Northgate High School Chemistry (M874)

Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) with qualified teacher status (QTS)

• Accredited body: University of East Anglia
• Financial support: Scholarships or bursaries, as well as student finance, are available if you’re eligible
• Qualification:
  PGCE with QTS

  A postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) with qualified teacher status (QTS) will allow you to teach in state schools in England and may allow you to teach in other parts of the UK.

  It may also allow you to teach overseas, though you should always check what qualifications are needed in the country you’d like to teach in.

  Many PGCE courses include credits that count toward a Master’s degree.

• Age range: 11 to 16 - secondary
• Course length: 38 weeks - full time
• Date you can apply from: 11 October 2022
• Date course starts: September 2023
• Website: http://www.northgate.suffolk.sch.uk

Contents

Course summary

Our 38 week, full-time PGCE Secondary Science (specialising in Chemistry) programme will equip you with the skills, experience and knowledge you need to teach Chemistry to pupils aged between 11 and 16, with 6th form enhancement.

As a chemistry specialist science teacher, you’ll have the opportunity to inspire children and young people to be scientists of the future. You’ll learn how to deliver engaging lessons for your pupils. We’ll look at practical chemistry, including how to give a great demonstration. You’ll be given plenty of support for teaching outside your main science specialism with additional subject knowledge sessions in all three sciences, delivered in our bespoke school labs on campus.

Upon successful completion of your PGCE, you will graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and 90 Master’s credits.

Find out more about this course

Sign up for one of our information sessions

School placements

At UEA, the taught programme is the same for university-led and School Direct routes and you will spend the same amount of time in school whichever option you choose. On both routes, school experience takes place in partnership schools across the region.

On the School Direct route, you will already know the cluster of schools in which you might have one of your placements when you are offered a place on the course. This does not necessarily mean your placement will be with the lead school and we strongly encourage you to speak to the admissions team regarding the cluster of schools you are considering applying for, as there might be variations.

During the two extensive placements in our partnership schools, you will gain a broad range of practical teaching experience. You will learn to put ideas and theory into practice.

Entry requirements

Qualifications needed

An undergraduate degree at class 2:2 or above, or equivalent.

Your degree subject should be in chemistry or a similar subject. Otherwise you’ll need to prove your subject knowledge in some other way.

Grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths, or equivalent qualification.

We will not consider candidates with pending GCSEs.

We’ll consider candidates who need to take a GCSE equivalency test in English or maths.

You should have received a certificate from your equivalency test before submitting your application.

We only accept English and Maths tests taken via equivalencytesting.com, with grades of A*-C or 4-9.

Please note: It is up to the discretion of the Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making their application.

Personal qualities

Trainees are selected on the basis of their application form, references and an interview. You are encouraged to prepare thoroughly.

Application forms should demonstrate strengths in subject and curriculum knowledge, your enthusiasm and commitment to a career in teaching, and the age range for which you have applied.

Other requirements

Prior to submitting your application, we recommend you gain some observational experience in a classroom environment if possible. This will help you gain an up-to-date understanding of how classrooms are managed and how teaching and learning takes place.

Applicants must also obtain:

• An Enhanced Criminal Records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service
• A satisfactory Health Check. All PGCE trainee teachers must meet the Secretary of State’s requirements for physical and mental fitness to teach.

All trainee teachers must have the health and physical capacity to teach and not put children and young people at risk of harm.

Fees and financial support

The course fees for 2023 to 2024 are as follows:

UK students	£9,250
International students	£19,800

For any additional course costs at the University of East Anglia please visit our website

Financial support from the training provider

Find out more about the Financial Support available within our course pages

About the training provider

At Northgate High School we have been supporting PGCE students extremely successfully for many years. Our CPD provision was highly praised in our recent Ofsted report and we have enthusiastic and highly experienced staff who value the process of mentoring students through their journey towards becoming excellent teachers. We currently have several staff who run workshops for a range of ITT providers and an Action Research Group that focuses specifically on mentoring Early Career Teachers.

Northgate High School embraces the three core values of Respect, Determination and Teamwork. These values are fundamental to the calm and positive learning environment that we strive to achieve at all levels across the school. Northgate has high expectations – not only around securing academic success and appropriate onward pathways for our students, but in maintaining good discipline and behaviour.

The Northgate site is impressive, with purpose-built centres maintained and equipped to the highest standards to meet the expectations and demands of today’s students, their parents, and the wide-ranging timetable we offer. We also cater for the needs of the community in that we have joint-use and shared Arts and Sports Centre facilities.

We are proud to work in partnership with schools across the area and aim to train and support our next generation of teachers. Schools within the partnership are Northgate High School, Copleston High School, East Bergholt High School, St Albans High School and Westbourne Academy.

About the accredited body

UEA’s School of Education and Lifelong Learning is one of the UK’s premier centres for teaching and research in professional education and training. The School’s research has made a difference in schools across the country, influencing approaches to managing classroom behaviour, understanding students’ motivation, and creating effective communities for learning.

All of our PGCE tutors have experience of school teaching and leadership, and all are specialists in particular areas of the curriculum. UEA’s expertise, together with our partner schools, means you’ll be well-supported throughout your PGCE.

Interview process

Interviews are part of the formal selection process. You will need to present yourself well, come prepared, and dress smartly. Your interview day will include:

• An introductory talk
• An individual interview
• A written task
• Engage in small group discussion

You may also be asked to complete other relevant tasks such as:

• Giving a presentation
• A group interview
• Literacy, numeracy and subject knowledge questions

International candidates

You’ll need the right to study in the UK. You already have this if, for example, you:

• are an Irish citizen
• have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (you may still be able to apply)
• have indefinite leave to remain in the UK

If you do not already have the right to study in the UK for the duration of this course, you may need to apply for a Student visa.

To do this, you’ll need to be sponsored by your training provider.

Before you apply for this course, contact us to check Student visa sponsorship is available. If it is, and you get a place on this course, we’ll help you apply for your visa.

Alternatively, check if you’re eligible for a different type of visa, such as a Graduate or Family visa, that allows you to train to be a teacher without being sponsored.

Find out more about training to teach in England.

International qualifications

If your qualifications come from a non-UK institution, we may want to see a ‘statement of comparability’ from UK ENIC. This will show us how they compare to UK qualifications.

You can call Get Into Teaching on 0800 389 2500 for:

• guidance on the UK equivalents of your qualifications
• a free statement of comparability once you’ve submitted your application (if we ask you for this)

Training with disabilities and other needs

We are committed to supporting trainees with disabilities. Please contact us to discuss any access requirements.

UEA operates an equal opportunities policy and welcomes applications from people with disabilities.

All PGCE trainee teachers must meet the Secretary of State’s requirements for physical and mental fitness to teach. All candidates offered a place are required to complete a health declaration form. If this reveals a need, UEA will consider reasonable adjustments, which may include particular school placements, and other support and monitoring during the course.

Find out more about the information and advice available through UEA’s Wellbeing Service

Contact this training provider

• Email: mch@northgate.suffolk.sch.uk
• Telephone: 01473 210123
• Website: http://www.northgate.suffolk.sch.uk
• Address: Sidegate Lane; Ipswich; Suffolk; IP4 3DL

Support and advice

You can speak to a teacher training adviser for free, dedicated advice. They are all experienced teachers who can give you one-to-one support with your application. They can also help you get school experience, and find events where you can speak to training providers and teachers.

Call Get Into Teaching free of charge on 0800 389 2500, or chat online Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm (except public holidays).

Is there something wrong with this page?

If there is something wrong with this course listing, contact us by email.