Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Physics with Mathematics)

The programme combines the theory and practice of education which is why students spend 60 days in College and 120 days in schools. The course is research-led and you will develop your knowledge of how pupils learn; how assessment can improve teaching and learning; how to plan lessons, and how to make most use of the laboratory and the outdoors to teach effectively.

There are two blocks of school experience, one starting in the autumn and the other in the spring. You will spend time observing other teachers and their classes before beginning to teach yourself. You will teach more during the second school experience than you will in the first one. During the year you will also spend time in two primary schools so that you can see what pupils experience before they arrive in secondary schools.

You will spend some of your time in college working in a group with other Physics with Maths trainees. You will also spend some time working with students from other subjects ranging from ICT to Classics.

The course includes residential fieldwork based a Field Studies Council centre in Surrey. There are many other opportunities for you to develop your abilities to teach beyond the classroom, in the school grounds and beyond.

You will be well supported by your personal tutor and by your school-based mentors. There are weekly meetings with your mentor and seven personal tutorials throughout the year. The College tutors have all taught in London schools and many have published in science education journals, both professional and academic.