UCL, University College London Physics with Mathematics (2P3R)

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

• 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
• Course length: 1 year
• Date you can apply from: 11 October 2022
• Date course starts: September 2023
• Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/courses/teacher-training

Contents

Course summary

The Physics with Mathematics PGCE prepares students to develop the professional knowledge and skills they need to teach all aspects of the science curriculum and the mathematics curriculum to pupils in the 11-16 range. Students are also supported to develop their knowledge and understanding of teaching Physics at A-Level. We are committed to creative and interactive approaches to teaching science to promote engagement and learning.

Students will acquire a critical understanding of current debates and issues relating to physics and mathematics education, and will be guided and supported in developing their subject knowledge. We expect students to engage with reading and research into science and mathematics education and to regularly reflect upon their progress, towards meeting the teaching standards across the 11-16 age range.

Students on the Physics with Mathematics PGCE work with a team of expert subject tutors who have all previously been classroom teachers and are actively involved with science education research, curriculum development and consultancy. During teaching practice, student teachers benefit from the support of subject specialist mentors within our network of over 200 schools throughout Greater London and beyond, ensuring each has the opportunity to become a skilled and confident teacher.

The programme offers unique opportunities to plan and teach outside the classroom (e.g. at museums and Kew Gardens). This develops student teachers’ understanding of how learning happens beyond the classroom environment.

The Secondary PGCE consists of three core modules: two Master’s-level (level 7) modules and the Professional Practice module.

The Physics with Mathematics PGCE is delivered via keynote lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and directed study days as well as time spent in placement schools or colleges. Assessment is by practical teaching observation, assignments and a portfolio. Students will undertake at least two placements (120 days) at a school or college, during which time their teaching practice will be supported by a school subject tutor and mentor.

During school placements, you may teach: Key Stage 3: science (including elements of physics, chemistry, and biology) and mathematics Key Stage 4: science (all areas) or physics (depending on school placement) Key Stage 5: A level physics (If available at placement school) The Professional Practice module is assessed through these placements, associated tasks and a portfolio.

School placements

The IOE works with over 300 placement schools, chosen for their quality, excellence in supporting teacher education and to provide comprehensive geographical coverage across a wide range of phases, subjects and specialisms. You will undertake two placements of approximately equal length (circa 60 days) in different schools, each with a dedicated subject mentor to support your development, with both schools carefully matched to your needs in terms of location, stage and subject, taking any mobility needs into account. London has more ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ schools than any other region in England and is a world leader in narrowing the gap between the performance of children from a range of different backgrounds. Training in London will provide you with an ideal platform to launch your career in teaching.

Entry requirements

Qualifications needed

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

A minimum of a lower second-class UK Bachelor’s degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in Physics or a Physics-related subject. A Level Mathematics at grade D or above, or equivalent, required where there is insufficient Mathematics within the first degree.

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

Grade 5 (C) or above in English and maths, or equivalent qualification.

We’ll consider candidates with pending GCSEs.

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

Applicants who do not offer a GCSE in English language or mathematics may demonstrate an equivalent standard by completing a test via Equivalency Testing or A Star Equivalency and achieving at least a grade 5. For mathematics, equivalency tests in mathematics foundation or mathematics higher with grade 5 are accepted. We do not accept “”applied”” or “”additional”” GCSE subjects. We do not accept BTEC, functional skills or access qualifications in place of GCSES. UCL does not accept GCSE grade 4 for entry to our PGCE programmes.

We do not accept English taught as a second language or English literature to meet our GCSE English language requirements.

Personal qualities

Great teachers are as diverse as the communities they serve. We look for candidates who have a real enthusiasm for engaging with young people, who are as excited about the process of learning as they are about teaching, and who understand that they will learn as much from their students as their students will from them. Sound subject knowledge is important, as well as students’ ability to break down their knowledge and see it through the eyes of someone for whom it is new. We particularly welcome a commitment to improving the lives of individuals and communities through education.

Other requirements

For information about all of UCL’s statutory requirements linked to Teacher Training programmes please visit our website.

Fees and financial support

The course fees for 2023 to 2024 are as follows:

UK students	£9,250
International students	£24,200

About the training provider

IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society is a global leader in teacher education, ranked number one for education for the last nine years in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Our PGCE programmes have been recognised by Ofsted as ‘outstanding’ in every category.

When you join IOE, you’ll be joining one of the largest teacher training programmes in the UK. We offer unrivalled expertise in teacher education, a broad and exciting range of placements and personalised care from dedicated tutors, enabling our students to become highly successful teachers.

Our programmes have been carefully designed so that you have the time and space to develop the expertise to manage, guide and inspire the children and young people you teach. You will be taught by experts in your subject and education phase, many of whom are conducting world-leading research in their field.

We are committed to supporting education in London, where schools lead the country in performance and pupil progress. We work with around 500 London schools, colleges and early years settings, including long-term partners who work with us to harness our wider research and expertise. By joining IOE, you will benefit from being part of a lively and diverse community of students and academics and will make a positive difference to the lives of young people in London.

Interview process

Candidates whose applications meet the entry criteria will be invited to interview either online or at our central London location, depending on the subject applied to. At your interview day, you may take part in a combination of group and individual interviews with members of the programme team, and may also be asked to undertake written or presentation tasks, depending on your subject or phase. You will have the opportunity to ask any pertinent 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

Please visit our Student Support and Wellbeing website for information about the services they offer to incoming students.

Contact this training provider

• Contact form: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/admissions-enquiries
• Telephone: 0208 059 0939
• Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/courses/teacher-training
• Address: University College London; Gower Street; London; Greater London; WC1E 6BT

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).

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