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PGCE Secondary Education with Psychology
Become a psychology teacher and earn Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Marjon offers the highest quality teacher training which means our education graduates earn high wages and are quickly ready to progress to school leadership roles.
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
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and trainees. All trainees are expected to share this commitment and demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct.
Full entry requirements
See our full entry requirements and information on interviews for PGCE Secondary Education.
Course Summary
Do you want to become an outstanding psychology teacher? Our specialist PGCE Psychology is a direct route to a career of which you can be proud. Psychology helps you understand yourself and other people; this course supports you to develops a range of teaching tools appropriate to the delivery of Psychology within the GCSE/A Level specifications. Our Psychology PGCE addresses the main areas of psychology, research methods, biopsychology, developmental, cognitive, social and psychopathology. It is a truly contemporary subject which is relevant to all our pupils’ lives. This course aims to produce dynamic, confident, and innovative teachers who are committed to developing students’ curiosity about human behaviour.
We aim to train you as a Psychology teacher at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 with enhancement. The main focus of your training will be through your specialist subject. Furthermore, our PGCE Psychology trainees take up ‘enhancements’ linked to other curriculum subjects e.g sciences, pastoral education or special education needs and diversity.
Why this course at Marjon?
Top university in the UK for education-based courses in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2021
93.9 % of our graduates are in further study, sustained employment or both five years after graduating, compared to a sector average for England of 88.2% - we are 1st in the South West (LEO, 2019)
We have relationships with around 300 schools to give you a wide choice of learning experiences
Marjon education and teaching graduates are 3rd in all University providers for graduate earnings five years after leaving the university (Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2018)
Our graduates are more socially mobile than other providers across the South West with more trainees gaining NQT employment in more diverse areas (DFE Supply, Retention and Mobility data, 2018)
We recognise the value of excellent role models in initial teacher training and promote the involvement of outstanding teachers and specialist leaders in education in working with trainees
Modules for this course
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 these questions...
How can I build strong relationships with pupils, colleagues and parents in school?
How can I promote a love of learning in my pupils and a passion for Psychology?
How can I address controversial issues linked to my subject sensitively with my classes?
What can I do to enhance my specialisms and pick up a second subject?
How do good teachers keep on top of their workload?
How can I make learning psychology relevant to young people today?
“ The overall quality of training continues to be a very positive one judging by the comments made by TTs that I ‘met’ ... this goes for both university and school-based training sessions ... The humanities curriculum tutor has clearly provided thorough support to the trainee teachers throughout the training year and this was echoed strongly by the trainee teachers.”
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 the psychology PGCE, 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.
How will you be assessed?
Assessment directly relates to your development of practice in school. All are coursework based, you will generate reflective journals, portfolios, essays and presentations.
Claire is Programme lead for the Secondary PGCEs and Schools Direct. Claire's specialist subject is English and before joining Marjon she worked in various secondary schools in Exeter as well for South West Teacher Training. Her research interests are reflective practice, teacher identity and retention.
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
Hazel is a chartered member and associate fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), and a senior fellow of the HEA. She teaches community psychology, neuropsychology and research methods. Her research focuses on identity, student engagement and hidden disabilities.
She is a member of the BPS Member Board and UEC. She is the manager of the Marjon Memory Cafe and supports students in providing wellbeing interventions for people across Plymouth and the local area.
She is supervising 4 PhD & 2 MRES students on projects relating to disability, mental health, education and identity. Her current research activities include a project on assessment and feedback in higher education and a 2nd project on Student Leadership.
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.
Julie Stevens
Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for Secondary Initial Teacher Training
View profileJulie Stevens taught in secondary schools as a teacher of Physical Education in Devon, Cornwall and Sussex, worked for the LEA education department advisory service and the Youth Sport Trust. She has been teaching in universities for over 10 years with a focus on Initial Teacher Training in all subjects, with a specialism in Physical Education.
More information
- See our PGCE and School Direct presentation.
- See how to get into teaching for expert tips from lecturers, trainees and recent graduates.
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