Course overview

Our Secondary Postgraduate Certificate in Education focuses on the 11-18 age range. 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. It provides a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS – a requirement to teach in the state school system as an Early Career 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 termly 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.

Core | 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 Partners 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 two Lead Partner Routes available, Partner Led Training and School Direct Salaried, on both routes you’ll complete a complementary placement.

On the Partner Led training route 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 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.

Contact us

Enrolment questions: cte dot admissions at warwick dot ac dot uk