Course Overview

If you’ve got an undergraduate degree and are striving to become a secondary school Biology teacher, then studying our Secondary Science with Biology PGCE with QTS will help you on your way. You’ll develop your subject specialist knowledge alongside hands-on classroom experience.

Why Secondary Science with Biology PGCE with QTS?

• The course is designed to emphasise practical engagement with the curriculum whilst developing your understanding of the theories which underpin the best models of practice. This means you'll be equipped with the knowledge and practical skills you'll need in the constantly changing world of secondary education.

• A significant amount of your learning will take place whilst on placement within one of our partnership schools. You’ll benefit from being able to observe experienced teachers, gain practical hands-on experience and mentoring to help you develop into an outstanding and successful teacher.

• Biology is an exciting subject to teach and there are opportunities for well qualified biology teachers. It is a National Curriculum core subject and is taught throughout schools. The course will enable you to explore what it means to teach biology and develop ways in which you teach it. You will examine the best practice of biology teaching and use a range of teaching strategies to challenge and inform your students.

• Upon successful completion of the course we’ll recommend Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), enabling you to start your first teaching post within a secondary school.

General Eligibility

Entry requirements

• An Honours degree in Science (2:2 or above).

• Two Science A levels at a minimum of grade C (or equivalent), with one subject being Biology.

• GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 or above (or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme) or equivalent.

• If your first language is not English, you will need IELTS 7.0 overall, with no element less than 6.5.

• If all or part of your qualifications are from outside the UK, we’ll need a UK ENIC statement of comparability.

Application to the PGCE via Subject Knowledge Enhancement Programme:

• If your degree qualification does not meet our normal entrance requirements, a place may be offered conditionally on the successful completion of a Subject Knowledge Enhancement programme (SKE).

Other requirements:

• Offers subject to interview

• You must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, and that you have the intellectual and academic potential to meet the required Teachers’ Standards by the end of the programme.

• You should provide two references. Where applicants have current or recent experience working with children or young people, one of the referees should be a member of staff who can comment on their potential to train to teach.

• Offers are subject to satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced disclosure checks and applicants must not previously have been barred from teaching or working with children. We also ask you to complete a health declaration to ensure that you have the health and physical capacity to teach.

Part Time Work Details

20 Hours of Work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• The minimum for IELTS is 7.0 overall with no element lower than 6.5, or equivalent will be considered acceptable.