Secondary History with QTS PGCE

Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach across the secondary school history curriculum for the 11-16 age range. You’ll explore inclusive ways to teach history and develop your ability to teach different historical concepts such as causation, interpretation, change and continuity. Some of the key topics you’ll study include how to use sources in the history classroom, the importance of reading and writing when learning history and how to make the history curriculum relevant and inclusive. You will typically have a series of seminars with guest lectures from The National Archives and exam boards, as well as from experienced teachers in schools to help you explore different areas of the history curriculum and how to teach them. When you are in university, you’ll study mainly with your PGCE History group. You will consider how to plan lessons, reflect on your planning, learn how research can develop your teaching practice, and look at ways to develop your teacher persona. You’ll also learn through peer-collaboration and sharing knowledge with your fellow history trainees to develop your subject knowledge.

You will normally have a minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification. Your degree needs to support the subject knowledge requirements of the national curriculum for history. For exceptional candidates, particularly those with substantial relevant work experience in schools or relevant occupations, we will consider applications from those who hold a 3rd class degree.