Course summary

* With a recommendation for QTS Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach the primary curriculum. You will specialise in either early years and key stage 1 or key stage 1 and key stage 2 and gain experience across the primary key stages so that you are confident in teaching any year group. You will have taught university sessions prior to each of the two placements and will normally spend a minimum of 120 days in schools. When you’re at Manchester Met, you’ll learn teaching methods and organisational skills, and how to apply your knowledge in the classroom. Some of the skills you’ll learn include how to plan and teach lessons, assess learning and how to manage children’s behaviour. You’ll explore creative ways to teach across the curriculum, from subjects such as history and science to English and art. You might, for example, explore how to use drama and role-play to bring history to life. We also have specialist teaching spaces for some subjects. For example, we have science laboratories on campus, where you will have taught sessions with our science tutors so that you can develop the knowledge and confidence you’ll need to teach your class. On placement you will gradually increase your involvement to become an expert practitioner. You will, with support and mentoring, progress to teaching an 80% timetable in your final school placement. On your placements, you will get involved with everything in school, from assemblies to playground duties, to speaking with parents. Features and Benefits

• Develop your age phase specialism - 3 to 7 or 5 to 11.

• Teaching experience - You will spend at least the minimum Department for Education (DfE) required time (approximately 120 days) on placement, gaining experience in mainstream primary schools.

• Diverse placements - Varied placement opportunities.

• Student support - You’ll receive guidance throughout your journey, including academic support from subject tutors and professional mentoring while on placements, helping you develop the skills and knowledge to meet Teachers’ Standards.

• Specialist tutors – Tutors who have subject and phase expertise.

• Research-led teaching - Many of our staff are active researchers in education and their research influences our programmes. The School of Education at Manchester Met ranks in the UK’s top 10 research power in education (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) and the Institute of Children’s Futures launched in November 2024 which brings together academics, policy makers and practitioners to improve the lives of young people.

• Professional development - Early career teacher support and opportunities for continuing professional development at Manchester Met.

• Postgraduate credits - When you graduate, you’ll achieve 60 masters’ level credits (this is one-third of a masters degree). You can put these towards a masters degree to help you develop your new career.