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Key details

Course area
Teacher Training
Student types
Courses for 19+ studentsUniversity Level
Course type
Full-time University Level course
Course level
Level 7
Start date
Wednesday 26th August 2026
Location
Basford 664 Nuthall Road, Nottingham, NG8 6AQ
Fees
£8,250.00
Course code
Parent course code:C059174 Child course code: Q059175
UCAS course code
PGCS
UCAS institution code
N30
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Course introduction

The PGCE Secondary with QTS (validated by the University of Derby) is designed for graduates who want to move into secondary school teaching. You will be recruited as a trainee and based mainly in one of our delivery partner schools, so you will become a valuable part of a school team from the start.

With intensive support in the classroom and the guidance of college and university experts, you will be fully prepared for the practical demands of secondary teaching in your chosen subject specialism. As part of the course, you will undertake two assessed teaching placements to broaden your experience. You will be supported throughout by expert colleagues including our trained school mentors and subject specialist tutors.

You will also spend time at the college and university to help put your school experience in the context of educational policy, principles and evidence-based practice.

You’ll study modules such as: 

  • What is effective learning?
  • How do we all learn, what is our role?
  • How do we plan for and evidence learning? 

Whilst you will spend most of your time learning how to teach in schools through the network of delivery partners, you will also benefit from wider perspectives about teaching, learning and the educational landscape here at college and the University of Derby. Working in our excellent facilities, with university and other experts in the wider educational field, you will develop a deeper and more critical understanding of what it takes to become a highly effective teacher.

Course information

1 year

PGCE Secondary (Provider-Led, School-based) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

You will need an undergraduate honours degree (minimum 2:2) or equivalent, plus GCSE grade 4 or above in English Language and Maths. You must be able to demonstrate an appropriate level of subject knowledge in your chosen subject curriculum specialism (typically a level 3 qualification or above). Please contact SchoolbasedITTE@derby.ac.uk for further guidance.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required at the point of accepting a place. The Disclosure and Barring Service was established when the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) merged in 2012 and will now provide the criminal records checking service for this course.

As part of the course, you will undertake two assessed teaching placements to broaden your experience. You will be supported throughout by expert colleagues including our trained school mentors, subject specialist tutors. You will complete two assessed teaching placements, which will provide you with the challenging and exciting experience you need. Throughout these placements you will be given weekly feedback on your progress. You will also have the opportunity to reflect and discuss your developing knowledge of teaching your subject. The academic side of the programme is assessed through three level 7 assignments which align with your practice in school and allow you to match theory with practice.

There are few professions as important and satisfying as teaching. Successful completion of this course gives you the ideal springboard into a worthwhile career: a PGCE, recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status, 60 credits at masters level and substantial practical experience. 

The Provider-led, School-based route is a popular choice for students who would like to secure a role in the network of schools where they train and we pride ourselves on producing highly employable graduates. 

In a profession with lots of opportunities for career progression, the PGCE Secondary gives you a stepping stone towards a master’s degree. With 60 credits at masters level, you can ‘fast track’ to stage two of a masters degree and accelerate your professional development.  As an early career teacher, you can also benefit from continuing support as you take your career forward with a range of resources, subject updates, events, conferences and development opportunities to ease your transition into professional practice.

Alongside your main teaching placements, you will have the chance to visit other schools and to work with children from different backgrounds. You will also focus on your subject specialism to improve your practice and will study school-related issues at master’s level. For more information or an informal chat please contact Julie.Jardine@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk or Sam.Goodwin@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk

This course is subject to validation.

About the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

The TEF is a national scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS) that aims to encourage higher education providers to improve and deliver excellence in the areas that students care about the most: teaching, learning and achieving positive outcomes from their studies.

View our TEF assessment (opens in a new window/tab) Learn more about the TEF (opens in a new window/tab)

Careers related to this course

Select career:

Secondary Education Teaching Professionals

Potential Earnings

£53,629.09

Average Earnings

£39,303.99

Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).

Pathways

Public Services

People in these occupations administrate government programmes and services, work in the justice system, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Teaching and Lecturing

People in these occupations teach classes, give lectures, assist students, and provide training and instruction services.

Skills

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.
View more about this career

Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.

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