PGCert in Education (PGCE)

at University of Oxford

Student teachers are known as interns during the PGCE course.

At Oxford, interns are prepared to teach in secondary schools (11-19 age range) in one of the following subjects:
 

• English
• geography
• history
• mathematics
• modern languages (French, German, Spanish, Mandarin)
• religious education
• science (biology, chemistry, physics).

The programme has been developed with colleagues from Oxfordshire partnership schools and covers the key professional skills of:
 

• lesson planning and preparation
• assessment, recording and reporting
• responding to individual learning needs
• classroom and behaviour management.

This is a full-time course which will involve travel to your placement school, although most partnership schools do lie within the Oxfordshire county boundaries.

The greater part of the autumn (Michaelmas) term is made up of 'joint weeks', in which time is spent both in your first placement school and at the Department of Education. The spring (Hilary) term  consists primarily of an extended experience at the same school. For the summer (Trinity) term, you will move to a second school, which provides an opportunity to consolidate and extend your understanding of teaching and learning. Between the two mainstream school placements, you will also spend one week in a special school or specialist base, developing your knowledge of effective approaches for young people with special educational needs or disabilities, so helping you to teach in more inclusive ways. 

There are two interrelated course components: curriculum subject work and the professional development programme. The curriculum tutor leads University seminars and liaises with the school-based mentor to co-ordinate subject-focused classroom activities. The mentor provides guidance and support and gradually increases the intern's teaching responsibilities. The professional tutor in school co-ordinates school-based activities related to teachers' wider professional roles (eg pastoral responsibilities) and liaises with the University-based general tutor, to plan seminars related to school-wide policies and practices. University tutors and guest specialists lead the University-based components of the professional development programme intended to develop an understanding of educational policy and of whole-school and cross-curricular issues. 

Experience and reflection underlie the whole course with the emphasis on you as a critical learner, considering a range of perspectives and testing your own ideas within your practice. You are encouraged to take responsibility for your own professional development and develop your own philosophy of teaching and learning.

Applicants must hold, or be in the final year of, an undergraduate degree. Students typically study the subject in which they wish to complete a PGCE, but degrees from related subjects will also be considered.

Applicants must also hold a GCSE at grade C (level 4) or above in English and mathematics. Applicants who do not hold a GCSE in English or mathematics (or a satisfactory equivalent) will be asked to complete a GCSE equivalency test. Your individual case will be reviewed by the Course Director and tailored advice given once a formal offer has been accepted.

International qualifications viewed as comparable to qualifications taken within the UK are accepted for the PGCE. In order for the University of Oxford to formally recognise any overseas qualification the student must present a Statement of Comparability from UK NARIC. Students in this position should wait until they have accepted an offer to study on the Oxford PGCE, as a teacher training applicant you can obtain the Statement of Comparability for free (this usually costs £49.50 plus VAT).

Modern Language applicants who are native speakers of the target language do not need a degree in the main modern language. Native speakers offering a second language should hold an A level (or a satisfactory equivalent) in that additional language or should be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge, such as time spent living abroad. We are happy to receive applications from graduates who speak all of the modern languages we offer.

Other conditions

If your application is successful then you will be made a conditional offer. The conditions of this offer will include:
 

• Proof of graduation
• Evidence of GCSE at grade C (level 4) or above in English and mathematics
• Completion of an occupational health questionnaire
• Satisfactory completion of relevant background checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Financial declaration

There may be additional conditions attached to your offer. In order to meet Oxford’s requirements and confirm your unconditional status all of these requirements must also be met in due course.

Home    
£9,250

Overseas    
£32,760

The numbers of interns going into teaching at the end of the course is high with most interns having secured a teaching post in a state-maintained school. As of October 2021, 90% were employed as a teacher or seeking teaching roles. 61% were working as a teacher in the state sector. 30% were working in a partnership school.