PGCE Secondary Religious Education with QTS*

On your PGCE, you’ll have lectures and seminars at Manchester Met and will typically spend a minimum of 120 days on two teaching placements across the North West.

At university, you will mainly study with students in your subject specialism. You’ll learn how to plan and deliver lessons through interactive, hands-on seminars. As part of the Manchester Met curriculum you will explore the fundamental theories of pedagogy, behaviour management, assessment, curriculum and professional behaviours. In addition to this you will examine key themes such as research informed practice, career focussed teacher development, subject and age phase expertise and teaching for the community.

You’ll develop research informed practice during lectures and seminars, where you’ll analyse the latest educational research and theories and use this knowledge in your practice.

In addition to your subject studies, you’ll have time to develop all aspects of your professional practice, as well as your ability to reflect critically on your learning. There is also an emphasis on personal tutoring and employability to ensure that you are well-prepared to become an early career teacher (ECT) after completing the course.

When you first arrive, we’ll give you a full overview of the year to help you to stay organised throughout the course and know what to expect and when.

During your first weeks in university taught sessions, you’ll explore subject pedagogies, professional responsibilities and expectations. You’ll work in groups as well as independently to update your subject knowledge and gain confidence before your first teaching placement.

You will go on your first placement in late September, where you’ll gradually put the skills you’ve learnt at university into practice and build your confidence in the classroom. You will start your placement with a period of induction followed by two intensive training and practice weeks in both university and school where you will develop foundational key skills. You’ll be supported by a subject mentor and progressively take on the responsibility of whole class teaching. This will include planning, teaching and evaluating your lessons, assessing the children’s progress, and contributing to other aspects of a typically busy school life. Your first placement will be followed by time in university before you start your second placement. In this placement, with support and mentoring, you’ll progress to teaching an 80% timetable. During both placements you will develop your subject knowledge and understanding of subject specialist teaching.

While you’re on placement, your subject mentor will support, guide and coach you. You’ll also receive support from your personal tutor at university and a university visiting tutor.

When you graduate, you will gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in your subject, and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and can work at any level in schools and colleges.

You will also be awarded 60 masters credits (a masters degree is 180 credits), which you could put towards further study and career development.

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 curriculum for religious education. For exceptional candidates, particularly those with a higher-level degree or substantial relevant work experience in schools or relevant occupations we will consider applications from those who hold a 3rd class degree.

GCSE
You will also need GCSE at grade C/4 or above in English language and mathematics.

You can apply with GCSEs pending for this course and sit the relevant equivalency tests approved by Manchester Met (see our admissions tutor team for approved equivalency providers).

As per government requirements for teacher training courses, we are not able to accept key skills, adult numeracy and literacy or functional skills as an alternative to GCSE English language and mathematics. We are not able to consider Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A-levels, BTECs) as an alternative to GCSE English language and mathematics.

Successful candidates will demonstrate a good understanding of teaching and learning within a secondary school setting. You may be able to evidence your understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools, other educational settings or wider research and reading.

If you are due to graduate or have graduated within the last three years your principal referee must be a university lecturer from where you graduated.

Other requirements

• Appropriate post-16 qualifications.
• An ability to communicate effectively in spoken and written English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• An informed and realistic understanding of the complexities and challenge of teaching in a secondary school.
• An understanding of how learning develops within an engaging rich and broad context, with recognition of the contribution made by parents and carers.
• Personal qualities and abilities appropriate to becoming an effective teacher, including a strong motivation to teach young students, an ability to express personal views with clarity and conviction, to listen and respond appropriately to the views of others, awareness of, and commitment to, issues relating to equal opportunities and providing all students with an inclusive learning environment.
• An awareness of the importance of safeguarding within educational contexts.
• Intellectual capacity to critically reflect upon experience and personal challenges.
  
  A Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Check and DfE Fitness to Teach occupational health clearance is required before you can enrol on this course.
  
  Overseas
  Overseas candidates should have Cambridge Proficiency in English or IELTS Band 7 with no less than 6.0 in any element, taken within two years of course start date. Further details can be found on mmu.ac.uk/international
  
  Personal Statement
  This plays an important role in the admissions process and successful candidates will demonstrate a good understanding of teaching and learning within a secondary school setting. You may be able to evidence your understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools, other educational settings or wider research and reading.
  
  Interview
  You will be expected to attend an interview as part of the application process. Full details of your interview will be provided by email once your initial application has been approved.