Our Physical Education PGCE takes 36 weeks to complete. This school-led course includes a three week induction to prepare you for your placement and weekly sessions to develop your knowledge of the curriculum.
To give you experience in the classroom, youll spend at least 120 days working in two local secondary schools as well as visiting a local primary school. But, dont worry, you wont have the pressure of teaching an entire lesson straight away.
Your training will begin with observing a teacher and helping with group work. Then youll share the classes with the teacher and work towards teaching lessons independently.
Alongside teaching, youll join in with day-to-day life at the school. Each school has a professional mentor to help you understand the ethos, pastoral care systems, legal and social framework, and supporting services.
Youll also have weekly meetings with your subject or class mentor to help you prepare for teaching, review lessons, and develop your subject knowledge.
Teaching
When youre not on placement, well help you reflect on your experiences, exchange ideas and overcome challenges. Youll also:
- Learn in small groups
- Use roleplay to develop your knowledge of the secondary curriculum
- Discuss ideas and challenges you face in group and individual tutorials
- Reflect on your placement experiences
Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your lectures wherever you are.
Assessment
Assessment for your PGCE involves portfolio work, assignments, and observed classroom practice. Well often ask you to reflect on approaches youve used in the classroom and their effectiveness.
Youll also be regularly observed by your school-based mentor and university tutor. Working with your placement schools, well identify areas of professional practice that you find challenging.
Learning support
Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:
- Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
- Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
- Academic writing (including how to reference)
- Research skills
- Critical thinking
- Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)
Additional support
If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Inclusion Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.
Feedback
We know that its important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do. We usually give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.
