Education and Teacher Training
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Where futures are shaped
Study the Primary PGCE at UEL
Want to become a teacher? Watch our teachers in action and hear what our students have to say about our PGCE Teaching course!
About us
The UEL Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Partnership trains 500 Primary, Secondary and Post Compulsory teachers each year and has been doing so throughout the past two decades. UEL is one of the largest post 1992 universities offering teacher training and education in London and Essex.
We offer routes into teaching through: PGCE, PCET, Secondary and Primary, School Direct Salaried and Non-Salaried, Postgraduate Teacher Apprentices, BA Primary with Education and QTS and a cohort of BSc Computer Science with Education and QTS.
We work with our trainee teachers to develop confidence and a teacher identity that is underpinned by educational theory and a trainee teacher's understanding of this - it is vital they can articulate a theoretical rationale behind the pedagogic choices they are making in their classroom or learning space.
Theoretical balance with the practice of teaching is positively engaged with at UEL within our ITE curriculum.
Undergraduate courses
Certificate In English Language Teaching To Adults
A practical qualification giving you the skills, knowledge and hands-on teaching experience you need to teach English as a second language to adults.
Read more about this course
BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Education and Qualified Teacher Status (Secondary only)
Combine a thorough understanding of Computer Science with a carefully supervised programme of education theory and practice.
Apply for the course
BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS
Train to teach the 5-11 age range. Study pedagogy and subject knowledge covering both the Early Years Foundation Stage and National Curriculum.
Read morePostgraduate courses
Primary PGCE with Routes and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
We offer a range of ‘with route’ options for studying the Primary PGCE with QTS course. All of our 'with route' programmes follow the same basic course structure and students are mostly taught as one cohort, learning how to teach across the primary curriculum. However, we recognise that each student brings their own passions, knowledge and special interests to their teacher training journey. You are the educational leaders of the future. We thus offer the chance to develop as a specialist in your chosen field, through enhanced sessions and experiences within your ‘with route’ option. The course leader for all Primary PGCE with Routes and QTS is Anna Gawthorpe. Please email ite@uel.ac.uk if you have any questions about one of these programmes.
Primary PGCE courses
- PGCE Non-Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
- PGCE Primary With Early Years (3-7)
- PGCE Primary with English as an Additional Language
- PGCE Primary Humanities with Religious Education
- PGCE Primary With SEN (Inclusion)
- PGCE Primary with SEN (Special Schools)
- PGCE Primary With Sport And Wellbeing
- PGCE Primary With STEM
- PGCE Primary With The Arts
- PGCE IPGCE
Secondary PGCE courses
- PGCE Secondary Biology
- PGCE Secondary Chemistry
- PGCE Secondary Computing
- PGCE Secondary Design And Technology
- PGCE Secondary Drama
- PGCE Secondary English
- PGCE Secondary Geography
- PGCE Secondary Mathematics
- PGCE Secondary Modern Languages
- PGCE Secondary Music
- PGCE Secondary Physical Education
- PGCE Secondary Physics
- PGCE Secondary Religious Education
- PGCE IPGCE
Post-compulsory education and training
Professional courses for educators
Other courses
Assessment Only Route
The Assessment Only Route (AOR) is a self-funded, employment-based option for very experienced, but unqualified or overseas trained teachers.
Read about our AOR programme to gain qualified teacher status
Subject Knowledge Enhancement programmes
A Subject Knowledge Enhancement programme offers you the chance to prepare for teacher training by building up or refreshing your existing knowledge.
Find out how to build on or refresh your current teaching knowledgeCPD courses
Certificate In English Language Teaching To Adults
A practical qualification giving you the skills, knowledge and hands-on teaching experience you need to teach English as a second language to adults.
Read more about this courseWhy choose us?
94% - Our overall student satisfaction score (NSS, 2018).
Our teacher education and training courses continuously enjoy high rates of employment that are often above the sector average and expectation. Within six months of completing the course, 94 per cent of UEL Secondary ITT trainees have secured a teaching post (January 2020). Many of our initial teacher training alumni are now senior leader and headteachers.
We have long-standing relationships with 400 partnership schools across London and the South East in all phases of ITE. Many lecturers have professional subject association links and leadership roles, are connected to appropriate educational research bodies and organisations.
Our facilities
We have outstanding teaching spaces available for modelling excellence in teaching pedagogy. All classrooms are equipped with what you would expect to use in a professional teaching environment.
There are also specialist classrooms to support our more practical teacher training courses e.g. Design Technology, Science, Computing, PE and Music.
Our modern Docklands and Stratford libraries provide a wide range of resources and specialist study areas. These are accessible 24/7 during term time.
Why study teacher training at UEL
Our range of primary teacher training courses will equip you with the right skills to become a primary teacher in a variety of school subjects. There are three elements of secondary teacher training at UEL - subject studies, general professional studies and school-based training.
We offer:
High levels of support
- Personalised professional support for every trainee, "ensuring that they develop good practice as a result." (Ofsted, 2012)
Continuing support through your ECT year and beyond
- Continuing support through your ECT year and beyond - Once you're qualified, we'll keep in touch, invite you to sessions to develop your practice, and provide support to move you forward in your career.
Opportunities to further your degree
- There are opportunities to gain additional qualifications in Child Exploitation and Online Protection and Outdoor and Adventurous Activities training, and a well-supported route towards a Master's qualification.
Diverse learning
- You'll become part of a richly diverse group of trainee teachers, with "an unwavering commitment to raising standards and aspirations in the communities in which they work." (Ofsted, 2012)
What we're researching
Our academic expertise
Our teaching experience and research are internationally recognised and our curricula approach reflects how passionate we are about teaching and education.
We enable our students to engage with the research agenda by conducting school placement-based action research-focused work as part of their developing teacher role.
Below are examples of our academic expertise:
- Dr Warren Kidd, Secondary PGCE Course Leader, researches in the area of teacher identity and has published extensively in the area of sociology and teaching and learning.
- Dr Shrehan Lynch, Senior Lecturer of Physical Education, researches transformative pedagogies and sociocultural challenges in education
- Sheeba Viswarajan, Senior Lecturer Chemistry Education
- Elicia Lewis, Senior Lecturer Religious Education
- David Wells, Head of Initial Teacher Education, researches game-based learning and gamification in school settings.
- Professor Gerry Czerniawski, Research Degrees leader, has published extensively in the areas of teaching and learning, teacher and teacher educator identity, continuing professional development (CPD) and pupil voice
- Professor Jean Murray is a world-renowned expert in the field of Teacher Education and has published prolifically in this area.
Completing my teacher training has opened many doors for me. I am now Executive Headteacher for a group of schools working with some of the most vulnerable young people in the borough."
Sam Walters
Executive Head Teacher, Redbridge. Graduate 2012
Careers
Teaching career support
The sole goal of training to teach is to become a teacher and our students often secure jobs within our partnership, and in the schools, where they undertake their training placements. UEL also provides wider specialist career advice to support you as you gather the evidence you need to work in an education-related career.
You will make contact with potential employers through your 24-week school-based placements. High-quality coaching and mentoring, careers fairs, workshops and events with renowned guest speakers & lecturers, are also provided. These provide essential support to secure teaching jobs and career opportunities.
Our postgraduate and Master's courses offer clear advancement opportunities in supporting promotion and leadership development for teachers and educational practitioners.
At UEL, you'll have access to:
- Employability skills training such as interview techniques and CV writing.
- Career Assessment, giving you the opportunity to learn about yourself and Career Coach will help you to discover career suggestions based on your interests.
- UEL Skills Academy, where external professionals deliver sessions on the competencies most prized by graduate employers.
- Internships, placements and volunteering opportunities from our work placements team.
- Professional mentoring scheme, matching students with staff from major companies.
- Networking opportunities and annual careers fair.
- Support with setting up your own business.
Our location
Our location in one of Europe's largest regeneration areas and our extensive links to local employers will also give you access to fantastic internships and placements. From heavy industry to high-tech, health and social care to the arts, there are so many opportunities right on our doorstep.
Career Coach
Use our online Career Coach to find out the different career paths that your chosen subject area can lead you to.
Get information on specific careers, job roles, potential wages and available jobs in the sector.
Or take a quick quiz to find a career to match your personality type!
Accreditation
- CMI - Our coaching and mentoring focused MA modules also receive Chartered Management Institute accreditation.
- PSHE Association - Our PGCE and ITE courses also offer Personal, Social, Health and Economic education accreditation, through the PSHE Association
- QTS - Qualified Teacher Status recommendation that is integral to all our initial teacher education courses.
