Introduction
Update your teaching skills and knowledge with the latest educational issues and strategies, and put them straight into practice at work with our part-time, distance learning PGCE course.
If you’re completing Initial Teacher Training (ITT) with a school-based partnership or are an early career teacher, our PGCE will help you improve your practice and put your learning to the test while you work.
You’ll explore the latest issues and theories in education, and how they impact policy and practice in your context. This course will enable you to design appropriate and effective learning strategies to support your teaching and future professional development. You’ll also have the opportunity to consider where your career in primary or secondary education might go next. You could aim for a leadership role, develop expertise in a particular curriculum subject, or specialise in supporting children with special educational needs.
Please note that the PGCE (Without QTS) is an academic qualification, not a course of Initial Teacher Training.
Course options
Key facts
Entry Requirements
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Fees and Paying for University
Facilities
Outstanding student support
Students on our distance learning PGCE degree course can benefit from:
- varied, interactive and engaging course content and activities through Canvas, our online learning management system
- a personal tutor to help you build your skills and confidence
- careers advice, help and resources from our Employability Service
- the flexibility to study around your other commitments, whenever and wherever you like.
Lecturers
Steve Connolly
Associate Professor
Careers
Careers in education can be immensely rewarding, with many wide-ranging opportunities for advancement. This PGCE course allows you to consider the direction of your own career, supporting you to set yourself professional goals and giving you the knowledge and skills to achieve them.
For example, in schools you might work to establish yourself as a highly skilled classroom teacher before progressing to year-group or phase leadership, then to assistant and deputy headship. Alternatively, you might develop expertise in teaching a curriculum subject area, or specialise in supporting children with Special Educational Needs or challenging more able learners.
Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. Our PGCE will help you frame your own professional pathway and consider further postgraduate study to support this. You could continue your studies on one of our full MA Education degrees using credit gained on this course course to further specialise in leadership and management, SEND, or Montessori settings. If you’re interested in further research, you could then go on to take a doctoral degree such as our School of Education PhD or Professional Doctorate in Education. By taking advantage of our Alumni Scholarship you can save money on your fees.
While you’re studying here, and after you graduate, you can access support through our dedicated our dedicated Employability Service.
The PGCE helped Rachel develop her reflective skills, which enabled her to improve her practice and become a more effective classroom teacher. These skills were valuable in job interviews when she was asked to reflect on her teaching.
Read Rachel's case study, "How the PGCE helped me develop my reflection skills"Want to talk to someone?
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We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.
Benefits of postgraduate study
Improve your employability, progress in your career, and take on an intellectual challenge with our flexible postgraduate degrees.
Postgraduate study at ARU
Boost your career
Distance learning courses are a great way to study for a full degree around your existing commitments, while learning more about a subject or developing your professional knowledge.