Course summary

The world is a diverse place. As a Religious Education (RE) teacher, you’ll show young people the range of worldviews and perspectives which people around the world hold, and how this informs the way communities live their lives. Our PGCE Secondary Religious Education delves into the values and academic skills you’ll need. Get to grips with contemporary teaching styles and methods, and further your knowledge of this fascinating subject. We’ve designed this course so you can combine learning on campus with practical experience in the classroom. Whenever you need support or feedback, you can turn to your subject specific tutors and school-based expert mentor. We’re here to help you become the best teacher you can be. This course equips you for your future career, offering hands-on experience in planning RE lessons. You’ll also get the chance to meet and build connections with representatives from a range of world views including Humanism and Veganism, alongside members of traditional faith communities. Successful completion of the programme leads to recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). What you'll study During this course, you will develop your understanding of what effective RE looks like with a focus on Key Stage 3 and 4. Learn to plan lessons which help pupils develop the skills they need to be engaged and informed in their local and global communities. Explore how to apply subject specific approaches relating to worldviews, religions, and philosophical and ethical matters. These experiences are designed to help you understand how RE can promote discussions around faith and encourage young people to embrace diversity. Get a better understanding of life as a secondary RE teacher through placements in two different settings. Reflect on your progress and build on your academic skills with support from your subject specific tutor and school-based expert mentor. We’ll also make sure you have the tools to support online or remote teaching. To boost your confidence in the classroom, you’ll explore the ways pupils learn and develop classroom management techniques. You’ll also develop effective assessment methods and engagement strategies. We’ll explain how to check your teaching is always adaptive and inclusive. Intensive Training and Practice You will also undertake Intensive Training and Practice (ITAP) as a specific and focused element of our teacher training curriculum. This is designed to consolidate your knowledge of effective teaching, and enable you to rehearse and obtain feedback from experts on your practice. Our ITAPs are designed to utilise the latest research and technology as well as draw on the outstanding mentors, tutors, and teacher expertise from across our partnership. Over the course of your training, you will have the opportunity to participate in several days of Intensive Practice focusing on aspects of pivotal practice such as; behaviour management, scaffolding, professional behaviours and questioning. During periods of ITAP, your timetable may differ and you may be required to attend campus and/or a placement on days outside of the usual pattern. Lead Mentors The Edge Hill lead mentors and mentor leadership team play an important part in your teacher training as experts in their field. They have a deep knowledge of the trainee curriculum and support trainees and mentors to make progress providing guidance and support on aspects of the curriculum and assessment.