, new pedagogical approaches emerge. You'll learn more than just how to teach – you'll be joining the discussion and influencing the subject’s purpose and scope.

Through both first-hand experience in school and our taught modules, you'll learn about the ways in which pupils engage with languages and what you can do to support and encourage their learning.

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

Typical International Entry Requirements

Degree classification

UK Bachelors degree - 2:2 or above preferred, or it's equivalent*

*Please note: It is at the discretion of the individual Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making their application.

Degree Subject

Languages or related subject

Additional Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to have achieved a good honours degree (preferably class 2:2 and above) or its equivalent* by the beginning of the PGCE programme in September. Applicants with a third class degree will be considered on an individual basis. As a general guideline, approximately 50 per cent of the degree should be relevant to the subject you will teach.

Native speakers with a non-language based degree are encouraged to make enquiries regarding eligibility for entry to the course. In addition to high-level language skills, applicants should have a good knowledge of the countries and cultures where the language(s) offered are spoken.

The main languages currently required by schools are French, German and Spanish. It is important that you are able to offer one of these languages, to be able to teach to A-level where possible but definitely to Key Stage 4/GCSE, and another to at least Key Stage 3, as being able to offer two mainstream languages greatly increases employability.

Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses available, please see here for further details: Subject Knowledge Enhancement.

PRE-APPLICATION CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE

From February 2018, applicants are not required to have gained any prior experience within a school.

Although not a requirement, time spent in a school could help you to gain valuable insight into the role of a teacher, how teaching and learning takes place within the classroom, and help you to decide whether teaching is the right profession for you. It is recommended, that where possible, you gain some school experience prior to application.

It would be most useful if experience could be gained across the Secondary age range in your chosen subject area.

If you are able to gain classroom experience prior to submitting your application there are a number of ways in which this can be achieved:

Contact Your Local School:

Try contacting local schools where you live to see if you are able to arrange a time to observe some lessons, or register with the DfE School Experience Programme to help book school experience through their online portal.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM, KEY CONTACTS AND USEFUL LINKS

Applications are considered on an individual basis and being able to demonstrate a strong level of knowledge about the National Curriculum and current issues affecting teaching is advantageous. These educational links will provide you with some useful points of contact to help to get you started.

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK (DBS)

Disclosure of Criminal Background for Those with Access to Children
All applicants for the PGCE course will be required to obtain an Enhanced Criminal Records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The enhanced disclosure will be used to assess suitability for the programme and information provided may be discussed with the external members of the School's Safeguarding Sub-Committees. Candidates are responsible for payment of the DBS fee. General information about this process can be obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service Website. As part of the DBS process, you will be checked against the Children's Barred List and Prohibition list. If you have lived overseas for a continuous period of 6 months or more during the last five years, a Certificate of Good Conduct will be required. The UEA Student Disclosure Service will contact you prior to the start of the course with more information on completing the DBS check.

SATISFACTORY HEALTH CHECK

You will need to demonstrate your fitness to teach by completing an Occupational Health Assessment. This will give us information about any special needs you may have, and enable us to assess whether the University and placement areas will be able to provide support. It is therefore, in your interest to provide full answers to the questions.

English and Mathematics

Before making your application you must have a GCSE pass at Grade 4 (formerly C) or its equivalent* in English Language or English Literature and Mathematics regardless of your date of birth.

*Please note: It is at the discretion of the individual Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making their application.

We are able to consider GCSE equivalency tests taken via equivalencytesting.com only, with grades of A*-C or 4-9.

Qualifications not listed? Contact the PGCE Admissions Office for advice by email: edu.pgce.admiss@uea.ac.uk.

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components)

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

 If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.

Interviews

Interview required; please be aware that we cannot guarantee that all candidates who apply will be shortlisted for interview. Interviews will usually be conducted in person. Online interviews will be offered to applicants overseas.

Placements

You’ll gain experience working in two different schools whilst on placement. Our school partnership extends across East Anglia, so we’ll consider your home address when deciding on your placement schools. We take great care in deciding where to place you, considering your individual circumstances and ensuring excellent training opportunities, such as contrasting placements. You'll be able to explore different approaches while finding out what works for you.

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.

Employability

Example of careers that you could enter include:

• Teacher
• Curriculum Leader
• Head of Year/Phase
• Deputy headteacher
• Headteacher
• Tutor
• Maths Subject Lead
• UK and overseas teaching opportunities

Discover more on our Careers webpages.