Course summary
If you are a graduate working in a Secondary school but currently do not hold a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), this course is for you. The PGCE Route to Qualified Teacher Status for School Based Employees will enable you to gain QTS while continuing to teach in your own school. You will have a minimum of 3 years of sustained teaching responsibility to enable you to build on your current experience. This specialist PGCE is designed for experienced, non-qualified Secondary teachers, providing a structured pathway to achieve QTS while continuing to teach in your school. Combining practical, school-based learning with academic study tailored to the individual, the course will enable you to gain 40 master’s-level credits alongside QTS. Its unique design ensures that you will develop professionally without stepping away from your role. This PGCE is particularly suited to: FE-qualified teachers in schools (e.g., those holding PGCE PCET) Unqualified teachers already employed in schools Individuals with international teaching qualifications / experience not currently recognised as QTS in Wales HLTAs who have been teaching in the absence of a qualified teacher This PGCE for School Based Employees addresses a critical gap in the Welsh education system. It will provide a vital pathway for experienced non-qualified Secondary teachers to attain QTS, aligning with the Welsh Government’s broader goals for educational excellence. By recognising and developing the existing skills of practitioner teachers, this programme aims to ensure a more equitable, skilled, and motivated teaching workforce. You will follow a full-time one-year course, combining university provision and school-based learning. The PGCE is unique to you as it revolves around an individual learning and development plan (ILDP), which is agreed within the first phase of the course. You will develop as a teacher through a research-informed clinical practice approach. We will welcome applicants from all subject areas.
Modules
Please refer to Cardiff Metropolitan Website
Assessment method
The course includes two written assignments at level 7 that are staggered throughout the year. Both university assignments build on your capacity to critically reflect on and evaluate pedagogy and practice whilst enhancing your ability to meet elements of the QTS Standards. In addition, the assignments are designed to develop your research knowledge and skills, affording you the opportunity to link theory to practice in a way that will impact positively on pupils, school improvement and your own professional practice. Both mentors in school and University Tutors will support you through the completion of these assignments. You will be assessed against the Standards for QTS and must pass all Standards to attain qualified teacher status. During the clinical practice, you will receive ongoing verbal and written formative feedback as well as summative reports. As part of the course, you will gather evidence in demonstrating your attainment and achievement and this will be made available to University Tutors so that they can monitor progress at regular intervals. Your subject knowledge is audited at the start of the programme, followed by the production of an ILDP (Individual Learning Development Plan) to address any subject knowledge gaps, with the help of University Tutors and your Senior Mentor. A range of measures are subsequently adopted to ensure that all identified gaps are addressed, including subject research with school-based mentors and directed self-study.
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Secondary
Entry requirements
Please refer to Cardiff Metropolitan Website
English language requirements
IELTS band score 7.5 overall and minimum of 7.0 in each component in the ‘academic’ IELTS test.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Student Recruitment & Admissions
Western Avenue
Cardiff
CF5 2YB