PGCE (Secondary): English
A thorough grounding in all aspects of the National Curriculum for English, including post-16 teaching. Offers a balance of theory and practice, including the opportunity to understand the historical forces and ideas which have shaped today’s curriculum.
Ayesha Qureshi, PGCE (Secondary): English
Q3X1; QX31 (Modular)
See general entrance requirements.
See Fitness to train: criminal convictions.
A Flexible PGCE (Secondary) is also available in this subject area.
Please see further information on fees and costs.
Most successful students now teach in English Departments in local secondary schools, many of them at partnership schools.
Library, the School Practice Library and the Media Services Centre resources are supplemented by books and publications on teaching English.
about the content of the programme, please contact Dr Vicky Obied +44 (0)20 7919 7351.
Educational Studies
UK and EU students admissions or call +44 (0)20 7919 7050. International (non-EU) students or call +44 (0)20 7919 7702.
Between 11 and 19, pupils gain experience of literary and non-literary texts, including: pre-twentieth-century and modern literature; literature reflecting a wide variety of cultural influences; media and moving image; print-based information texts; ICT and electronic text. You are taught to appreciate a wide range of teaching approaches through practical workshop sessions and seminars. We deal in detail with the planning and evaluation of lessons, assessment, marking, and examination syllabuses.
What you Study
In the Autumn term, two days of most weeks are devoted to the College-based English Method programme. These subject sessions have a seminar/workshop format. After an introduction to the National Curriculum and other recent developments, you explore issues around writing, reading, speaking and listening; culture and prejudice; assessment and marking; public examinations; classroom organisation and management; bilingualism; the place of Drama, Media Studies and IT in the English classroom; teaching English to different age ranges; literacy; language awareness teaching; and how best to meet different needs and interests in mixed experience classrooms, including those of bilingualand bidialectal pupils, and pupils with Special Educational Needs.
Teaching practice is in two main blocks, each in a separate school. During the school-based weeks of the Autumn term, there are opportunities to observe teachers, to ask questions, and to speak with your school-based mentor – either the Head of the English Department in the school or another experienced member of staff. Much of the Spring and Summer terms is devoted to school-based work. Normally, two English students are located at each school so that, as well as teaching classes on your own, you may also be able to undertake joint teaching, including joint preparation and marking.
A key feature is the inclusion of specialist Drama, Voice and Media Studies workshops, enabling you to develop a broad repertoire of teaching skills and experiences.
Methods of assessment in English focus primarily on individual written work, but also take into account group tasks, presentations and video work. Formal assignments explore aspects of planning and selection of resources; assessment practices; and current debates about English as an academic/school subject.
Application enquiries
Please see how to apply for information on applying to this programme.