
Opleiding: PGCE Secondary Science with Chemistry
Learning purpose
The Middlesex PGCE course in Secondary Scienceequips youto inspire pupils through the use of engaging interactive workshops, lectures and structured debates. You receive personal attention through regular tutor visits to school placements and individual tutorials. Schools are carefully selected to suit individuals and expose them to imaginative and thought provoking teaching and learning strategies.
Thecourse aims to prepare you for the teaching profession.It will
* Enable you to developknowledge and understanding of pupils and their learning
* Develop yourexpertise in highly specialised professional skills in a context where you'll need to exercise initiative and take personal responsibility for decision making in complex and unpredictable situations
* Equipyou with the pedagogic knowledge, understanding and skills to teach effectively across the 11-16 age range
* Develop yourknowledge and understanding of the Secondary Sciencecurriculum
* Enable you to understand, critically evaluate and respond to the needs of children in multicultural, multilingual and multifaith settings and schools in an international, urban environment.
We have a full range of specialist Science and teaching facilities on-site and thecourse includes specialist mentors fromm our partner schools. There is a strong emphasis on the use of ICT in Science and you will be expected to explore up to date developments in this area.
Two thirds (120 days) of the PGCE Secondary Science course will be on placement. We have excellent relationships with schools in north London, Essex and Hertfordshire and many of ourgraduates go on to work in their first teaching job at the schools where they had a placement.
Programme
Subject studies A structured programme of subject teaching methodology and application workshops and seminars.
School-based studies You are required to spend two-thirds (120 days) of the programme in school. We have developed a partnership scheme with 150 participating secondary schools situated throughout the north London boroughs, Essex and Hertfordshire. In each school you will be assigned a personal mentor who is a subject teacher. You will experience two consecutive secondary school placements. The objective of the school experience is to develop your generic and subject teaching skills to at least the level of competence expected of a newly qualified teacher.
Professional studies This is a programme of lectures and seminars focusing on contemporary issues in education and professional development. This part of the programme takes place partly at the University and partly at school by lectures, workshops and seminars to mixed subject groups.
The programme is based at Trent Park and in schools. You will find this an intensive 36-week, five-days-a-week programme, during which you will also have directed work to carry out during the Christmas and Easter holiday.
Subject studies are assessed by a portfolio of coursework and a school-based special study (a teaching resource). Progressive developments of teaching skills are recorded using criteria referenced assessment proforma. Professional studies are assessed by a range of written tasks. Observation of the students, teaching and evaluative discussions with course tutors and school based mentors and teachers.
At the start of the course you will be shown how to audit your subject knowledge across the curriculum at KS3 and in chemistry at KS4 and beyond. You will develop an action plan to address gaps in subject knowledge and use a spreadsheet to record the development of knowledge during the course. You will need to provide evidence by the end of the course that you have developed the appropriate subject knowledge and pedagogy to meet the teaching standards.
The PGCE Secondary Science with Chemistry course will comprise a range of presentations, discussions and practical workshops where exemplar material can be selected from chemistry contexts. You will have many opportunities both individually and in group work to apply general principles to specific science learning opportunities in science and in Chemistry. There will also be break out sessions where you will be working both in mixed groups and with other chemistry specialists. Outside specialists are also be invited to deliver sessions that cover topics in teaching chemistry at KS4, so that for part of the course you will work in parallel in their specialist subject area. The chemistry specialism will also be reflected in the required reading for the course.
School based training will reflect the pattern of centre based training. Your timetable will be a balance of Key Stages 3 and 4 with teaching across the science curriculum at KS3 but with a focus on the chemistry at KS4. You will be matched with chemistry mentors and /or co-mentors for their KS4 teaching. Auditing and assessment of chemistry subject knowledge related to teaching standards will then be reflected in school reporting procedures.
The major curriculum assignment will be an opportunity for you to demonstrate that you have read widely and developed a good understanding of best practice in teaching chemistry at KS4 and in assessing the progress of learners. This will be done through developing original teaching resources and creative ideas in order to revise an existing scheme of learning in the placement school. You will be required to analyse the planning of a sequence of lessons, showing how you drew on reading and study to develop effective teaching and assessment in chemistry and how the school context affected decisions.
Entry Requirements
You need at least a 2.2 Bachelors hons degree in a subject relevant to your chosen subject area. You must also have a GCSE grade C or above in English and Maths. Equivalency tests for GCSE English and Maths will only be provided in exceptional circumstances. It is also recommended that you undertake at least two weeks work experience within a Secondary Science classroom before applying.
Professional perspective and employment market
Secondary Science Teacher for Science (at Key Stage 3) and Physics (at Key Stage 4)
Our Careers Service offers you a range of support both while you're studying with us - and after you've graduated.
Placements
Work placements are integral to the PGCE Science degree. Our course is well-known for having a strong and committed partnership with local schools, whose mentors and class teachers train with the University. As a student, you will have the opportunity for rich and varied placements in the multilingual, multicultural and multifaith schools.

