Show/Hide navigation
University of Reading University of Reading
Mobile search categories
mask
CHOOSE A SUBJECT
2024/25
2025/26

PGCE Secondary English

  • Year of entry
    2025/26
  • Course duration
    Full Time: 10 months
  • Year of entry
    2025/26
  • Course duration
    Full Time: 10 months

Study our PGCE Secondary English at the Institute of Education and benefit from highly experienced tutors and consistently high employment rates. 

At the University of Reading, we recognise the importance of teaching children to think, create, and explore the world through language and literature. 

How you’ll learn

Training to teach English at the University of Reading is a dynamic, innovative, and practical experience. You’ll share your passion for English literature and develop professional skills to become an excellent teacher.  

Your learning will take place through a blend of pedagogy sessions, professional studies, and school experience. You’ll engage in about 50 three-hour taught subject sessions and 10 professional studies sessions. 

Throughout the course, you’ll learn: 

  • teaching English literature, including Shakespeare and poetry 
  • teaching writing – including grammar, language, vocabulary and spelling 
  • teaching oral communication skills 
  • teaching and using drama in English 
  • teaching media in English 
  • adaptive teaching in English
  • planning, progress and assessment. 

QTS status 

This Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary English course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach the 11-18 age group in secondary schools in England and Wales. 

Your learning environment  

You will be taught by highly experienced University tutors, guest presenters from the Institute of Education, several of our partnership schools.  

The evidence-informed sessions will enable you to explore the connections between research and practice in a collaborative and stimulating environment. 
You’ll be supported by University-trained subject mentors, and your progress will be monitored closely by University tutors.

Partnerships with schools

This course is designed in collaboration with our strong schools partnership, ensuring that it meets your needs as a learner and the needs of the children you teach. At secondary level, we have relationships with around 90 schools in the local and surrounding area. It is a testament to the strength of these partnerships and the reputation of our graduates, that most schools in Berkshire employ at least one graduate from the University of Reading.

Placements

Placements enable you to develop the skills and knowledge valued by employers. You'll build your confidence in the classroom and gain practical teaching experience. 

Placements also provide you with the opportunity to connect with potential employers and build your professional network. 

On this secondary PGCE course, you are required to carry out three placements in two age groups – ensuring that you receive a broad range of experiences. Two placements must be undertaken in a school setting, but the third can be taken in a different setting – allowing you to sample teaching in an alternative environment. 

In your school placement, you will:

  • gain experience in the range of responsibilities of the classroom teacher 
  • observe other teachers 
  • plan the teaching of small groups and whole classes 
  • plan and teach elements of lessons and whole lessons 
  • reflect on and evaluate your teaching
  • receive feedback on your teaching. 

We offer a flexible and broad range of educational environments.

You'll have the opportunity to gain experience in: 

  • special needs schools 
  • Pupil Referral Units 
  • independent schools 
  • museums 
  • charities. 

Links with the English teaching community 

This course is linked with the National Association for the Teaching of English (NATE), offering great networking and professional opportunities in a community of English teachers. 

Climate and sustainability education

At the University of Reading, we believe that climate and sustainability education is everyone's responsibility. You will be given access to training that enables you to incorporate climate education into your teaching, as part of our National Climate Education Action Plan. 

You will learn about:

  • what is happening to our climate, how to help children learn about climate and sustainability in an age-appropriate and accessible way, and how to develop your own positioning as a teacher 
  • climate justice, the impact of current and future changes to our environment and climate on ourselves and others, and the implications for teachers
  • how to translate knowledge and theory into change and personal action through building climate and sustainability education into your planning, teaching and children's learning. 

Visit our Partnering for the Planet site to find out more about the University of Reading’s world-leading work in climate science. 

Research

98% of our research is of international standing (Research Excellence Framework 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Education). 

For more information, please visit the Institute of Education website. 

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,535 for 2025/26

New international students: £25,850 for 2025/26

Tuition fees

To find out more about how the University of Reading sets its tuition fees, see our fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

The Department for Education (DfE) also offer a range of scholarships and bursaries. To find out if you may be eligible, visit their bursaries and scholarships webpage.

The majority of our graduates go into schools and inspire children to develop into happy, confident and well-informed individuals. Other alumni have used their educational skills in the worlds of business, culture, art, healthcare, human resources and adult learning. 

The support and training we give our students enables them to develop into resilient and creative teachers with the ability to adapt. The transferable skills and strengths they gain are also recognised outside of education, and are therefore desirable in many different areas of employment. 

The placement opportunities and careers support we give our students ensure they are attractive to employers. This is demonstrated by the consistently high employment rates our students enjoy in local and regional schools.