The vast majority of your teaching experience will take place in a 'Home School' with the exception of an additional two-week placement in an 'alternate' school during your training.

Finally, some courses will require you to observe teaching in a classroom before you apply. Even if this isn’t a stated requirement, it’s worth doing. Read some tips for arranging school experience. What is the PGCE application process? For example, if you’ve studied a maths-heavy degree like engineering, you will normally be eligible to begin a PGCE in Secondary Maths. Or, if you studied German at A-level but French for your degree, you should be eligible for a PGCE in Modern Languages. These requirements differ from university to university and course to course, however, so always make sure you read the application guidelines carefully. A PGCE is not technically a postgraduate degree, although it is considered an advanced postgraduate non-degree qualification. This is due to a PGCE being a vocational program that directly relates to teaching careers. What are the entry requirements for a PGCE? Extra student funding– if you have dependents, you could access further funding to support your teacher training, such as Parents' Learning Allowances, Childcare Grants, or Child Tax Credits. The student finance calculatorfrom Student Finance England allows you to estimate the level of funding that may be available. You may want to do a master’s in education, for example, for your professional development and to gain additional expertise in your teaching career. Types of PGCE coursesYou need qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in most primary, secondary and special schools in England. You can get QTS through undergraduate or postgraduate teacher training. Tutorial support is an important part of the LJMU learning process and you will receive a personalised service that will enable you to set targets and achieve your potential. Your Personal Tutor will support your academic and professional development and will meet with you formally during the year. PGCE stands for Postgraduate Certificate in Education. A PGCE is usually studied full-time over one academic year, but there are also part-time and distance learning courses available. While a PGCE isn’t a legal requirement to teach in England, the deeper understanding of teaching practices, academic theory, and educational research you'll gain can act as proof to employers that you have that valuable additional knowledge. Although having a PGCE doesn’t qualify you to teach on its own, many of them also award QTS. What are the benefits of studying for a PGCE? Please note, a PGCE should not be confused with a PGCHE (Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education), a postgraduate qualification undertaken by university staff and lecturers. Find PGCE courses

In short, no - you only need QTS. The PGCE is an additional qualification offered by some providers, which you can gain alongside QTS. There is currently a shortage of teachers in England, and Wales in the following subjects: mathematics; science; information and communications technology; design and technology; modern foreign languages; religious education; music. There is a shortage of teachers in some subjects - making securing a place on these particular PGCE courses relatively easy, while other programmes are more competitive. You should research this with the provider you're interested in and be prepared to look in other areas of the UK for places.

You will undertake a significant amount of independent study and preparation to support your course assignments and school-based work. Meanwhile, school-led teacher training courses, delivered by school-centred initial teacher training ( SCITT) providers, differ in a number of ways and won’t always offer a PGCE (although many do). With these programmes, you can expect to: