Course description
The Secondary PGCE at the University of Portsmouth was inspected by OFSTED in March 2007 and received a Grade 1 (outstanding). OFSTED highlighted that: “University based training is of a high quality, with a varied and stimulating range of resources and activities. Subject sessions are lively, interactive and well planned. Visiting specialists….are used to very good effect to enhance the quality of the training. Our partnership schools offer high quality training and commented that Subject mentors are knowledgeable and committed and provide trainees with first rate role models”. At the University of Portsmouth we are committed to meeting the needs of each individual trainee. In particular OFSTED commented on: “…the particularly good arrangements to support trainees whose first language is not English, who come from minority ethnic backgrounds or who may be unfamiliar with the English educational system”. We feel confident that choosing to study at Portsmouth will be a positive, rewarding and enjoyable experience for you.
All trainees embarking on this programme will be registered on the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education pathway. During February trainees will have the opportunity to remain on the Professional Graduate pathway (taking all modules at HE level 3) or choose to follow the Postgraduate Certificate in Education pathway (taking two modules at Masters level). Further guidance will be available at interview and at the start of the course.
Why complete a PGCE in Science?
Science is a core subject in the National Curriculum and you will accept the challenge of training to be part of a rewarding and changing profession.
In this one-year course, your main concern will be with the development of your professional competence as a teacher of science. You will need to focus not only on the teaching of science itself, but also on developing an understanding of educational issues pertaining to teaching and learning, classroom interaction, the school curriculum and the school and society. As well as becoming a competent classroom practitioner, you will need to be able to make informed decisions and recognise the need for further development.
You will be expected to teach the three disciplines within science up to GCSE level and update your subject knowledge. This is a process that will start in the PGCE year, but will continue throughout your teaching career. You will be expected to enhance your subject knowledge through background reading, research, working in peer subject development groups, teaching and working on examination papers.
University sessions will be led in a way that attempt to reflect good classroom practice. Therefore, sessions will feature discussion, collaborative work, individual work, experimental learning, the examination and analysis of materials, and the active participation of group members. You will be expected to attend all these sessions and undertake the tasks that follow the sessions, including the reading. You will spend two-thirds of your time on the course in school, where particular emphasis is placed by mentors on the planning and delivery of lessons. You will be given detailed guidance on what is expected of you in school.
