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Secondary Modern Languages PGCE with QTS

2024-25 (also available for 2025-26)

Start date

9 September 2024

Duration

1 year full-time

Places available (subject to change)

8

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. 97.2% of our postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2020/21, UK and non-UK domiciled).
  2. Teaching placements can provide the hands-on experience you'll need to develop into a successful teacher.
  3. Launch your teaching career: upon completion of your course we'll recommend Qualified Teacher Status.

If you’ve got an undergraduate degree and are striving to become a secondary school Modern Foreign Languages teacher, then studying our Secondary Modern Languages PGCE with QTS will help you on your way. We offer places for subject specialists French Spanish and German. You’ll develop your subject specialist knowledge alongside hands-on classroom experience.

Why Secondary Modern Languages PGCE with QTS?

  • The course is designed to emphasise practical engagement with the curriculum whilst developing your understanding of the theories which underpin the best models of practice. This means you'll be equipped with the knowledge and practical skills you'll need in the constantly changing world of secondary education.
  • We know there’s no substitute for learning how to teach in the classroom environment, so a significant amount of your learning will take place whilst on placement within one of our partnership schools. You’ll benefit from being able to observe experienced teachers, from practical hands-on experience and from mentoring to help you develop into an outstanding and successful teacher.
  • Upon successful completion of the course you will be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), enabling you to start your first teaching post within a secondary school.

Course detail

Developing Specialist Subject Knowledge

In this module you will develop the subject content and pedagogical knowledge to support effective teaching in your specialist subject area. You will develop a systematic understanding of the statutory and non-statutory curriculum frameworks and public examination specifications for your subject and critically analyse and evaluate current research policy and practice. You will be encouraged to further develop your personal subject knowledge, skills and understanding, and to develop specific teaching strategies to support pupils’ progress in the subject. For the assessment, you will submit a critical account of the place of your specialist subject in the curriculum, and evidence that demonstrates successful teaching in the specialist subject.

Pedagogies for Support Learning and Progress in the Secondary School

This module develops your understanding of pedagogy, focusing on the key areas of how pupils learn and how to support their progress; planning and teaching well-structured lessons; and adapting teaching to support the needs of all learners. The assessment provides a structured opportunity for you to plan and teach a sequence of lessons with an acute focus on meeting the needs of all learners, and you will critically evaluate the impact of the sequence on pupils’ learning and outcomes.

Professional Values and Practice 1

This module supports your professional learning in the first assessed phase of your school-based training. The module begins to develop your theoretical knowledge, understanding, attributes, values and skills. You will gain a clear understanding of teachers’ statutory duties, professional expectations and responsibilities. You will develop your classroom and behaviour management skills and build your confidence as a teacher, focusing on creating a positive climate for learning and setting high expectations for pupils’ learning and behaviour. For assessment, you will critically evaluate how your developing skills enabled you to impact on pupils’ learning and progress.

Professional Values and Practice 2

This module supports your professional learning in the second assessed phase of your school-based training. The module continues to support your progress, focusing on the development of inclusive pedagogy and practice. For assessment, you will critically evaluate how your developing skills enabled you to impact on pupils’ learning and progress.

Professional Values and Practice 3

This module supports your professional learning in the final assessed phase of your school-based training. The module extends and consolidates your understanding of teachers’ professional accountability for pupils’ progress and outcomes, and the full extent of the role that teachers play within the wider school community and in society. You will refine and consolidate your teaching practice and demonstrate that you meet the requirements for the award of Qualified Teacher Status. For assessment, you will critically evaluate how your skills in relation to each standard have enabled you to impact on pupils’ progress over time.

Entry requirements

  • An Honours degree (2:2 or above) with at least 50% relevant content in Modern Languages. It is anticipated that the first degree will be in French, Spanish and/or German and that candidates are able to teach another language to at least KS3.
  • GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 or above (or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme) or equivalent.
  • If your first language is not English, you will need IELTS 7.0 overall, with no element less than 6.5.
  • If all or part of your qualifications are from outside the UK, we’ll need a UK ENIC statement of comparability.

Application to the PGCE via Subject Knowledge Enhancement Programme:

  • If your degree qualification does not meet our normal entrance requirements, a place may be offered conditionally on the successful completion of a Subject Knowledge Enhancement programme (SKE).

Other requirements:

  • You must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, and that you have the intellectual and academic potential to meet the required Teachers’ Standards by the end of the programme.
  • You should provide two references. Where applicants have current or recent experience working with children or young people, one of the referees should be a member of staff who can comment on their potential to train to teach.
  • Offers are subject to satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced disclosure checks and applicants must not previously have been barred from teaching or working with children. We also ask you to complete a health declaration to ensure that you have the health and physical capacity to teach.

All conditions must be met by 31 August for entry in September in the year of application.

The University of Huddersfield seeks and encourages applications from under-represented groups in order to widen participation, improve access and apply the principles of equal opportunities. Applicants with disabilities are under no obligation to declare their disabilities, but the University is committed to making the adjustments necessary to promote positively equality and access for disabled applicants. Applicants are encouraged to identify any special arrangements they may require. General advice and information regarding disability and the support the University can give can be found by visiting the University's Disability Support webpages.

Studying a Secondary PGCE


Sarah Ahmed, School Director of Partnerships at the University of Huddersfield, talks about Secondary Education PGCEs as a route to training to teach.Â

In this short presentation, Sarah talks about how the Secondary PGCE course is structured, what subjects are available, the financial support for trainees (bursaries and scholarships of up to £30,000), entry requirements and how to apply. 

You can book on to a Postgraduate Open Day here

Placements


For all trainees, their school-based training is the central element of their initial teacher education. You will undertake at least two compulsory placements as part of your course and will spend 120 days in at least two schools. You’ll benefit from being able to observe experienced teachers, from practical hands-on experience and from supportive mentoring to help you to develop into a confident and successful teacher.

You’ll experience the wider role of a teacher in secondary education. You’ll have the support of both subject and professional mentors in schools who will help you to develop your practice through observations, planning meetings, weekly tutorials, reports and in-depth lesson evaluations.

Your university tutor will visit you in school to guide, support and evaluate your progress. There is an emphasis on practical engagement with the curriculum whilst developing your understanding of the theoretical perspectives which underpin the best models of classroom practice.

What's surprised me is how quickly you get to teach - I did my school induction in week two, my placement started in week three and by week five I was preparing and teaching a lesson.

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Shondelle Quarshie, Secondary Education PGCE with QTS graduate

Your career


We know you're coming to university to undertake your course, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition. 

So while you're here (and after you graduate) the Careers and Employability Service offer professional help, support and guidance. Find out more about the Service.

95% of our undergraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating.** 

 **HESA Graduate Outcomes 2020/21, including both UK and non-UK domiciled, other activities excluded. 

95% graduates employed*

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

A wide range of resources are also offered within the School of Education and Professional Development, which you would be a part of should you decide to study this course. The school provides you with support in a variety of areas, these include:

Student Support Office (iPoint): a one-stop-shop for students, studying within the School. Here you can get help and advice, including checking your timetable, finding a tutor, handing in assessments. We can also refer you to other departments within the University such as, student finance, student services etc.

Academic Skills Tutor: provides guidance about how you can develop your academic skills in order to improve your grades. We provide support with general academic skills including essay writing, time management, presentations and group work skills; information technology and numeracy; research skills, as well as personal development for example confidence building and assertiveness. 

Student Support Officer: provides confidential and impartial advice on welfare and course related issues.

Placements, Employability and Partnerships An enormous part of your learning takes place whilst on placement.  To help you get the best possible experience we operate an extensive professional network giving you the opportunity to access a wide range of high quality placement providers. Our professional network includes links with local authorities, schools, colleges, early years settings, voluntary organisations, youth services and youth offending teams to offer you real-life experience whilst you study. Our placements team offer you help to find your placement and support you through it.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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