PGCE Secondary Education Physical Education

The physical education subject knowledge programme aims to support and develop you to become confident and competent educators.

You’ll gain the knowledge and understanding necessary to reflect on your practice in order to refine and improve your teaching and pupils learning. You will develop your physical education subject knowledge through specialist sessions which will explore contemporary theory and how this is realised in pedagogy and practice.

Promoting engagement in physical activity and fostering curiosity and interest in learning is at the heart of the programme and we will focus on teaching methods which allow you to explore physical education in a meaningful and engaging environment.

Your subject knowledge programme, based at Oxstalls campus in specialist facilities, is progressive and complements your work and development in schools over the course of the year. You’ll develop your knowledge to become both an effective and reflective physical education teacher. You’ll gain skills to plan and teach your subject effectively, helping all pupils to unlock their potential. You will be part of a select cohort of trainee teachers with access to mentoring and support throughout the course of the year and beyond into your NQT and teaching career.

We will provide many opportunities to observe excellent practice working alongside teachers and pupils in a range of school settings. In addition to the focus at Key Stages 3 and 4, you’ll gain an insight into KS2 transition and KS5 teaching. Our experienced and world leading team of academics will help nurture you as an innovative and resilient teacher, able to make a difference to pupils lives and transform the future of physical education.

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.