Geography (Secondary) PGCE (PROFGCE)

  • Overview

    This course prepares graduates to teach in secondary schools. As well as gaining a PGCE, students are assessed against the national standards in order to be recommended for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

    The opportunity to undertake masters level study within the course facilitates progression to an MA Education award after completion of the PGCE.

    You will develop a personal philosophy of geography, enabling you to debate issues from informed viewpoints. In combination with education-related issues, you are able to transform your degree knowledge so you are fully prepared to teach the breadth of the geography curriculum. You will also develop an understanding of the contribution geography teaching can make to cross-curricular strands including literacy, numeracy and thinking skills.

    This course offers a number of features that are of enormous benefit to graduates, the departments in which they are placed, and in their continuing professional development. These include:
    active involvement with fieldwork both locally and in a residential context
    opportunities for involvement with RGS/IBG and GA seminars, conferences and exhibitions
    access to the OS digital map information system 'Digimap' through university registration
    experience with GIS.


    Course duration Help

    Full-time: 1 year

    UCAS code F8X1

  • Course content

    Course structure

    The course comprises four strands: subject study/subject education, education studies, placements and professional development

    The subject study/subject education strand builds upon existing subject expertise and provides students with the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the specialist subject in the secondary school context, allowing them to formulate their own rationale for teaching. Students consider pedagogical issues within curriculum development, and the learning and teaching strategies pertinent to the specialist subject, regularly reflecting upon, analysing, recording and evaluating their own learning experience. Students have the opportunity to develop a creative and constructively critical approach towards innovation within their specialism, and the capacity to improve practice.

    The Education Studies strand is common to all subject routes of the course and takes place both at the university and while on placement as a means of enabling students to develop practical competences supported by relevant, analytical skills.

    Teaching under supervision, on placement, occupies approximately two-thirds of the course. The university works in partnership with schools and colleges to provide a high quality programme of support ensuring a sound relationship between theory and practice. There are two placements in two different schools/colleges with the opportunity to visit further schools/colleges as part of the 'Peer Observation' programme.

    Professional Development is linked explicitly to all strands of the course and is designed to enable students to evaluate critically and reflect upon their learning in order to make improvements. Students are expected to gather and justify evidence of their achievements on a regular basis and, in the light of this, develop and implement improvement plans.

  • Entry requirements

    Typical entry requirements Help
    individual offers may vary

    For non-native speakers of English:
    6.5 overall and 6 in writing.

    Other:
    The Department for Education has introduced Professional Skills Tests in English and Maths for all applicants to teacher training (QTS) routes. These tests are compulsory, and it will not be possible to enter training without having successfully completed them. Candidates are able to book these tests in advance, and the Department for Education strongly advises you to take the tests soon after you have submitted an application.

    The University of Brighton recognises that these tests may present a real challenge to some candidates and we recommend that you prepare carefully before attempting them, as you are limited to only three attempts per test. We recommend that postgraduate applicants have passed the tests before they come to an interview as this will give you a clear advantage. However, if you have not yet passed the tests but have a clear strategy in place, we may well be prepared to consider your capacity to pass and potentially make you an offer of a place subject to their successful completion. When we make such an offer you will be given a clear deadline, usually within 2 months of your interview, so we advise that you plan ahead and book your tests well in advance so that you can organise your preparation.

    Details about the tests, including how to register and prepare for the tests, can be found here: www.education.gov.uk/schools/careers/traininganddevelopment/professional

    All applicants are required to attend an interview in person either at the Falmer campus or in one of our partner schools.

    All offers of places are subject to a satisfactory health check and a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) enhanced disclosure check.

    There is an expectation that a period of observation in a state school geography department will be undertaken before the interview or as a condition of entry after a successful interview.

    Degree and/or experience:
    Degree or equivalent aat 2.1 or above which must be directly relevant to the geography subject specialism. GCSE English language and mathematics, minimum grade C or equivalent. In-house tests available for candidates without qualifications in mathematics and English.

  • Location

    Location Help Falmer

  • Career opportunities

    Career prospects are excellent: most gain their first teaching posts in secondary schools as soon as they qualify.

    Visit the careers centre website.

  • Fees and costs

    The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study.

    The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take. Different rules apply to research degrees - please contact the Doctoral College for advice.

    To help you plan for your time here we will be providing further information about what is included in your tuition fee, and any optional costs you may need to budget for, later in the autumn.

    Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

    Bursaries are available for eligible trainees on priority PGCE courses. Bursary amounts will vary depending on the subject route and your degree classification. Find out more about funding.

  • More details

    About Geography PGCE

    • The course incorporates periods of university and school-based work.
    • The balance between university and school allows you to develop your subject knowledge of geography and possibly other humanities subjects. At the same time, you can learn the skills you will need to work in the geography or humanities department of a school or college.
    • You can develop a personal philosophy of geography enabling you to debate issues from a well-informed viewpoint.
    • University work involves a number of approaches including workshops, seminars, lectures, peer-teaching, independent and group research activities. 
    • Fieldwork is a strong aspect of the PGCE with a residential course and various fieldwork trips (some taken with partner schools). Students are encouraged to participate in any school-based fieldwork which takes place during their placement.
    • You will have opportunities to get involved with the Geographical Association (GA), Royal Geographical Association and Institute of British Geographers (RGS/IBG) conferences, workshops and exhibitions.
    • There are two school placements where you can build up to teaching 50 per cent of a school timetable.

  • Apply online


    If you wish to apply for a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) please go to the GTTR website - http://www.gttr.ac.uk/

Geography (Secondary)
Find out more

01273 643377
m.j.norman@brighton.ac.uk

How to apply for teacher training

Visit the school or college site

More about this course