Course summary
Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach the secondary school music curriculum for the 11-16 age range. This is a practical course where you will be immersed in music making and teaching and encouraged to develop and apply your own musical skills. You’ll be taught through hands-on sessions and explore topics that support musical learning, using both acoustic and digital instruments to strengthen your subject knowledge. You’ll consider creative and inclusive approaches to teaching music and ways to engage pupils in meaningful musical experiences. A key focus of the course is on teaching music musically. You’ll learn how to plan and deliver lessons that are rich in musical content and activity—lessons that enable pupils to make, understand, and enjoy music, rather than simply learn about it. You’ll also actively explore how music education can promote inclusion and support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), developing strategies that make music accessible and relevant for all learners. On the specialist instrumental teaching route, you’ll receive additional subject knowledge development in your first instrument and its wider family. As part of your placement timetable, you’ll also gain experience in possibly delivering individual, small group, and large group instrumental tuition, helping to prepare you for teaching both in schools and through music hub or peripatetic roles. The focus is to see the pupil(s) at the centre of the musical experience and how the varying facets contribute to their overall musical development and progress. We have a strong partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), with elements of the course co-delivered by RNCM colleagues. While at Manchester Met, you’ll mainly study within your PGCE music group – one of your greatest learning resources. You’ll learn how to plan and evaluate lessons, reflect on your practice, explore how research informs effective teaching, and develop your teacher persona. Peer collaboration is central to the course, giving you opportunities to share knowledge and experience with your fellow trainees. FEATURES AND BENEFITS:
- Employability - You’ll have the skills and experience to teach music at GCSE and potentially A/AS-levels.
- Teaching experience - You will spend at least the minimum Department for Education (DfE) required time (approximately 120 days) on placement, gaining experience in mainstream secondary schools.
- 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.
- Partnerships - We have partnerships with over 500 schools, colleges and educational organisations, meaning we are able to provide students with a range of school experiences.
- 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.
- 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.
Modules
Please visit the University website for module and placement information: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/course/pgce-secondary-music-with-specialist-instrument-teaching-with-qts
Assessment method
Please visit the University website for assessment information: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/course/pgce-secondary-music-with-specialist-instrument-teaching-with-qts
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
Degree You will normally have a minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification. In most cases your degree needs to support the subject knowledge requirements of the national curriculum for music. However, music is a unique subject and we have several high quality trainees who have had degrees in non-music subjects, but through professional work have shown the necessary skills to enter the course. For exceptional candidates, particularly those with a higher-level degree or substantial relevant work experience in schools or relevant occupations we will consider applications from those who hold a 3rd class degree. GCSE You will also need GCSE at grade C/4 or above in English language and mathematics. You can apply with GCSEs pending for this course and sit the relevant equivalency tests approved by Manchester Met (see our admissions tutor team for approved equivalency providers). As per government requirements for teacher training courses, we are not able to accept key skills, adult numeracy and literacy or functional skills as an alternative to GCSE English language and mathematics. We are not able to accept human biology, physiology, environmental or agricultural science as an alternative to GCSE science qualification. We are not able to consider Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A-levels, BTECs) as an alternative to GCSE English language, mathematics and science. Successful candidates will demonstrate a good understanding of teaching and learning within a secondary school setting. You may be able to evidence your understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools, other educational settings or wider research and reading. If you are due to graduate or have graduated within the last three years your principal referee must be a university lecturer from where you graduated. Other requirements Appropriate post-16 qualifications. An ability to communicate effectively in spoken and written English. Excellent interpersonal skills. An informed and realistic understanding of the complexities and challenge of teaching in a secondary school. An understanding of how learning develops within an engaging rich and broad context, with recognition of the contribution made by parents and carers. Personal qualities and abilities appropriate to becoming an effective teacher, including a strong motivation to teach young students, an ability to express personal views with clarity and conviction, to listen and respond appropriately to the views of others, awareness of, and commitment to, issues relating to equal opportunities and providing all students with an inclusive learning environment. An awareness of the importance of safeguarding within educational contexts. Intellectual capacity to critically reflect upon experience and personal challenges. A Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Check and DfE Fitness to Teach occupational health clearance is required before you can enrol on this course. Overseas Overseas candidates should have Cambridge Proficiency in English or IELTS Band 7 with no less than 6.0 in any element, taken within two years of course start date. Further details can be found on mmu.ac.uk/international Personal Statement This plays an important role in the admissions process and successful candidates will demonstrate a good understanding of teaching and learning within a secondary school setting. You may be able to evidence your understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools, other educational settings or wider research and reading. Interview You will be expected to attend an interview as part of the application process. Full details of your interview will be provided by email once your initial application has been approved.
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
Provider information
Manchester Metropolitan University
All Saints Building
All Saints
Manchester
M15 6BH