Overview

The Brunel PGCE in Secondary Education (Science with Biology) aims to facilitate your transformation into a well-educated, confident and motivated science educator, helping all pupils become scientifically literate citizens.

Along with English and mathematics, science is one of the three core subjects of the national curriculum and since all pupils have to study a broad, balanced curriculum in science there is a demand for well-qualified and skilled biology teachers. As a secondary school biology teacher you will have to build upon and sustain pupil’s interest for the subject as they journey through the biology national curriculum.

The need for qualified, enthusiastic teachers with an understanding of the demands society places on young people has never been greater. The opportunity to educate children and young people, and learn from them in return, is immensely rewarding.

Schools are seeking teachers with high levels of pedagogical competence and skill, as well as advanced subject knowledge for teaching as well as knowledge of the theories, policies and systems relevant to education.

The focus of your studies will be on the principles and methods of teaching and learning delivered through three core modules, together with compulsory, practical school-based teaching placements. Your progress will be assessed in both areas.

As part of your teacher education, you will be taught how to use subject knowledge and relevant course specifications to plan and deliver the curriculum for pupils from 11-16, including examination and vocational courses.

Careers and your future

A Brunel PGCE with recommendation for QTS is a recognised symbol of high quality Initial Teacher Education (ITE). This is demonstrated by Brunel’s outstanding employment rates over time and feedback from Brunel alumni student teachers, our partnership schools and Ofsted inspectors.

Brunel PGCE graduates have gone on to work in our partnership schools, and many in schools where they undertook a placement experience. This allows the department to retain links with former students and often they become school-based mentors for Brunel PGCE students. The department also has a network of alumni in positions of responsibility in schools across the country.

After you graduate, your relationship with Brunel doesn’t stop there. As alumni, you can remain involved in the Partnership in a range of ways including mentoring, and can also sign up to receive invitations to Brunel public lectures, Education Department research seminars, events and steering groups, to ensure you continue to develop through a community of professional practice within, and beyond the school in which you work.