Goldsmiths' Department of Design runs the PGCE (Secondary) in Design and Technology. Our aim is to develop teachers whose vision, imagination and professionalism takes them beyond the realities and constraints of current classrooms and curricula, continually evolving new and better models of practice. The programme gives you an excellent professional grounding for teaching in a state secondary school.

What you study

The programme prepares you to teach in two broad areas. You specialise in one area to Key Stage 4 and beyond, and in another to Key Stage 3. Key Stage 4 specialist fields are Materials and Textiles, and Key Stage 3 specialist fields are Materials; Textiles; Electronics and Communications Technology; and Food.

School-based work
During the Autumn term you are placed in your first school, usually with a partner Design and Technology student teacher. The aim is induction, both into schooling and the teaching of design and technology, and into learning and teaching practices.

You do this by: observing teachers working and pupils participating in learning activities; learning about whole school policies and practices; studying the Design and Technology curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4 (examinations); and progressively taking on teaching activities, initially in tandem with the class teacher. Spring and Summer terms are devoted to teaching practice in a second school, developing your competence to meet the Professional Standards. You design a scheme of work for the Key Stage 3 curriculum, and develop your understanding of pupil learning styles, National Curriculum requirements, assessment and examinations.

College-based work
There are seminars examining the nature of Design and Technology education, and workshops designed to develop your subject expertise. By the end of the programme you must offer a second area of competence to teach to the end of Key Stage 3, as well as your specialist area at Key Stages 4 and 5.

You engage in two design activities: one in the first term, and the second throughout the year. The first activity is mirrored by the same project being undertaken by Year 9 pupils in a local school, and culminates in a shared presentation. The second activity culminates in a presentation of a personal design-and-make project to your peers, to consider and reflect on the nature of the process of designing.

Register your interest

If you register your interest in this programme we will keep you informed about open days and send you relevant further information.