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Postgraduate Certificate Secondary Education (QTS) - Physical Education

Start date
September
Duration
36 weeks
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Physical Education) leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Our specialist programme, which offers high quality training and support, will prepare you to teach in the 11-18 age range and is run in partnership with schools.

The Physical Education Postgraduate Certificate Secondary Education course aims to nurture physical educators who are innovatively responsive to evolving youth cultures, comfortable in challenging both their own and others’ beliefs and practices to make physical education relevant to every young person. Through integrating theory with practical experiences, the course seeks to unpick what meaningful physical education experiences truly entail, shaping teachers that have a sustained impact on personal flourishing through lifelong physical activity habits and enjoyments.

In the first term, learning aims to prepare you directly for the teaching situations that you may face on school placements. You will be equipped with the pedagogical and content knowledge and skills to inspire and nurture young people’s positive relationship with active lifestyle. Developing your sound theoretical understanding on which your practice is based will subsequently develop your professional understanding and aptitudes as a physical education teacher, boosting your effectiveness as a practitioner. 

Our supportive partnerships with physical education departments in a variety of diverse schools within the west midlands enhances the relevance of your learning, connecting you with what young people really need to be inspired to pursue a positive relationship with lifelong physical activity. As your learning shifts to within school practice and learning, we foster your curiosity and reflective expertise as you learn to take ownership of and challenge your pedagogical decision making in the quest to prioritize and achieve meaningful experiences in physical education for every child.  

On successful completion of your PGCE, you may return to study with us on a part-time basis to complete your Masters in Teaching Studies.

The School of Education at the University of Birmingham in the West Midlands, has a long tradition of delivering teacher training courses. Its teaching has been graded as 'outstanding' three times by Ofsted inspectors which affirms the University’s status as one of the UK’s leading institutions for excellence in teacher training.

Equal Opportunities

The School of Education and University of Birmingham is committed to equal opportunities in the access to and provision of education. For more information please see the following documents:

Information on our other PGDipEd (QTS) secondary subjects may be found on the Postgraduate Certificate Secondary Education (QTS) course page.

 

Fees

Fees for 2024-2025 are:

£9,250 (UK), £24,120 (International).

When you apply for this course, it is important that you also take into account living costs and should ensure that you will have sufficient funds to finance the full duration of your studies. Our PGCE programmes include a significant amount of time spent on placements in a variety of schools at different locations, and so when budgeting to study you should also allow for travel to and from placements, as well as textbooks, printing, photocopying and stationery that you may need.

Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan

With or without a bursary, you can also access a  Tuition Fee Loan to cover your tuition fees and a Maintenance Loan for your living costs. The available loans for 2023-2024 are:

  • a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,250 to cover your fees
  • a Maintenance Loan of up to £13,022 to support your living costs

Additional financial support

If you have children or a disability, extra funding is available. For instance, you could get:

Find out more information on the  extra financial support available

For further information contact the School directly or visit the Funding, Graduation & Awards Office via online enquiries.

How To Apply

Apply online through DfE Apply. Our course is very popular and we recommend you apply early as possible. We also advise you to use an academic reference first to avoid delay and disappointment. 

Course code: X9C6

The Interview process 

Selection is rigorous and designed to identify candidates with the strongest aptitude. Candidates selected for interview will be invited to:

  • meet course tutors
  • find out more about the course
  • have a one to one interview
  • show GCSE and Degree certificates (where these are available).

We work closely with partner schools to select candidates and applicants will often have the opportunity to meet senior colleagues from partner schools when they join us for interview day.  

Our Standard Requirements

We expect candidates for the Secondary PGCE (QTS) to be able to demonstrate the academic quality to teach the subject that they will be training to teach. This will include a strong academic record at A level or equivalent in relevant subjects, along with a strong degree (usually a minimum of 2:2) relevant to the subject taught. In all cases we will be looking at the relevance of your degree, other qualifications and experiences related to your proposed teaching subject in assessing academic suitability. You must also have GCSE Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above) or equivalent qualifications which will be a condition of any offer, if not already achieved. Equivalency tests will be accepted but only from equivalency testing.

All applicants to the Secondary PGCE (QTS) Physical Education course must hold a degree from a UK Higher Institution or an equivalent qualification. This will normally be a minimum 2:2 classification or equivalent qualification and this will be a condition of any offer where the degree has not already been awarded. We will expect your degree to be at least 50% Physical Education or have sport components.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact us on ITEadmissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk

You must also:

  • complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before taking up a place.
  • complete relevant checks to ensure you have the health and physical capacity to teach.
  • agree to abide by the University of Birmingham Code of Professional Conduct and Fitness to Practise.

International Requirements



International Students

English Language requirements

IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
TOEFL - 88 IBT overall with no less than 20 in Listening, 21 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
Cambridge English Advanced: 176 overall with 169 in each component

The Postgraduate Certificate of Education (QTS) Physical Education programme will include the study of subject-based teaching methods as well as the study of broader professional issues.  A variety of teaching styles and approaches to learning will be used in the presentation of the themes. These will include University-based lectures, small group seminars and workshops, substantial school-based work with pupils and teachers, and work undertaken individually or with other groups of students.

Our Professional Enquiry course provides breadth and depth of insight across key themes such as learning theories, assessment, equalities, inclusion and teacher health and wellbeing.

Our modules are designed to follow a coherent and cohesive trajectory that will prepare you for your first teaching post. These include modules that focus on working with expert teachers who provide opportunities to practise and receive targeted feedback on core skills, as well as academic assignments that involve making links between practice and recent relevant research.

You will have a personal academic tutor to guide and support you, as well as mentoring in both your placement schools. You will benefit from a specialist programme, working with a subject tutor and peers, developing a professional network which will sustain you into your career. 

 

Many local schools have a high regard for Birmingham Physical Education ITE trainees and we have an excellent record of trainees gaining jobs upon completion of the course. Many of our ex-students are now Directors of Sport, Heads of Departments or SSCO's in our partnership schools and beyond.