Chemistry is a fascinating subject which can engage and inspire children. It feeds their natural curiosity and supports them in developing their understanding of the natural world. Science teachers are in great demand and this course appeals to graduates who are passionate about chemistry but want to develop the skills and understanding to teach science across the curriculum.
This one-year full-time course, enables you to meet the national standards for the award of qualified teacher status (QTS).
Through this PGCE, you will learn to operate as a critically reflective chemistry teacher in a secondary school setting and develop competence across the entire range of the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Science. Specialising in chemistry, you will learn to integrate theory and practice, as part of a stimulating and engaging ambitious curriculum. Our PGCE Science with Chemistry course has fully embedded the Core Content Framework for Initial Teacher Training. You will have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills required to fully meet the Teachers’ Standards by the end of your training.
We have a range of specialist science and teaching facilities, providing you with a solid foundation on which to develop your skills and experience. We have excellent relationships with schools in and outside London. During your studies, you will undertake teaching placements in at least two secondary schools and have the chance to acquire skills in the application of established pedagogical approaches and new technologies in teaching and learning science. We work closely with our trusted partnership schools to provide a variety of opportunities and experts from our partner schools are on hand to offer invaluable mentoring and support. We are proud of the excellent and comprehensive level of support that we offer our trainee science teachers in every aspect of our course.
The course gives you a strong understanding of how and why to teach chemistry in secondary schools whilst also enabling you to appreciate the unique aspects of other science specialisms in order to develop your confidence in teaching across the science curriculum. Middlesex University has dedicated subject tutors who have established strong relations with external specialists and partnership schools who will deliver contemporary and subject specific training sessions.
The Science with Chemistry PGCE Programme at Middlesex University has been developed with input from partnership schools. The curriculum ensures that you develop a deep understanding of science pedagogy. Key principles underpinning the curriculum design are:
Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.
You will critically evaluate the effectiveness of a wide range of resources and your own lesson plans. You will analyse research data and critically evaluate how research has contributed to the knowledge and understanding of how to teach Science with Chemistry effectively.
This module aims to introduce the professional secondary school environment. You will demonstrate your progress in developing your understanding and skills necessary to operate as an effective teacher in a secondary school. As such, it supports you to progress towards the achievement of current requirements for the award of Qualified Teacher Status.
This module aims to consolidate your professional practice in a second secondary school environment. It aims to ensure you can demonstrate the understanding and skills necessary to operate as an effective teacher in a secondary school. As such, it supports you in the achievement of statutory requirements for the award of Qualified Teacher Status.
This module aims to develop your understanding and skills necessary to operate as a critically reflective teacher in a secondary school. You will be assessed by undertaking a small scale research assignment that compares theoretical perspectives in education with the reality found in school.
This module builds on the learning and skills developed in the Professional Knowledge and Pedagogy and the Secondary Professional Development 1 modules and aims to deepen your understanding and skills necessary to operate as a critically reflective science with Chemistry teacher in a secondary school setting. You are assessed through a Monitoring and Assessment coursework assignment. Here you design, resource, teach and evaluate a scheme of work that reflects best practice in science education and assessment.
More information about this course
See the course specification for more information:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We aim to model a wide range of teaching strategies and approaches on the course which you can adapt to your own setting.
The programme is designed to provide 120 days in schools with two school experiences (Secondary Professional Development 1 and Secondary Professional Development 2). Each placement provides a sustained teaching experience over the complete teaching week.
The remaining 60 days of the programme is university based, where lectures, seminars and practical workshops in a blended learning environment. The course will comprise a range of presentations, discussions and practical workshops where exemplar material can be selected from a specialised subject context.
The two school practice modules assess your ability to demonstrate you are able to apply the knowledge, understanding and skills of the ITE curriculum to your teaching practice, and fully meet the Teacher Standards by the end of your training programme: You will also be assessed through the following two academic modules:
Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We will use technology to enhance your learning and give you access to online resources for use in your own time.
You will receive final arrangements for your teaching and a full course timetable before you start. Delivery may differ in light of block teaching requirements, with theory sections covered online and practical sessions delivered in specialist spaces on campus.
This course is designed for teachers (training and ECTs) who are employed in a school setting and want to study for a postgraduate qualification. The assignments and workload are designed to complement professional practice and fit alongside employment responsibilities. However, you will need to commit to some additional hours for extended reading, research and independent study.
Definitions of terms
Support
You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic and practice based skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be available on campus and online.
You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
Graduates will look to move into a position as an Early Career Teacher (ECT) in a secondary school setting.
Our employment rates are extremely high with around 97% of our PGCE graduates in employment or further study six months after graduation. The starting salary of a qualified teacher in inner London is £30,480.
Teachers can find career progression in both the classroom and the school's management structure. You might aspire to become the head of a department, age group or curriculum. And through developing your leadership skills and experience, you could progress to a senior management position, such as deputy head or head teacher.
For more information on salary and career progression, visit the Department for Education's website
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
Start: September 2022
Duration: 1 year full-time
Code: F3XX
Start: September 2022
Duration: 1 year full-time
Code: CX11
Start: September 2022
Duration: 1 year full-time
Code: G1X1
