PGCE Secondary English
Full-time
This course is subject to reapproval
Location • City Campus
Subject area • Teacher education
Related subjects • Education studies • English
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View profiles of students on this course
Find out why our teaching placements are unique and highly praised by Ofsted.
Watch videos of trainee teachers and mentors talking about teaching placements.
Helping you to secure a teaching job after your teacher training
Hear what local pupils think about becoming a great teacher.
Is teaching for you? Our free three day taster courses give you all the information you need to find out about teaching.
These secondary teacher training courses lead to qualified teacher status (QTS) and equip you to teach English in secondary schools and post-16 colleges.
On the courses you
• enhance your subject knowledge, understanding and skills
• learn how to teach English
• learn about the wider role of teachers in school
• gain knowledge about schools and the education system
• apply your skills and knowledge on school placements
We help you develop the skills you need to be a successful teacher of pupils of all abilities. By studying with us you build your enthusiasm, confidence, knowledge and ability to teach English.
You also gain self-evaluation skills by completing a career preparation profile. This provides evidence that you meet the QTS standards for personal development.
School placements are central to the course. A University-trained mentor supports you when on placement. Your course tutor also visits you to discuss your progress. Your placements are complemented by University based study that includes teaching sessions, seminars, group study, tutorials and assessment.
During the course you can choose to complete either the PGCE or the professional graduate certificate in education (ProfGCE). Both qualifications achieve QTS but the PGCE also gives you 60 masters level credits, which you can use towards a masters degree.
You either complete the course through the School Direct or PGCE route.
School Direct places for September 2013
We have PGCE places for this subject available via our School Direct route for September 2013 start. Places for School Direct are provided in partnership with our lead schools in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Lincolnshire. There is the intention that you will be employed by them or another school in their partnership once you have qualified.
For more information on how to apply visit School Direct PGCE.
PGCE route
We also have a non-School Direct PGCE route which includes a Pupil Referral Unit placement experience. You apply for this course through www.gttr.ac.uk
Full-time – one year
School direct route
You must apply online or visit the Teaching Agency for more information.
PGCE route
You must apply through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). Apply on-line at www.gttr.ac.uk or phone 0871 468 0 469..
2013/14 academic year
Typically £9,000 for the course
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/funding
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,250
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
• research projects • individual and group work • presentations and reports • preparing teaching materials and plans • teaching practice
You must also successfully complete tests in numeracy, literacy and information and communication technology as designated by the Department for Education Teaching Agency
Emma Longbottom
PGCE Secondary English, 2008 graduate
'The tutors are fantastic. You really feel like you've got the support there and it feels like a family. I look up to my subject tutor. I can trust her and know she'll give good advice. She has really bent over backwards to make sure everyone is happy on the course. It is quite an intense course so it's nice to know that you've got that support there and they don't leave you to it. The online discussion board is a fantastic support network. All the students keep in touch and everyone shares their ideas and resources.
'We don't see each other a lot of the time because we are on placement but everyone is more than happy to help each other. You know if you've got a problem, you can go on the discussion board and say ''anyone got any idea how I can teach this topic, to this group of students, on this key stage'' and you'll always get a reply.'
Matthew Settle
PGCE Secondary English, 2010 graduate
'Sheffield is my hometown so the choice came down to remaining in the city or commuting to other relatively close institutions. And, for all intents and purposes, it wasn't that much of a choice to pick Sheffield Hallam. I previously worked within a secondary school in Barnsley for two years and Sheffield Hallam has a reputation there as the best teacher training centre in the area. I spoke to NQTs who studied at Sheffield Hallam and they had nothing but positive things to say about the University. Sheffield Hallam has an excellent track record of successfully training good teachers and everything I have seen on the PGCE course this year would suggest that trend will continue.
'The course has been challenging and excellent in equal measure. The work load is big but mirrors that of a teacher which puts trainees in good stead when they enter the profession. Although many hours of work is required, it is always towards a goal and the tutors are keen to ensure that everyone feels secure in what they are doing.
'A major strength of the course is in the atmosphere within the lectures. I had never met any of the other trainees in my group, but we soon became immensely supportive and responsive to one another. The tutors create an environment that encourages both hard-work and friendship. I don't think this can be overstated when discussing what makes the course so good.
'One of the best things to look forward to is the amazing people you will meet. Teachers are nothing if not interesting (well, most of them) and I have met some wonderful people on the course that have inspired me even further to become the best teacher I can be. The tutors are brilliant, insightful, driven but always smiling and friendly. The other trainees will come from all walks of life, will include people you may never normally socialise with and they will there to support you when the stress sets in.'
Profiles
Emma Longbottom
PGCE Secondary English, 2008 graduate
Matthew Settle
PGCE Secondary English, 2010 graduate
Great teacher training placements
'The most important element of teaching that my pupils have taught me is how to differentiate and make learning accessible to all and on an individual level.'
Laura Scales, trainee teacher
We believe that teaching is all about the learner. That's why we've invested heavily in building a great network of teacher-training placements.
A unique approach to placements
We provide our trainee teachers with two contrasting placements, providing access to a wide range of different learners. This furnishes them with the practical skills and experience they need to manage behaviour and control the classroom; it also provides the opportunity to refine their teaching styles.
Support while on placement
In 2010, Ofsted commented on the 'exceptional quality of senior mentor coordinators' at Sheffield Hallam. We pride ourselves on the outstanding levels of support we offer to our trainee teachers while on placement. The support you receive may differ, depending on your route into teaching, but usually consists of University tutors, trained mentors in each placement context, your course peers and other educational professionals.
Mutually beneficial placements
We work with our placement partners to our mutual advantage
• they provide superb placement opportunities for our trainee teachers
• they help us with the development of our courses, so that they're always up to date and practically relevant
• they enable our students to put into practice the latest research and innovative teaching practices
Watch videos of our students of our students talking about their teaching placements.
Amy Bagnall (2:39)
Hear about the types of support we provide for you on teaching placements.
Laura Scales (2:07)
Hear how our teaching placements help you to put learning into practice.
Beccy Buck (1:21)
One of our mentor co-ordinators talks about what it takes to make a great teacher.
More videos
Amy Bagnall (2:39)
Hear about the types of support we provide for you on teaching placements.
Laura Scales (2:07)
Hear how our teaching placements help you to put learning into practice.
Beccy Buck (1:21)
One of our mentor co-ordinators talks about what it takes to make a great teacher.
Career prospects for trainee teachers
96% of trainee teachers are working or in further study within six months of completing their courses.
At Sheffield Hallam University, we work hard to prepare our trainee teachers for a great job after graduating and for a really rewarding long-term teaching career. Because of the high standard of our training and our great reputation for producing fantastic teachers, our students enjoy excellent prospects on graduation.
Fast-track careers
Our graduate teachers have a strong track record of progressing into more senior positions of responsibility, sometimes within as little as a year of graduating.
Sought-after skills and experience
Our unique approach to teaching practice and placements means that our graduates have superb classroom experience – which makes them very attractive to potential employers. Plus, our students benefit from the highest quality
'Trainees gain the confidence to quickly take on subject leadership, and gain promotion often at the end of their induction year' (Ofsted, 2010).
research and innovative practice, which means they graduate with a high standard of teaching ability.
Careers and employment
We offer a wide range of support services for students both while they're with us to develop their employability and career-management skills and when they're looking for a job after graduation.
Services include
• experienced careers advisers
• a programme of careers-related events including recruitment fairs and employer presentations
• netWORK, which advertises hundreds of graduate vacancies online
• Impact, our career coaching and employer mentoring scheme
• an international students' job club
Here's what a group of year 10 and 11 pupils think about great teaching.
'It's a give and take relationship isn't it? They teach us. The least we can give back is respect them, give them the status as a teacher which gives them confidence and helps everyone progress more really.'
Here's what a group of year 10 and 11 pupils think about great teaching.
'If you can tell that a teacher cares about the subject they're teaching and cares about the students, then the students are more likely to learn and listen to them. They give you respect and we give it back'
Here's what a group of year 10 and 11 pupils think about great teaching.
'Everyone's got different learning styles so teachers have to adapt to how people learn best'
Here's what a group of year 10 and 11 pupils think about great teaching.
'There's different techniques you can use. There's a variety that kids can benefit from. If I was a teacher I'd want to not just stick to one style of teaching. I'd do lots of different methods'
Here's what a group of year 10 and 11 pupils think about great teaching.
'You've got to have that practical element to teaching as well as words. It's a different side of teaching that kids don't expect'
Here's what a group of year 10 and 11 pupils think about great teaching.
'Trainee teachers bring a new style to it. Bringing something new really brightens it up and makes a good change'
Is teaching for you?
If you are interested in pursuing a career in teaching then you may like to register for one of our taster courses. We offer a combination of mini taster sessions which are open to all and a series of more in-depth programmes targeted towards particular groups.
Mini taster sessions
Mini taster sessions are designed to give you a flavour of what teacher training involves, giving you the opportunity to meet with course leaders and have your questions answered.
We are running a series of mini taster sessions in March 2012. Find out more or register for a session.
Train to teach development programme
We offer a series of programmes, session's and one to one support to provide you with a more in-depth view of the teaching profession and advise you on your own personalised journey to initial teacher training. These are
• black, minority and ethnic individuals – one day introductory course on 6 February 2012
• men into primary – three-day course (including one day within a school environment), which runs between 12-14 June (tbc)
• secondary priority courses – for people interested in teaching subjects such as maths, physics and chemistry, with courses running between 5-7 March
We also offer small group sessions and one-to-one's for those who do not fall into one of these categories.
Please contact m.greaves@shu.ac.uk to register your interest.
Hear from taster course participants
'I would most definitely recommend this course to other interested parties. I attended in order to decide whether I still thought teaching was for me, and without having the unique opportunity to spend a day in a school I think I still would have struggled with my decision.
'It didn't seem to matter whether you were on the fence about teaching – as I know one of the attendees later realised teaching wasn't for her,
but having access to valuable information regarding getting into teaching, speaking to those from the teaching profession and spending time in a school, were, for me most useful. Since the course I have been able to research the numerous routes into teaching and I have decided I would like to pursue a PGCE Primary.'
Sharner Lal, taster course attendee
'I really gained a lot from this course. I got first hand information about what it is all about being a teacher in UK. I must acknowledge that the organisers of this course did tremendously well it was really fantastic. I had a whole day experience in a school where I had the opportunity to be in two different class rooms. It was a wonderful experience to see how
teaching goes on, classroom management, the use of ICT facilities, and the role of teaching assistant.
'This actually boosted my enthusiasm to go out there and teach. I got more insight into a practical responsibility of a teacher and the positive relationship a teacher builds with pupils.'
Ebenezer F Pobee, taster course attendee
