PGCE Secondary with Religious Education (with QTS)
Find out more about our PGCE Secondary with Religious Education (with QTS) degree at Warwick
Our PGCE in Religious Education prepares you to teach one of the most dynamic and relevant subjects in today’s diverse classrooms. Through dedicated subject studies days, you will explore key content across religions, worldviews and ethical issues, while also developing practical, research-informed approaches to teaching RE. These sessions combine deep subject knowledge with effective classroom methods, equipping you to design inclusive, engaging, and thought-provoking lessons.
Throughout the programme, you’ll benefit from a collaborative learning environment, where you can share expertise and reflect on practice alongside fellow Religious Education trainees.
Your school-based placements are supported by experienced mentors and university tutors who work closely in partnership to ensure consistent, personalised guidance. This strong collaborative framework provides you with structured opportunities to put your learning into practice, refine your teaching skills, and grow in confidence within the classroom.
With expert support, a vibrant learning community, and a clear focus on reflective, inclusive practice, our RE PGCE will empower you to become an inspiring and impactful educator.
Course overview
Our course will develop you into a highly effective teacher, equipped with the values, skills and knowledge to become a successful school leader.
Our courses offer the best of both immersive, school-based training and regular teaching input from experts with subject specialist teaching experience. In addition, you can access the support and learning facilities of a world-class university.
On the course you will develop a secure subject knowledge base, and the ability to plan and teach in your subject so that all pupils learn and make good progress. You will learn how to assess and evaluate learning and develop your teaching to ensure progress for all pupils. You will also learn about the needs of pupils and how to adapt your teaching to strengthen inclusion in your teaching.
In partnership with regional schools, we will ensure that you have the skills and knowledge needed to forge a strong personal and professional identity, which you will continue to develop throughout your career. The Warwick Teacher Values, of Social Justice, Intellectual Curiosity and Creativity run through all our programmes.
What is a PGCE?
A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is usually a one-year teacher training course. It offers a mixture of academic and practical learning, and it's the first step for graduates in the development of a teaching career. At Warwick, our PGCE courses provide a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS – a requirement to teach in the state school system as a Newly Qualified Teacher).
Which route will you take?
Throughout the year, both the University-led and Partner-led routes are taught together. From September until the end of May, you will spend one day a week at the university. During the final few weeks of the course, you will experience five days a week in school.
There are regular personal tutorials with your university personal tutor throughout the year, as well as weekly mentor meetings in school and school visits from your moderation tutor. A minimum of 120 days are spent on school placement and a short primary school placement is undertaken during the year.
University-led
On the university-led PGCE programme you will undertake two main school placements organised by our partnership office, one for one term and one for two terms.
You will also have further days in school as part of our Intensive Training and Practice programme focussing on key pedagogies including behaviour, planning, literacy and inclusion. The rest of the programme will consist of sessions taught by the University of Warwick as well as independent study.
If you feel passionate about teaching and would like a programme offering placements in a range of schools, this may be the best option for you. We will provide you with a good grounding upon which you will be building your professional skills and understanding in schools. A limited number of optional three-day placements in a special school are also available to students on the University-led route.
Lead Partner route
Partner-led trainees have placements in two schools organised by the Partner school. Two terms are based at the host school and up to one term at an alternative setting where the complementary placement takes place.
You will also have further days in school as part of our Intensive Training and Practice programme focussing on key pedagogies including behaviour, planning, literacy and inclusion.
If you would rather be immersed in the classroom environment and school culture and apply directly to one of our lead partners, consider the Partner-led route where you'll spend the majority of the year based in a single school. There are three Lead Partner Routes available, Partner-Led-Taining, Partner-Led-Training (Digital) and School Direct Salaried, on all partner-led routes you’ll complete a complementary placement.
To find out more about the Partners we work with on these routes please visit our Lead Partners PagesLink opens in a new window
On the Partner Led training routes you may be eligible for funding through tuition fee loans and bursaries. School Direct salaried provides an employment-based option and is ideal for graduates with extensive work experience, who have worked in a school or similar setting for some time. You won’t be eligible for any bursaries or scholarships but you will receive a salary while you train. School Direct salaried trainees are usually contracted to the end of the school year.
Why Warwick?
In the Centre for Teacher Education, our values-based approach to developing Early-Career Teachers derives from our commitment to developing teachers who are just, curious, and creative and who contribute positively to every child’s educational outcome (including SEND and EAL pupils), and to tackling social deprivation.
At Warwick, we’ll help you find your own path to success. We understand that teaching is more than just a job. We also know that you are more than just another applicant. That’s why our approach is tailored around your needs. We’re focused on getting you prepared to enter the classroom, and ready for all the challenges that teaching throws at you. We won’t drop you in at the deep end, but we will help you become accustomed to different school environments.
We have a long history of providing students with the best access to the contacts, resources and facilities needed to fulfil teaching promise. You’ll also benefit from our research-informed teaching, delivered at an acclaimed university with a reputation for excellence. That teaching will come from people who truly understand about the journey that you’re taking.
There’s lots to take in when you think about becoming a teacher. That’s why we ensure that support is available whenever you need it. As well as having a personal tutor, that will support you throughout the time you’re at Warwick, you can rely upon the friendship and guidance from your fellow trainees. We also have online resources dedicated to giving you the help and support you need.
So, choose Warwick, and give yourself the ideal start for that journey. Be somewhere which believes your teaching career can be as long, rewarding and enjoyable as you want it to be. Be somewhere that trusts you to follow a more personalised teaching path, but will be there for you wherever that path takes you.
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
- Bachelors degree with Honours at 2:2 or above, or equivalent level.
- At least Grade C or the new Grade 4 in GCSE English and Mathematics.*
Equivalency Tests
We are able to accept approved third party equivalency tests in place of GCSEs. The current providers that have been approved are as follows, with details of the current discounts that are available. If you are intending to use another equivalency testing company, we recommend you contact our admissions team prior to doing so to ensure that they meet the entry criteria.
- Why choose Equivalency Testing?
- Long standing company
- Excellent student support
- Secure testing
- Good and quick feedback
- Significant discount available for PGCE offer holders, please email cte.admissions@warwick.ac.uk for the code.
Why chose A Star Equivalency?
- Excellent student support
- A clear outline of required material in each exam
- Rolling programme of live online subject specific support sessions.
- An extensive range of free support material
- Practice papers and marking schemes
- Discounted from £165* to £139 (saving £26). Please contact cte.admissions@warwick.ac.uk for the discount code.
If you are intending to use another equivalency testing company, we recommend you contact our admissions team prior to doing so to ensure that they meet the entry criteria.
English language requirements
You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, you will need a minimum score of 7.0 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Find out more about English requirements at Warwick.
Additional requirements
Subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) courses
Usually, an honours degree or equivalent qualification, in the subject specialism or a subject directly relevant will be accepted. If your degree isn’t in the subject area you wish to teach or you have relevant professional experience but need to learn how to apply that to teaching you may be suitable for a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course. If you are eligible following an application you will be recommended a particular length of SKE course to complete. We require that the SKE is completed preferably before the course start date in August and at the latest by October half term.
If your recommended length of SKE course significantly overlaps the start of the course you can opt to consider a deferral. SKE courses vary in length from usually 8 (short) to 28 (long) weeks. Short, medium and long SKE courses are still available but this is subject to change and subject to individual SKE providers. The Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE): course directoryLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window will give you an overview and directory of subject knowledge enhancement
Documentation
If you graduated in the last two years, you’ll need to provide an academic reference. Please refer to your DfE portal for further information
You will need original certificates of all your qualifications. If you don’t have these any more, you can obtain a Certified Statement of Results instead, but these can take some time to retrieve from exam boards and you may need to pay a fee.
Classroom Experience
Although it is not a requirement for entry, we strongly recommend that you have some experience in the classroom within mainstream UK schools (Key Stage 3 and 4) before applying. This experience will give you a flavour for your potential future career and will help you write your application. Find out how to gain school experience.
Safeguarding checks
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff, enrolled trainees and offer holders to share this commitment. The successful completion of an enhanced DBS check to confirm your suitability for the profession is a condition of any offer to study within CTE. Disclosure does not automatically make you ineligible to enrol onto a PGCE course, each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis; we recommend you use the DBS guidelines for applicants with previous convictions.
*The new grading system for those receiving their results for GCSE Maths and English was adopted in 2017. The grading system is now 9-1, with Grade 9 awarded to those students in the very top tier. Grade 4 is considered equivalent to the old Grade C.
**Special offer for the University of Warwick students. Maths exams are available in Foundation or Higher. English, Science and Biology are untiered
If students require further support, we offer a range of low-cost options.
Core modules
Subject Studies
This module focuses on the evidence base, subject knowledge and practice of teaching your specialist subject across key stages three, four and five. subjects across the curriculum. Through an ambitious and carefully sequences curriculum delivered by subject experts, you will develop your teacher identity and understanding of effective subject pedagogies.
Professional Enquiry
This module is concerned with adaptive teaching. Over the course of the year, you will develop a detailed understanding of how children learn and how teaching needs to be adapted to meet the needs of specific learners. Topics covered include, neurodiversity, anti-racist pedagogy and socioeconomic disadvantage. This module closely links with the Warwick Teacher Value of social justice.
Professional Practice
This module contains both taught content and school placements, focusing on the Teachers StandardsLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window which range from behaviour management and lesson planning to personal and professional conduct.
Teaching
Our Secondary Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach the full Secondary age phase (Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and Post-16). Our course will develop you into a highly effective teacher, equipped with the values, skills, and knowledge to become a successful leader in the future.
All the Secondary tutors are qualified teachers with many years of school and teacher education experience and for subject specialist sessions you will be taught by a specialist with experience teaching in your chosen subject. We work collaboratively with experienced and knowledgeable school partners across our well-established partnership. Teaching approaches are carefully tailored depending on your chosen route.
For our digital trainees, the PGCE is delivered online but for other routes, face to face teaching is prioritised to ensure you have many in-person opportunities to learn, practise new skills and develop your subject knowledge and confidence with teaching in a supportive, intellectually stimulating and collaborative learning environment. Some aspects of the course will take place online either synchronously or asynchronously as appropriate.
Class sizes
Class sizes vary depending on the nature of the session: students will experience a variety of 1:1 tutorials, workshops in subject groups and mixed subject groups of 30 or fewer. There will be a small number of whole cohort lectures on key elements of professional skills. Some whole cohort events/conferences will be online with class sizes depending on the session.
Typical contact hours
The course provides more than the minimum of 120 days in school which run alongside a carefully sequenced programme of taught sessions throughout the year appropriate for your point of development. You will also have 20 days of explicit Intensive Training and Practice to enable you to develop, hone and refine key areas of your classroom practice.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed in the following ways. All assignments are submitted in electronic form. Your tutors will give you formal feedback identifying the strengths of the academic piece, and offer any advice for future work. The current assessment methods consist of the following, however, CTE reserves the right to change these as appropriate in line with the requirements of regulatory authorities such as Ofsted and the DfE.
Subject Studies (Master's level)
Two assessments exploring a subject-specific issue of pedagogy and its application in classroom practice on issues in your specialist subject
1 x 3000-word essay
1 x Academic Presentation (equivalent to 1,500-words)
Professional Enquiry (Master's level)
A critical review of academic literature and educational policy connected to a chosen area of adaptive teaching followed by an annotated sequence of learning
1 x 4000-word essay
Professional Practice (Master's level)
A professional report focussing on an aspect of literacy; a viva voce (oral examination); meeting the Teachers’ Standards and fulfilling the Department for Education compliance requirements
1 x 2000-word professional report
1 x Viva voce
Your career
Career progression may be through a specialist curriculum or pastoral role, or by moving into management. Teachers may become heads of Key Stages or coordinators of a cross-curricular area, such as special needs or careers education, as well as subject or professional mentors for trainee teachers on placement.
Upon completing this course you'll be recommended for qualified teacher status (QTS) and gain 90 credits at Master's level. This allows you to fast-track to stage two of our Master's degree, quickly progressing your professional development.
Centre for Teacher Education (CTE)
Our vision and ambition for the Centre for Teacher Education (CTE) derives from a commitment to continue the long history of Teacher Education at the University of Warwick where generations of new teachers gain employment in our partner schools to improve the life chances of the children they teach. Our programmes are underpinned by our core values of social justice, intellectual curiosity and creativity.
Our commitment is to ensure we support and develop you as an Early Career Teacher and engage you as part of our alumni community. CTE’s Master's in Professional Education is aimed at practising teachers and school leaders and is designed to ensure the content aligns with an individual’s educational research interest. You will focus your research on an area of your own choice to ensure your studies and learning has real value and impact within your school context.
Ofsted Recognition
In 2024, Warwick’s PGCE courses were rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with highlights including:
- Exceptional education and training quality
- Highly valued pastoral support for students
- Strong partnerships with schools and high-quality mentoring during placements.
We pride ourselves on making a difference to our students. We place high-quality teaching and student support at the heart of what we do and recognise that our success is built on the strength of our partnership with our students and schools. Teaching is our top priority and our commitment to our students is paramount.
Learn more about us from our website.Link opens in a new window
Our Postgraduate Taught courses
- PGCE Primary Early Years 3-7 (with QTS)
- PGCE Primary with QTS 5 - 11 (with QTS)
- PGCE Primary 5-11 (with iQTS)
- PGCE Secondary (with iQTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Art and Design (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Biology (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary Business Studies and Economics (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Chemistry (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary Design and Technology (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary Social Sciences (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Computer Science (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Drama (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with English (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Geography (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with History (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Mathematics (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Modern Languages (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Music (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Physical Education (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Physics (with QTS)
- PGCE Secondary with Religious Education (with QTS)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education International (PGCEi)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Education (PGCert)
- Professional Education (MA)
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.
Fee Status Guidance
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.
Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?
If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.
Find out more about how universities assess fee status
Additional course costs
- Study costs
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access. - Computing requirements
A computing device with a browser and broadband internet access is required for the course. The university provides central guidance on the recommended specification for any device you use to undertake your academic work. - Travel expenses
There will be extra costs associated with travel to professional practice placements.
Scholarships and financial support
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Living costs
Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.
Department specific funding and support
PGCE Funding Opportunities
There is currently a bursary available for Religious Education, find out more atGet into TeachingLink opens in a new window.
For up-to-date information concerning fees, funding and scholarships for Home/EU and Overseas students please visit Warwick's PGCE Fees and Funding webpageLink opens in a new window
Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.
PGCE University-led
Applications are usually open between October - June. Once you have your course choice and certificates, you can apply through DfE ApplyLink opens in a new window.*
*When applying for the University-led PGCE through DfE Apply, you need to select the University of Warwick. If you are applying for a Partner led route with us, you select the name of the school accredited by the University Of Warwick.
PGCE Partner-led
You can find our lead partners on DfE apply - Each school has a different DfE Apply Code and you can apply directly to the partners.
More information about each of our Partners can be found on our webpage
Connect directly with the WMG department
For more detailed advice on the courses offered in WMG, to book a 1-1 appointment or visit with the WMG team, or for any course specific queries, you can connect directly with the recruitment team in WMG.
Explore ways to connect with us
We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:
- Warwick hosted events
- Postgraduate Fairs
- Live chats
- Talk and Tours
- Department events