PGCE Secondary Education with Physics
Become a Physics teacher and earn Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Marjon is the top university in the UK for education-based courses in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2021. We've been training teachers for 180 years, we know education.
Entry requirements
A degree at 2:2 or above
GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 or grade C or above (or an equivalent qualification)
Experience of working with young people
Full entry requirements
See our full entry requirements and information about interviews for PGCE Secondary Education.
Course Summary
Do you want to become an outstanding physics teacher? Our specialist PGCE in Secondary Science with Physics is a direct route to a career that helps pupils to make sense of the of how the world around us works. Physics gives us powerful tools to help us to express our creativity, to see the world in new ways and then to change it. This course develops a range of teaching styles appropriate to the delivery of the Sciences specialising in physics within the National Curriculum and GCSE/A Level specifications. These include conceptual understanding and progressions in learning, purposeful practical work, sequenced learning steps and links to different sectors of Physics industry.
You'll be taught by a great team, our trainees scored us 92% student satisfaction for postgraduate teacher training, this puts us in the top 25% quartile of all providers in England (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, 2020).
The aim of this PGCE Secondary Science with Physics is to prepare trainee teachers for a first appointment as a teacher of Sceince in a secondary school and assess current developments in the subject and their possible effect on teaching in schools. To develop as a teacher, you will be learning about how to instil in pupils a sense of intrigue and enable students to develop understanding and form questions based both on the knowledge they already have and the insight they wish to gain in the futures. The subject combines practical skills with theoretical ideas and the opportunity to explore the phenomena of the universe and to look at theories that explain what is observed. Furthermore, our PGCE Secondary Science with Physics trainees can take up ‘enhancements’ linked to other curriculum subjects or areas e.g. PSHE or Special Education Needs and Diversity.
Teaching physics means helping pupils learn how to solve problems and think critically, skills which make a difference to your pupils both inside the classroom and in their wider lives. Furthermore, our PGCE Secondary Science with Physics trainees can take up ‘enhancements’ linked to other curriculum subjects or areas e.g. PSHE or Special Education Needs and Diversity.
Why this course at Marjon?
Our tutors are engaged in hard hitting research ensuring our trainees learn the very best practice teaching methods
Our trainees scored us 92% student satisfaction for postgraduate teacher training, this puts us in the top 25% quartile of all providers in England (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2020)
Our Teacher Education Partnership is a well-established partnership between the University and schools in the South West, London and Service Children’s Education
Modules for this course
Course Snapshot
“ The PGCE spiral curriculum based around a synergy between practice, policy and research, a weekly topic is explored though wider professional lens, independent research and specific subject studies where the subject pathways focus on theoretical and professional practice relating to that subject.”
1st Year
Professional practice in schools
Learning behaviours in context
Becoming a teacher: a reflective journey
Inclusion in the secondary classroom: maximising achievement
Understanding the learner: assessment and progress
This course is perfect if you’re curious about
How can I help pupils direct their own learning to become curious about the world around them?
How can I promote a love of learning in my pupils and a passion for sciences?
How can I make teaching make science come to life in the lab or through field work?
How can I make links between Physics and career opportunities to raise my pupil's aspirations?
Which resources will best help my pupils develop a deep understanding of Physics concepts?
How do I best prepare for applying for teaching jobs?
“ The trainees I observed and met were fully prepared for the demands of teaching and it was evident that they have appreciated and benefited from the emphasis Marjon places on trainees’ well-being and the good practice from the University regarding this.”
What might you become?
Plymouth Marjon University is widely renowned for producing excellent teachers. We have superb links with over 300 partnership schools throughout the South West, London and overseas and our graduates teach in schools across the country. Our wide and diverse partnerships were praised by Ofsted for making "effective use of local diversity and wider links which ensures trainees have breadth and variety in their training, so making them highly employable" (Ofsted, 2014).
We have a long established history of teacher education, we've have 180 years of experience in training teachers. A PGCE from Marjon represents a strong start to any teaching career. 93.9 % of our teaching graduates are in further study, sustained employment or both five years after graduating, compared to a sector average for England of 88.2%. This makes us 1st in the South West (LEO, 2019).
Working with:
Dept for Education
Marjon is recognised as a teacher training provider by the Dept for Education.
How you’ll be taught and assessed?
How will you be taught?
Collaborative learning, critical reflection and a strong culture of support underpin PGCE Secondary Science with Physics, and trainees will enjoy a stimulating and effective learning environment from start to finish.
You will have a minimum of 120 days in school in 2 block placements and 12 weeks in University undertaking a range of activities. Teaching includes lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences, tutorials, independent study or research and school based training. Opportunities to be part of seminar and workshops add depth to your experience.
How will you be assessed?
Assessment relates to your development of practice in school. All are coursework based, you will generate reflective journals, portfolios, essays and presentations.
Julie taught in secondary schools in Devon, Cornwall, and Sussex, and worked for the LEA education department before joining Marjon. She leads secondary provision for undergraduate and post graduate routes into teaching. Julie is still involved with the school sector as Governor and is a member of the National UCET Secondary committee for Initial Teacher Education.
Fees and funding
Fees UK students: £9,250
Fees for International students: £12,500
This fee covers your tuition and access to course-specific equipment and facilities, as well associated services including access to the library, study skills support, IT support, student support and wellbeing services and membership of the Student Union. There may be additional costs by course.
Funding available for this course
Our Student Funding Advisors offer confidential and impartial advice about your funding options.
Learn moreLecturers
Jonathan’s career as a history teacher has spanned over 25 years, working in secondary schools in Sussex, Suffolk and Cornwall. Previously, he has worked for Cornwall LEA as an Advanced Skills Teacher, supporting history departments, NQTs and recent entrants to the teaching profession across the county. He is a Teacher Fellow of the Historical Association.
Jodie teaches on our teacher training courses, specialising in primary science as well as supporting students on placement. She also supporting primary colleagues across the city through her work with Plymouth Science.
Claire is an experienced secondary teacher and lecturer with a passion for literature of all kinds. From Shakespearean tragedy to the powerful performance poetry of Kate Tempest, Claire’s fervent enthusiasm for the infinite varieties of English pervades every aspect of the English degree. She is particularly interested in poetry, identity, language and social place and is currently completing her PhD here at Marjon. It focuses on the formation and evolution of trainee and early career teachers' professional identities.
Linda is a biochemist with over thirty years’ experience of in research and deployments of new technologies.
More information
See the how to get into teaching guide for tips from our lecturers and trainees spanning every stage of your teacher training journey, from making your application shine through to securing your first teaching role.
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