Postgraduate Certificate in Education PGCE

The English course is a research-led, reflective and exciting course presenting a balanced approach to language and literacy development. 

We encourage critical reflection which will enable teachers to develop their own rationale for English in school. Fiction, drama, poetry, media and cultural studies, as well as elements of language study, are all given an important place on the course. There is an emphasis on academic reading and critical enquiry, as well as upon practical experience in the classroom; student teachers frequently share the benefits of their experiences and research with their peers in both formal and informal situations.

Course overview

University sessions are practical and workshop based, allowing opportunities to try out teaching ideas. Student teachers will be asked to study children's fiction, poetry and Shakespeare in order to discuss ways of presenting them in class and to read children's writing in order to decide how to respond to it positively. There will be additional workshops on A Level teaching, drama and media education.

A close relationship is maintained with the English departments of the Universities Partnership schools and there is close consultation between the PGCE tutor and the English mentor in the schools.

What are we looking for?

As this is an 11-19 course you will train to teach up to A Level. We will normally take into account the balance of your degree content and your profile of GCSE and A Level (or equivalent) subjects and results to assess your suitability for the programme.

You will need a degree that is predominantly English based, either in Language or Literature. If you have other related degree qualifications (such as in Law or in Journalism), we would like evidence of a strong engagement with literature and/or language-related work and that you have read widely across a range of literature types, including Shakespeare.

Geography is an important and dynamic subject and has an important role in educating young people to live successfully in a diverse society and a changing world. This course will help you to develop teaching strategies and skills so that you can use your enthusiasm to inspire and motivate pupils.

Sheffield University offers excellent opportunities for geography PGCE student teachers; our course is regarded highly locally; regionally and nationally. The course is planned to promote teaching as a research-based profession in which critical understanding is developed alongside practical abilities. Several of the schools supporting geography student teachers have been at the forefront of geographical education in this country for many years, and many are involved in innovative approaches to education.

Course overview

The geography curriculum course aims to develop your confidence to enable you to teach in a wide variety of situations. The course takes into account the requirements of examination specifications at GCSE, A Level and the geography National Curriculum,  enabling  you to develop a critical understanding of recent developments. The theoretical foundations which underlie approaches to teaching and learning are considered, particularly with regard to how these relate to geography teaching in schools.

The use and application of digital technology, such as GIS, is a major feature of the work of teachers and there will be opportunities for you to gain practical experience in this area. The course will help you to develop expertise in fieldwork activities and working with pupils outside the classroom. Student teachers will have the opportunity to participate in fieldwork, and learn more about teaching geography in the field. Some student teachers will also have the opportunity to participate in field trips organised by schools.

Geographically, Sheffield and its surroundings provide an interesting area for local studies and field-work. The border of the Peak District National Park is within five miles of the University of Sheffield and the towns and cities of South Yorkshire provide good examples of urban regeneration.  Furthermore, the national headquarters of the Geographical Association (GA) is in Sheffield and student teachers are encouraged to become active members of the GA.

What are we looking for?

You will need a degree in geography or have at least 50% of your degree in geography. As this is an 11-19 course we are preparing students to teach up to A Level and we will normally take into account the balance of your degree classification and your profile of A Level results.

We do not accept applications for Geography from applicants who require a Visa to study in the UK.

Teachers of history play a significant role in educating young people to become well informed and active participants in a diverse society. Our PGCE History course is designed and taught by University Subject Tutors with years of recent experience in teaching history and leadership in local schools. This experience and expertise plus the advantage of 50 half day sessions across the year dedicated specifically to learning about the teaching of history, enables us to give you the best possible subject specific foundation for your career as a specialist 11-18 history teacher. 

We see no divide between theory and practice. Our work in the University is intensely practical and your practice in school must be thoughtful and reflective. In summary, you will be supported to develop your own teacher identity and become a reflective practitioner so that you can thrive as a history teacher and future curriculum leader in any secondary school.

Course overview

Through 50 intensive half day History Subject seminars across the year, supported by 21 half days of Educational & Professional Studies, you will learn what it means to be a great history teacher.

Following a foundational exploration of competing conceptions of an effective history curriculum and the purpose and practice of history as a school subject discipline, you will learn how to plan, teach and assess challenging and engaging lessons at Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level. 

You will learn about, observe, practice and reflect upon a wide range of approaches to teaching and learning in history and engage critically with relevant and recent literature and research in history education. 

Seminars are led by your University Subject Tutors, supported by guest specialists from, for example, the Holocaust Education Trust, GCSE examination boards and a local Special Educational Needs school. You will also be taught by experts in decolonising and diversifying the curriculum, preparing students for GCSE examinations and using drama techniques in history lessons. We visit museums and a local English Heritage castle to teach you how to plan and embed focussed site visits into your teaching. 

What we are looking for?

As this is an 11-19 course we are also preparing students to teach up to A Level and we will normally take into account the balance of your degree classification and your profile of A Level results.

The basic requirement is an honours degree in history or a dual or combined honours degree such as politics and history, with at least 50% historical content.

Beyond that we are looking for resilient, reflective and determined individuals who are driven by a demonstrable passion for history and a desire to make a positive difference to the lives of young people.

Mathematics teachers play an important role in enabling young people to develop confidence in and enthusiasm for this vitally important subject.  Our PGCE in mathematics will support you to build practical teaching skills alongside reflection and discussion, and you will graduate with the expertise, confidence, and professional skills to inspire young people to engage with mathematics and appreciate its relevance today.

We see no divide between theory and practice. Our work in the University is intensely practical and your practice in school must be thoughtful and reflective. The mathematics PGCE course is organised around three themes:

• Teaching and learning
• Mathematics subject knowledge
• Issues in mathematics education

In the university sessions, you will be actively involved in your learning, through leading seminars and presenting to your peers. We work closely with local schools and involve mathematics teachers from partnership schools who make significant contributions to the taught programme.

What are we looking for?

You will need a degree in mathematics or have at least 50% of your degree in mathematics. If your degree has less than 50% mathematics, we might still accept you, subject to your completion of a mathematics Subject Knowledge Enhancement course. As this is an 11-19 course we are also preparing students to teach up to A Level and we will normally take into account the balance of your degree classification and your profile of A Level results.

For further information about training to teach Maths in England please visit the Become a Maths Teacher page on the Get into Teaching website.

We do not accept applications for Mathematics from applicants who require a Visa to study in the UK.

Languages teachers need to be enthusiastic, resourceful, innovative and imaginative in order to create an engaging environment for language learning. The PGCE Languages course is designed to enable you to respond to this challenge. It also takes account of the local and national policy contexts, encouraging an awareness of the many opportunities which exist to support language teaching and learning.

We will train you to be a reflective practitioner and the academic masters-level work on the course fosters a deeper understanding and critical stance in relation to teaching and learning languages in secondary schools.

Course overview

Applicants choose a specialist language for their PGCE from French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian or Urdu. Your competence in this language needs to be of a sufficient standard for you to teach it to A Level. In addition to your specialist language, it is common and desirable for applicants to offer a second, subsidiary language. This should be of a sufficient standard for you to teach it to KS3 level (11-14). 

Please note that German, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian and Urdu specialists will be required to offer French or Spanish as a subsidiary language. Additionally, there are only limited spaces available for specialisms  in Japanese, Mandarin, Russian and Urdu, due to the relatively few number of secondary schools teaching these languages. Applicants should apply earlier in the application cycle to avoid disappointment.

The subject element of the PGCE is designed to give you the confidence and skills you will need to teach languages.  The course brings together theory, practice and research  to explore methods and strategies appropriate to the range of teaching situations likely to be met in an all-ability school.

In addition to periods of block school experience, other school visits are organised and student teachers can also take part in the activities of The Association for Language Learning (ALL) whose Yorkshire Branch is based in Sheffield.

What are we looking for?

As this is an 11-19 course we are preparing you to teach up to A Level and we will normally take into account the balance of your degree content and your profile of GCSE and A Level (or equivalent) subjects and results to assess your suitability for the programme.

Most applicants will have studied one or both languages as a major part of their degree and we expect a total of at least three months´ residence in an appropriate country. Native speakers may have a degree in another subject. They will however, need to demonstrate an adequate level of spoken and written English. It is desirable for applicants to have spent time in a secondary school in the United Kingdom either working, volunteering or as a visitor and to have spent some time with the Languages department in particular.

The PGCE in Science is offered in the following ways:

• Science with Biology
• Science with Chemistry
• Science with Physics
• Physics with Mathematics

Course overview

Our Science PGCE programmes are designed to develop knowledgeable, reflective, and enthusiastic teachers who are passionate advocates for their subject. Whether you specialise in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Physics with Mathematics, you will graduate with the expertise, confidence, and professional skills to inspire young people to engage with science and appreciate its relevance in the modern world.

The Biology, Chemistry, and Physics pathways prepare you to teach the full range of science across Key Stage 3 before progressing to your specialist discipline at Key Stage 4 and post-16. The Physics with Mathematics pathway equips you to teach Physics at Key Stage 4 and post-16 alongside Mathematics at Key Stages 3 and 4.

From the outset, you will join a strong community of science educators, learning from university tutors with extensive experience across the secondary science curriculum. Through interactive workshops, practical activities, and research-informed teaching, you will engage with contemporary approaches to science education, deepen your understanding of how students learn, and develop the skills to create engaging and inclusive lessons that foster curiosity, critical thinking, and scientific literacy.

A distinctive feature of the programme is its strong emphasis on practical science. You will learn how to design, deliver, and evaluate practical activities that not only demonstrate scientific phenomena but also develop conceptual understanding, scientific enquiry, problem-solving skills, and curiosity. By exploring the evidence underpinning effective practical work, you will gain the confidence to use practical activities purposefully and ensure they have a meaningful impact on pupils’ learning.

Professional practice is woven throughout the programme. You will develop expertise in lesson planning, practical and laboratory-based teaching, health and safety, assessment, and the effective use of evidence to inform your practice. Our sessions are highly relevant to classroom realities and closely align with the demands of teaching science in today’s secondary schools.

Students on the Physics with Mathematics pathway study primarily alongside fellow science trainees while also benefiting from specialist sessions with Mathematics PGCE students, enabling them to build confidence and expertise across both subject areas.

We expect our trainees to be active participants in their own learning, contributing to discussions, practical activities, and collaborative enquiry throughout the programme.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking graduates with a genuine enthusiasm for science and a commitment to inspiring future generations. As this is an 11–19 programme, we prepare trainees to teach through to A-level. When assessing suitability, we therefore consider the balance of your degree content alongside your GCSE and A-level (or equivalent) qualifications.

Typically, applicants will hold a degree with at least 50% of its content in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. We also welcome graduates from closely related disciplines, including Engineering, Earth Sciences, Materials Science, Clinical Sciences, and Psychology. Where appropriate, we may recommend a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course to strengthen your subject knowledge before the programme begins.

Applicants to the Physics with Mathematics pathway would normally hold a degree in Physics, Mathematics, or Engineering, together with A-levels (or equivalent) in both Physics and Mathematics.

Successful science teachers are lifelong learners. Whatever your academic background, there will always be opportunities to deepen your subject knowledge and broaden your expertise. The trainees who thrive on our programme are intellectually curious, resilient, organised, and committed to continual professional growth. If you are excited by science, enjoy sharing ideas, and want to help young people understand and appreciate the world through scientific thinking, this programme will equip you to become an outstanding science educator and a confident ambassador for your subject.

For further information about training to teach Physics in England please visit the Teach Physics page on the Get into Teaching website.