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Postgraduate courses 2023/24

School Direct Training Programme (Secondary), PGCE

Secondary school teachers don't just educate; they shape the futures of young adults. Become a fully qualified secondary school teacher with this School Direct PGCE course.

School Direct involves schools working with accredited teacher training institutions to offer training routes towards Qualified Teacher Status. We have a successful track record of working with schools and develop outstanding teachers who help to transform the lives of young learners. Training places are open to all graduates to support teaching in mathematics, the natural sciences (chemistry, physics and biology), and physical education.

Many of the schools in the south east employ our trainees, with very high graduate employment rates.

School

Education

Duration

1 years full-time

Start month

September

Home/international fees 2023/24

2023/24 fees

What you should know about this course

  • Ofsted rated the quality of teacher training as 'Good' in its report for Initial Teacher Education 2016.
  • Our School Direct programme supports mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, and physical education.
  • We are currently working with The Royal Greenwich Teaching Schools Alliance: St Ursula's Convent School, Plumstead Manor School, Thomas Tallis School, John Roan School, and Eltham Hill School.
  • School Direct offers a non-salaried programme, which combines school-based training with university study, and a salaried programme for graduates with three years’ career experience.

What you will study

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Course information is currently unavailable for this programme. Please contact course-info@gre.ac.uk for more information.

About the course team

Welcome to our School Direct Training Programme (Secondary) PGCE. Your teaching comes from an experienced team of lecturers. These include academics and practitioners with a wide range of experience. 100% per cent of our teaching team holds a teaching qualification.

Come and meet us

We are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.

Next Open Days

Got a question?

To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.

Entry requirements

If you are

Applicants should have:

We also accept:

  • BTEC/National Diploma
  • International Baccalaureate
  • Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education.

For more information, contact courseinfo@greenwich.ac.uk or 020 8331 9000.

You can also read our admissions policy.

The University of Greenwich accepts a broad range of international qualifications for admission to our courses.

For detailed information on the academic and English language requirements, please find your country in our directory.

Further information about entry

Candidates must also:

  • Attend an interview
  • Pass Professional Skills tests in numeracy and literacy before beginning the programme
  • (Where applying for the School Direct Salaried Programme) Provide evidence of 3+ years' career experience, which does not have to be in an educational setting.

Available to overseas students?

Yes

Can I use Prior Learning?

Find out more on our Recognition of Prior Learning pages.

Enhanced disclosure

Applicants for this course are required to complete a suitability declaration, an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check, and an occupational health check.

About these requirements

How you will learn

Teaching

In a typical week, learning takes place through a combination of lectures and seminars. You will be able to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller group sessions.

Class sizes

The typical student intake per year averages 100-110. Lectures are normally attended by 100-110, and seminars/tutorials by 15-40.

Independent learning

Outside of timetabled sessions, you will need to dedicate time to self-study to prepare for course work, presentations and lesson planning. Our library and online resources will support your further reading and research. You can also join a range of student societies, including Education and PE.

Overall workload

Your overall workload consists of contact hours (lectures, seminars, etc), independent learning, and assessments. For full-time students, the workload should be roughly equivalent to a full-time job.

Assessment

Continuous assessment of classroom skills and meeting the Teachers' Standards. There are also academic assignments for the PGCE.

Feedback summary

Information coming soon.

Dates and timetables

Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.

Fees and funding

Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.

2023/24 fees

Full-time (per year) Full-time (per year) Part-time
View fees

Fees are assessed based on your country of domicile, with students domiciled in the EU charged international fees. If you are unsure, find out more about how your fee status is assessed.

Accommodation costs

Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. University accommodation is available from just over £100 per person per week (bills included), depending on your location and preferences. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost.

Accommodation pages

Funding your study

There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, including the Aspire@Greenwich award for study resources that many full-time students will receive.

EU students may be eligible for a bursary to support their study. View our EU bursary to find out more.

Discover more about grants, student loans, bursaries and scholarships. We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.

Financial support

Other costs

Further costs may include (but are not limited to):

  • Resources: you may need to purchase books for your studies, photocopying costs, as well as specific computer software (estimate, £150 per year)
  • Memberships: applying for membership of a professional body, such as the College of Teaching, may incur further costs.

Careers and placements

Will I have a work placement?

Our Non-salaried School Direct programme is a combination of school-based training and university-based courses. This fully comprehensive route into teaching involves schools working in partnership with an accredited teacher training institution, like ours, to devise a training programme.

Our School Direct Training (Salaried) programme is open to graduates with three or more years' career experience (not necessarily in education) and will involve trainees being employed as unqualified teachers with a salary subsidised by the DfE.

How long is my placement?

The placement is divided into two parts; October to December and January to June in two contrasting placements.

What are the financial arrangements?

For our School Direct Training (Salaried) programme trainees are employed as unqualified teachers with a salary subsidised by the DfE. There are bursaries for some subject specialisms on the non-salaried route.

What sort of careers do graduates pursue?

Graduates for this programme can pursue a teaching career in secondary schools.

Do you provide employability services?

Our services are designed to help you achieve your potential and support your transition towards a rewarding graduate career.

The Employability and Careers Service provides support when you are preparing to apply for placements and graduate roles. It includes CV clinics, mock interviews and employability skills workshops.

Each School also has its own Employability Officer, who works closely with the industry and will provide specific opportunities relevant to your own course.

Support and advice

Academic skills and study support

We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.

Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.

Support from the department

Additional support is available from the RGTSA as well as from a group of schools that work closely together.

Accommodation information

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Not quite what you were looking for?

We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our postgraduate courses or check our related courses below.....

Teacher training at the University of Greenwich

Study at a university with over a century of experience training teachers. We’ve got strong links with schools, and our primary education courses are rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Visit our teacher training degrees page.

Study for a PGCE at the University of Greenwich


Connor Ryan talks us through why he chose teacher training at Greenwich.

Mode of study

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Apply now

If you are a UK student or have settled/pre-settled status (EU) and you want to study full-time then you apply through the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).

If you are a UK student or have settled/pre-settled status (EU) and you want to study part-time then you apply to the university directly.

If you are from outside the UK, you can apply through our website, one of our agents, or the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS). If you require a student visa, you cannot study part-time at undergraduate level.

If you are from outside the UK, you can apply through our website, one of our agents, or the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS). If you require a student visa, you cannot study part-time at undergraduate level.