PGCE (Secondary): Mathematics
London secondary schools need good mathematics teachers: the job is challenging, demanding and rewarding. This programme prepares you particularly for the demands of multi-ethnic London comprehensive schools.
Chloë Jones, PGCE (Primary with Modern Languages)
G1X1
See general entrance requirements.
See Fitness to train: criminal convictions.
Please see further information on fees and costs.
Many trainees are offered appointments in their teaching practice school, and promotion prospects are good.
The programmes have a good range of materials including textbooks, workcards, reference texts, practical resources, and ICT
about the content of the programme, please contact Patricia Alexander +44 (0)20 7919 7071.
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.
You need to be well-organised, a good manager of your own time, and able to set priorities and meet deadlines. You need to be resilient, tolerant and understanding of the attitudes of today’s teenagers, and with a commitment to young people as well as your subject. Experience of working with teenagers, such as running a youth group, could be an advantage. You should visit a secondary school before interview.
What you Study
In the Autumn term the emphasis is on getting to know the different parts of the school mathematics curriculum and possible teaching approaches. You review your mathematical experience, identify any gaps and begin to do something about them. We look at the possibilities of using Information Technology in teaching mathematics, and explore different approaches to assessing pupils. An important feature of the term is developing your skills in posing questions, and this is followed through in the first assignment which is built round pupils working investigatively.
Early in the term you are based mainly in College, but with at least one day a week in school. After half term you spend most of your time in school, with one day a week back in College. Following the Christmas break, you spend almost all your time in a second school, as you develop your skills in planning, teaching and managing whole classes, taking responsibility for them over a sustained period of time. This includes aspects of assessing, recording and reporting on pupils’ attainment, and catering for a range of achievement levels. You learn about ‘whole-school’ issues as well as mathematics teaching, and are expected to contribute to the pastoral life of the school. You do an assessed project on a whole-school or cross-curricular theme.
Later mathematics sessions at College focus on broadening your knowledge of resources for teaching, longer term planning, and the post-16 curriculum, though you may already have done some sixth form teaching if it was available in your first school placement. Your second assignment is a portfolio of tasks relating your practice to reading and research.
Application enquiries
Please see how to apply for information on applying to this programme.