PGCE School Direct Secondary (Taught)

Become a confident, qualified teacher through this immersive, school-based teaching course. This School-Based course places you in a school from day one, giving you the practical skills, competence, and professional knowledge to thrive as a qualified teacher.

You'll spend the majority of your training in a school setting, supported by experienced mentors and University tutors, whilst attending at least 13 days of university-led sessions and a structured professional development programme. A second placement will ensure you gain experience in a different educational environment, preparing you to teach across diverse settings.

What you’ll learn

• Develop evidence-based teaching practice underpinned by research and strong subject knowledge.

• Foster reflective, critically informed practice that positively impacts pupil learning.

• Apply creativity and innovation to engage and inspire all learners.

• Build confidence and inclusive learning communities that value diversity and culture.

• Cultivate professional resilience, collaboration, and high standards that align with statutory frameworks.

On this course, you'll develop as a reflective, innovative, and adaptable educator with the skills to inspire pupils as you meet the teachers’ standards. You may also opt to complete a PGCE alongside QTS, earning master’s-level credits and expanding your theoretical understanding of education.

Upon successful completion, you'll be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), fully equipped to begin your career as an Early Career Teacher and ready to progress into leadership or specialist roles.

https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/school-based-school-direct

School-Based QTS

Your journey to QTS will be supported by a number of university-based training days and one-to-one tutorials that are focused on your teaching practice.

PGCE School-Based

You will be assessed in two main ways: via academic assessments, and the assessment of your teaching practice during Professional Placement 1 and 2. You will submit assignments for each academic module, gaining Level 7 credits as you progress through the course. A range of assessment methods to help you to evidence your knowledge, understanding and skills.

The University-led tutors and school-based mentors are all experienced qualified teachers.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Has qualified teacher status