Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with iQTS (Primary 3-7 or 5-11) (Taught)

This one-year teaching course is a high-quality, grade 1 programme of professional education designed for candidates teaching outside of mainland England, leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and master’s level credits. Our course aims to develop you into a highly reflective practitioner, able to adapt and respond to changes in settings and international educational contexts, and able to take responsibility for your ongoing professional development in preparation for future leadership.

This one-year, 90-credit Post-Graduate course with iQTS (International Qualified Teacher Status) is a teacher training course designed for students embarking on a teaching career internationally with a focus on combining theory and practice across all course aspects through a blended learning programme.

The course provides a well-integrated blend of online and school-based learning opportunities that develop a values-based and evidence-informed approach to classroom practice in an international school setting. The course is designed to fully cover the iQTS Core Content Framework, as appropriate for the Primary Phase, age range 3-7 or 5-11 and will take account of the local context in which students are teaching.

Trainees will be supported to understand the complexity of evidence and established views on effective learning in schools. Taught sessions and assessments will encourage critical engagement with evidence and the implications for personal teaching practice.

The Centre for Teacher Education is the University’s global-service provider for high quality teacher training and professional education. At its most recent inspection, the University of Warwick’s Centre for Teacher Education has been awarded “Outstanding” provider status by the British government standard (OFSTED).

Our iQTS International programme was one of five inspected as part of the DfE iQTS pilot inspections and has been awarded grade 1.

What is iQTS?

iQTS is a UK Government-backed international teaching qualification which will be recognised by the Department for Education as equivalent to English Qualified Teacher Status.

iQTS is suitable for candidates who wish to train to teach and qualify outside mainland England, including:

• UK citizens currently working abroad who wish to start teacher training or develop their teaching career

• Non-UK citizens who wish to begin teacher training or build on existing teaching experience

• UK and non-UK teachers without QTS who wish to improve their employability in England and internationally with a UK government-backed and approved professional qualification

This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.

Subject Studies (primary or secondary education) 30-credits

You will follow a programme of sessions related to your area of phase and expertise. These sessions are designed to heighten your awareness of the pedagogical approaches related to each subject/phase specialism. This will help you adopt a range of approaches and strategies to ensure your teaching is sufficiently diverse to challenge or support as appropriate in an international education setting.

You will engage critically and analytically with a range of theories and models which underpin effective teaching and learning. You will develop the skills, knowledge and understanding required to be an effective teacher. You will understand the impact this has on pupil progress in their subjects, building towards a vision for outstanding learning and teaching in your area of expertise that will underpin your practice on teaching placements.

Professional Enquiry 30-credits

You will engage critically and analytically with a range of theories and models which underpin effective teaching and learning in international educational settings. You will develop the skills, knowledge and understanding required to be an effective teacher and understand the impact this has on pupil progress in a range of international contexts.

You will also be introduced to skills and techniques to support your development as a reflective practitioner, gaining access to a wide variety of pedagogic styles and innovative methods for learning and teaching in international settings. Throughout the course, links between critical reflection and your subject specialisms will be emphasised, helping you to embrace the concept of a connected curriculum.

Professional Practice 30-credits

This component consists of a minimum 120-day teaching placement in your specialist phase teaching to groups of eight or more students. The placement will include regular meetings with your school mentor, as well as evaluations of professional practice through mentoring conversations on placement following lesson observations.

In addition, you will be engaging with four different opportunities for Intensive Training and Practice (ITaPs) which will build your confidence and expertise in carefully selected aspects of the planned curriculum.

Within your 120 day placement you will be asked to complete a second placement, between 1-4 weeks in length (determined by the course lead) at another school or within another phase of your employing school.

Optional modules

There are no optional modules for this course.

You will be assessed through a range of Master’s level assignments, which are aimed at assessing your professional and subject specific learning. You will also be assessed on whether you meet the International Teachers’ Standards.