Post Graduate Certificate in Education in Secondary Science: Chemistry

at University of Reading

Develop your teaching skills, and qualify as a secondary chemistry teacher, with our highly regarded PGCE Secondary Science with Chemistry course at the Institute of Education.

This Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary Science course is consistently graded as good in Ofsted inspections, and will lead to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach the 11-18 age group in secondary schools in England and Wales.

We recognise the importance of being able to teach children to explore, understand and make sense of their world through science.

Training to teach in one of the sciences at the University of Reading is an immersive experience that utilises many modes of delivery and participation with active learning at its core. You will develop your skills throughout the programme so that you are fully prepared to share your love of learning and knowledge about science with the children you will teach.

Our course is designed in collaboration with our strong schools partnership so that it meet both your needs as a learner and the needs of the children you teach.

You will be taught by staff with national reputations as experts in the field of science education. They are a diverse and incredibly experienced community of academics with extensive school teaching and academic experience.

Your teaching is through a series of practical seminars and workshops in purpose-built science laboratories where interactive and discussion-based techniques will encourage you to engage, reflect and challenge.

You will take part in activities designed to help you to plan your teaching effectively and imaginatively, discovering how to evaluate your skills, particularly in terms of the quality of learning achieved by pupils.

Sessions may include

• participating in workshop-style sessions with your peers
• attending presentations by subject experts
• working on tasks in groups
• having individual tutorials
• visits to schools or other education settings
• visits to museums or sites of educational interest
• writing assignments on aspects of subject teaching and Professional Studies.

Our course is linked with the Association for Science Education, the Royal Society of Chemistry, The Earth Science Teachers Association and other academic departments within the University of Reading who all provide guest speakers to our sessions.

These learning activities will help you to develop a toolkit of knowledge and skills, ensuring you are well prepared to tackle challenges and opportunities throughout your training and your career.

Alongside the University tutors, you will be taught and guided by a team of committed and experienced University-trained school mentors.