Secondary Art and Design, Postgraduate Taught - PGCE - 2022/23 entry

We see teaching as a form of socially engaged art and design practice, and will enable you to become a highly-skilled graduate practitioner in today's forward-looking education profession.

We believe that Art and Design is a crucial element in the education of all pupils, and will work with you to enable you to become the inspirational teacher required by todays young people.

Our course provides you with the necessary knowledge and understanding for you to transfer your current creative skills to the classroom. It's an innovative, practice-based programme designed to fully support you to become a confident, dynamic and creative teacher committed to making Art and Design accessible for all.

Curriculum workshops are a key element of your course. These are delivered in our specialist facilities by dedicated, full-time Art and Design lecturers and teachers, allowing you to experience a range of practical work in key specialisms such as digital media, 3D construction, printmaking, drawing, ceramics, mixed media, and in working with education departments in leading regional galleries which have included IKON, New Art Gallery Walsall, BMAG and Eastside Projects.

Taught modules, assignments and School-Based Training are structured around the development of your Progress Journal which demonstrates your progress against our ITE Core Curriculum. Our ambitious curriculum incorporates the ITT Core Content Framework (DfE, 2019) and the nationally agreed competences - the Teachers Standards, which all teachers must meet throughout their career. 

The Progress Journal also maps your development as a subject specialist with reference to identified subject priorities appropriate to the needs of secondary teachers entering the profession. A system of continuous review and assessment of progress within the Progress Journal will support your growing ability to take responsibility for your own professional development and ensure that you approach QTS with a sound understanding of research-informed pedagogies and practices. 

DBS

Applicants must meet requirements of being medically fit and successfully completing an enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Learn more.

Bachelor Degree from a recognised university with a minimum grade of 60% / Good / 2.5 / C+

Even though you may have met the stated requirements, if your first language is not English, we may ask you to take an additional English Language Test when you arrive.

Based on the results of the test, you may be required to attend regular English classes to improve your level of competence. English classes are provided free of charge and are available to all non-UK students who wish to attain greater fluency in English.

Enhancing Employability Skills

Ofsted inspections have confirmed that our trainees “leave their courses with a wide range of knowledge and skills that make them highly employable”.

This is an 11-16 years course with post-16 enhancement, which offers a high degree of employability within secondary teaching.

The high demand for Birmingham City University-trained art teachers and our consistently high employability scores mean that trainees who successfully complete the course to a high standard have very good employment prospects.