PGCE Secondary Education Art and Design

During the training year you will engage in Art, Design and Craft education where you will be exposed to a range of pedagogical approaches to enable you to become an outstanding teacher. You will have opportunities to further develop your own subject knowledge across different aspects of the Art and Design National Curriculum such as drawing, printing, photography, painting, textiles, digital technologies and ceramics for example.

The PGCE will provide you the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of key stage 3, 4 and 5 and will prepare you to adopt a range of assessment and behavioural strategies to support pupil progress. Art and Design subject knowledge days are based at Francis Close Hall campus in a purpose-built Art classroom.

You’ll be supported by a range of experienced professionals, both during school placements and by academic staff at the university. The programme aims to help you become an engaging and effective teacher within the 11–16 age range, and provides the input and opportunities that could enable you to teach post-16. Successfully completing this PGCE course will enable you to teach at Secondary age, as well as Primary and A Level.

Study Style

You’ll spend a minimum of 24 weeks in at least 2 schools, returning to central provision throughout the year for professional development and subject training. During the training year, you will engage in professional study and knowledge days where you will work with colleagues across the different subject areas to share good practice.

Employment rates have been consistently high for our graduates and we offer you the opportunity to undertake Master’s-level modules to gain Master’s credits. These can be used subsequently to take your career to the next level. If you pass all elements of the course at Master’s level, the award title will carry 60 master’s credits and qualified teacher status (QTS).

The course is assessed via summative written assignments, school placements and your individual portfolio which records progress in relation to the QTS standards. All elements must be completed satisfactorily.

There are a wide range of placements available which have been arranged with key considerations in mind: experience of different age-ranges and schools, accessibility/travel time, previous experience and so on. The tuition and school placements are organised in blocks throughout the year. The normal working week is approximately 35 hours and normal school hours apply when students are on placement (8am-5pm), with additional independent study.