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What makes PGCE - Secondary - Mathematics at Worcester special?

Age phase: 11-16 with post-16 enhancement

Our Secondary PGCE in Mathematics provides you with the skills to develop a self-reflective teaching practice which will inspire the next generation of mathematicians.

By choosing an Ofsted rated Outstanding Provider, you will uncover the broad professional field of mathematics teaching, whilst we provide you with practical opportunities to gain ‘on the job’ experience, through our proactive approach to learning. Your development as a mathematics teacher will be supported with access to the valuable Advance Maths Support Programme and local Maths Hubs. This is all supplied alongside opportunities to debate mathematics pedagogy, such as the post-16 mathematics landscape and the place of mathematics in the curriculum, with your peers and industry experts – both in and out of the classroom.

Our PGCE in Secondary Mathematics supplies you with the skills and techniques to be a successful teacher, from the very start of your career. By encouraging you to debate and reflect on your practice, our PGCE supplies you with the confidence to feel secure in the classroom. 

Scholarships of £30,000 and bursaries of up to £30,000 are available for Mathematics teachers starting a teacher training course between September 2024 and July 2025. See the DFE website for more information.

We are proud that our Secondary PGCE was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in March 2023. Ofsted identified that:

Trainees benefit from an exceptional learning experience at the University of Worcester. This experience instils in them a deep-rooted commitment to making a difference to the lives of the children and young adults in the communities they serve.’

Placements, university sessions and mentors will support your development and our trainees are ‘exceptionally well-prepared for their first teaching post’ (Ofsted, 2023)

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • Explore mathematical concepts by engaging with a range of mathematical representations, models and manipulatives
  • consider what effective learning and teaching looks like in a mathematics classroom through reflecting on your own learning, exploring research evidence and observing mathematics classrooms at work
  • work with expert colleagues in schools to learn how to implement effective teaching in a range of settings
  • participate and contribute to subject-specific communities of practice including local Maths Hubs, subject associations and other networks 
Ofsted Outstanding logo

Ofsted has rated us as "Outstanding" in training Primary and Secondary Teachers 2023.

The University of Worcester’s education of future primary and secondary teachers has been given the highest possible grade with inspectors stating that, along with its partners, the University creates “a learning community that places children at the heart of everyone’s endeavours”.  

Read our full news story

"Leaders have established exceptionally strong relationships with their school partners."

Ofsted 2023

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Please consult individual subject specialism pages for full details of entry requirements, but most specialisms ask for:

Academic requirements

  • Honours degree normally (2:2) or higher from a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent qualification, in a relevant subject area. Applicants with a 3rd class degree will be considered on an individual basis.
  • All entrants have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade 4 (formerly grade C) in the GCSE examinations in English Language or English Literature and Mathematics (applicants must have these qualifications by the start of the course). Alternatively, we offer an equivalency test if you don’t have the required GCSE grade to apply for our courses. Trainees who begin courses before providing evidence of the required GCSE standard (or equivalent) will not be eligible for financial incentives, such as bursaries or grants until they achieve the required standard.

Qualifications not listed? Contact the Admissions Office for advice by email: AdmissionsB@worc.ac.uk

Additional requirements

  • An Enhanced DBS check. You will be sent details of how to apply for your DBS in the summer term. You will need to pay for this. You may already be part of the DBS update service. Find out about the update service here. As part of the DBS process you will be checked against the Children’s Barred List.
  • A check against the Prohibition List.
  • If you have lived, studied or worked overseas for three months or more in the last five years a Certificate of Good Conduct from the country of residence will be required. Further information and guidance associated with additional costs are available from the Home Office.
  • An online occupational health check. All those on a teacher training programme must be certified as meeting national requirements for physical and mental fitness to teach, as set by the Department for Education.
  • International students: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent

Other information

To help you prepare for your interview you can expect questions covering the following:

  • the subject knowledge required for teaching the subject curriculum in school
  • your ability to critically reflect on your prior experiences in relation to your future development as a teacher
  • your understanding of the UK education system and the wider role of a teacher
  • how you have overcome challenges in your life and shown resilience
  • how you plan to meet the academic and teaching demands of the course.

In addition, we are looking for enthusiasm, commitment, and potential. Clear verbal and written communication skills are integral to this which you will have an opportunity to demonstrate throughout the interview.

  • School experience is desirable, but not essential.
  • Interviews will be conducted online. Applicants will be contacted directly with more details.

All applications for PGCE Secondary should be made via the Government's Find Postgraduate Teacher Training website.

Additional useful information is available on the Government's Get Into Teaching website

Course content

Course content

Subject Knowledge Enhancement

Not sure about your subject knowledge?

Build up or refresh your existing knowledge with a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) programme before the course.

Subjects offered:
Biology; Chemistry†; Computer Science*†; Design & Technology (Food); English; Mathematics*†; Modern Languages*† (French, German, Spanish); Physics†; Religious Education.

*All delivered by external providers. All other SKE courses are delivered by the University of Worcester.

† The Department for Education is removing the student bursaries for some Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses. As of April 2024 these courses will continue to receive a bursary but this is subject to change in the future.

Find out about the bursary.

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course. If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative. 

Subject Knowledge with a Deep Understanding

  • Enrich your subject knowledge drawing on the expertise of tutors who engage in research
  • Work in partnership with school mentors with excellent current practice in your specialist area
  • Develop confident subject knowledge and an understanding about how pupils learn: the majority of your time in university is in subject workshops

Specialist Subject Opportunities

  • Participate in cross-curricular sessions to explore the links between mathematics and other subjects
  • Spend a day in a primary school observing mathematics lessons across KS1 and 2
  • Plan and teach a revision session for Year 12 ‘A’ Level Mathematics students
  • Links to subject associations

Pedagogy

  • Understand and apply theory and research on how children learn and develop.
  • Explore a range of learning and teaching styles, and classroom organisation.
  • Discover how to promote progress through observing, planning, teaching and assessing learning.

Professional Studies

  • Learn the expectations, standards and behaviours which are appropriate to the profession and the wider responsibilities of a teacher.
  • Be informed by the research and evidence about effective teaching at a general level before applying this knowledge to subject-specific approaches.
  • Develop adaptive teaching strategies to respond to the unique needs in a range of contexts, leveraging the diversity inherent in schools.

Enhancement Activities

  • Gain expertise through one of our unique Enhancement Activities: PSHE and Citizenship, Careers Education, Education in Climate Emergency, Teenage Mental Health, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Technology Enhanced Learning.  In addition, we also offer an Aspiring Leaders programme.

Your career

  • Become a reflective self-evaluating practitioner.
  • Enjoy great employment prospects; our support takes you from trainee to ECT (Early Career Teacher) and beyond
  • Prepare for leadership and your Masters with 60 credits and a strong research foundation.

"It has been really nice to get ideas that I can use in the classroom and tasks that are mathematically rich. I have found that the sessions have been tailored to the needs of the trainees and have supported my development."

Trainee Math Teacher

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and assessment

male teacher in a classroom

Teaching approach

  • School experience in a range of settings.
  • Professional Studies sessions in school and at University.
  • University-led workshops, lectures, seminars, fieldwork and guest lectures.
  • Participation in high level professional discussion, peer presentations and debate.
  • Directed studies, case studies and problem solving tasks; development of practice-based competence and skills of critical reflection through guided individual mentoring during placements.
  • One-to-one academic and personal tutorial support including access to our first class Firstpoint services

Assessment

  • Assignments are carefully designed to develop your skills as a teacher.
  • Assessments that move from highly structured to more open briefs as you develop your professional skills.
  • The opportunity to develop skills as a research informed practitioner.

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.

A female teacher training student in a classroom working on placement as part of her degree to get into teaching.

PGCE Alumni Scholarship

If you are a University of Worcester graduate starting a full-time PGCE in September 2024 then you may be eligible for a £500 Cash Scholarship.

See our scholarships page for more details.

Meet the team

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course.

You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Careers

Careers

  • Great employment prospects
  • Prepare for leadership and your Masters with 60 credits and a strong research foundation
  • Many University of Worcester trainees gain promotion within the first few years of teaching
PGCE Maths graduate Amy Vilcans

Amy Vilcans

With a love of Mathematics since her childhood, Amy Vilcans now imparts that passion for the subject onto her pupils.

Since graduating two years ago Amy’s career has flourished and she is now second in the Mathematics department and has been given responsibility for ensuring good numeracy across her school.

“With each working day I get to work with so many different young people and help them to achieve their potential in Mathematics,” she said.

Teaching was a career the 28-year-old, of Brierley Hill, in the West Midlands, had thought about since childhood.

“I love Mathematics as it is an important life skill and I had been very successful at it during my own education,” said Amy. “I wanted to teach children to love Mathematics and see the creative side to it. Whilst working in a mental health hospital I was given the opportunity to assist patients in the on-site school. I loved this and it made me realise that that was where my passion was.”

PGCE Maths graduate Nazish Sikander

Nazish Sikander

Nazish, who has achondroplasia, more commonly known as dwarfism, refused to let her disability stand in her way and graduated with a PGCE in 2016.

“I want to inspire students with special educational needs and disabilities to chase their dreams and not limit themselves because of what others perceive them as,” she said. “Some things are more achievable than others but if I hadn't overcome them myself I wouldn't be where I am today.”

Nazish’s height did present some challenges, as it limited her reach to high objects such as the whiteboard.
Not to be deterred, Nazish, found equipment that would connect an electronic tablet to a projector allowing her to teach from anywhere in the room.

“Worcester gave me the chance to prove to the world I can become a good enough teacher as any other,” she said. “My subject tutor encouraged me and built up my confidence in my ability to teach and guided me to fulfil my dreams.  My ultimate goal always lies in special needs and it was lovely to teach a group of 10 students all with different needs from autism to visual impairments and even disabilities such as Down's syndrome. By the end of my placement I had grown a great bond with them.”

After completing her course, Nazish has gone on to teach at Hodge Hill Girls’ School in Birmingham.

Two students are walking next to each other and smiling

Careers and Employability

Our Graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a wide variety of employment sectors.

Find out how we can support you to achieve your potential
Costs

Fees and funding

Full-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard tuition fee for full-time UK and EU students enrolling on a PGCE in the academic year 2024/25 will be £9,250 per year.*

* Please note that for EU students training as Physics or Languages teachers and in receipt of the UK government bursary/relocation package the fee is £17,400 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on a PGCE in the academic year 2024/25 will be £17,400 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Teacher training funding

You can get help with the costs of teacher training. A student finance package will include a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan. You may also be eligible for extra help if you have children or have a disability.

Some courses are also eligible for a tax-free bursary or scholarship depending on your subject, degree classification or highest academic qualification.

Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for essential books, trips, stationery, printing and photocopying.

Travel costs for placements vary depending on the location of schools and your mode of transport, sometimes these may be reclaimed depending on your individual circumstances.

We organise day and residential visits to increase subject knowledge, sharing good practice and field work skills. The costs are at your own expense but we do encourage car sharing.

In addition, we encourage you to join subject specific associations. The cost is typically between £25 to £50 for which you benefit from their support, guidance and resources.

The DfE requires all trainee teachers to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, which you will need to pay for.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Chestnut Halls' at £131 per week to 'Oak Halls' at £221 per week (2024/25 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.

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