Postgraduate Certificate in Education (English) PGCE

Key Information

Study mode: Full time Duration: 37 weeks full-time, September to end of June Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent): UK 120 / ECTS 60 credits Application status: Open Start date: September 2025

Course Description

The PGCE English at King’s gives trainees practical and theoretical ideas on the teaching of English as well as modelling ways in which English can be taught in the classroom. Trainees benefit from the college’s unique location on the South Bank and are encouraged to visit the nearby Globe Theatre, BFI and the Saison Poetry Library. The course is led by an experienced team of English educators with a reputation for excellence in their training methods.

Key Benefits

• PGCE courses at King’s are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. One reason is the strong research base which informs the course. In the last research assessment exercise, the department was rated as the leading education institution for research in London (REF, 2021).
• Excellent links to cultural institutions such as the Globe and the National Theatre that expand learning beyond the confines of the classroom.
• A working partnership with a broad range of schools in London and beyond, providing unique opportunities to learn how to teach a diverse mix of students.
• Across all PGCE subjects, 92% of our trainees who applied for teaching posts after graduation were employed as Early Career Teachers (ECTs) at schools in the UK and abroad (JISC Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).
• Two assessed pieces of coursework give you 60 Master’s-level credits – a third of an MA – which puts you well on the way to a Master’s degree in your chosen profession.

Course Essentials

PGCE English consists of four required modules and two blocks of teaching experience based in secondary schools within London and Greater London. You will complete the course within ten months, studying September to June. You must take modules totalling 120 credits to meet the requirements of the qualification. You will engage in education, pedagogy and professional studies sessions and curriculum workshops. These will take place in both university and school settings and will develop your expertise in general educational and professional issues, as well as subject pedagogy. You will gain the skills and understanding to take up positions in schools as a teacher of your subject with the potential to contribute fully to the life of the school. The course carries the Accreditation of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Base Campus

Waterloo Campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties.

Regulating Bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students.

Entry Requirements

UK Applicants

• Standard requirements: A minimum 2:2 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree.
• Programme-Specific Requirements: Our PGCE programmes all require a minimum of a bachelor's degree with at least 2:2 honours (or overseas equivalent).
• Acceptable subjects:
  • Single honours English or joint honours (with English as half).
  • Academic theatre studies degrees (but candidates have to make up the gaps in subject knowledge during the course of the year).
  • Communications, media or linguistic degrees, depending on what the degree entailed (in particular, any substantial amount of textual examination).
• Additional requirements:
  • Knowledge and understanding of the subject you intend to teach.
  • GCSE grade C or above (or an equivalent qualification) in English language and mathematics.

International Applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications: Select a country to view the equivalent qualifications.
• English language requirements: English language band B. Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test.

Selection Process

• All applications should be made through DfE Apply, the Department of Education’s Teacher Training application portal.
• Before you can be offered a place on a PGCE programme, you will need to attend an online or in-person interview, usually within 40 days of your application submission date.
• An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (criminal conviction check) and Occupational Health check are required for the teacher training programmes.

Personal Statement and Supporting Information

• When you apply, you will be asked to give us details of your educational background and to provide a personal statement.
• We will be looking for evidence that your subject knowledge is both broad and deep as well as being up to date.
• Some evidence of working with young people, as a Teaching Assistant, Student Ambassador, youth worker, etc will help your application.

Teaching and Structure

• Teaching methods: Seminars, Self-Study, Academic sessions, Teaching placement, One-to-one tutorials.
• Location: Lectures and seminars are primarily taught at King’s College London Waterloo campus.
• Students undertake teaching placements in secondary schools.
• Students also organise their own short placement at a state primary school.

Assessment

• The 45-credit honours-level module will be assessed by a combination of written (online) portfolio documents and continuous assessment of your teaching practice benchmarked to the DfE's Core Content Framework.
• The 30-credit master’s-level modules will each be assessed by a written assignment heavily based on in-school research that trainees undertakes.
• The 15 credit honours-level module will be assessed by an assignment focusing on data collection methods in the school environment.

Structure

• Courses are divided into modules, and students on this course take modules totalling 120 credits.
• Required modules:
  • Professional Practice in Education (45 credits)
  • School Data (15 credits)
  • Studying Policy & Professional Practice (30 credits)
  • Focused Pedagogical Studies (30 credits)

Employability

• The majority of trainees go into teaching or other areas of education; many become heads of departments or members of senior management teams; some take up careers in educational administration in the advisory or inspection services.

Tuition Fees

• UK: Full time: £9,535 per year (2025/26)
• International: Full time: £25,500 per year (2025/26)

Additional Costs

• Books, if you choose to buy your own copies.
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions.
• Course packs, which are a vital part of your learning at King’s and normally contain extracts from books and other useful documents that will inform your study.
• Library fees and fines.
• Personal photocopies.
• Printing course handouts.
• Society membership fees.
• Stationery.
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses.
• Travel expenses in getting to and from placement schools.
• Graduation costs.

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Degree Overview:

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PGCE English at King's College London

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Overview:

• The PGCE English at King's gives trainees practical and theoretical ideas on the teaching of English as well as modeling ways in which English can be taught in the classroom.
• The course is led by an experienced team of English educators with a reputation for excellence in their training methods.
• Trainees benefit from the college's unique location on the South Bank and are encouraged to visit the nearby Globe Theatre, BFI, and the Saison Poetry Library.

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Objectives:

• Equip trainees with the skills and understanding to take up positions in schools as a teacher of English with the potential to contribute fully to the life of the school.
• Provide trainees with the knowledge and understanding of the subject they intend to teach.
• Help trainees develop their expertise in general educational and professional issues, as well as subject pedagogy.

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Description:

• The course consists of four required modules and two blocks of teaching experience based in secondary schools within London and Greater London.
• Trainees will complete the course within ten months, studying from September to June.
• They must take modules totaling 120 credits to meet the requirements of the qualification.
• The course carries the Accreditation of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

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Outline:

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Content:

• The PGCE English curriculum focuses on teaching English effectively in secondary schools.
• It covers various aspects of English education, including curriculum development, teaching methodologies, assessment techniques, and classroom management.
• The course also addresses broader educational issues such as safeguarding, special educational needs, and inclusion.

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Structure:

• Modules:
• Professional Practice in Education (45 credits)
• School Data (15 credits)
• Studying Policy & Professional Practice (30 credits)
• Focused Pedagogical Studies (30 credits)
• Teaching Practice:
• Trainees will undertake 120 days of teaching placements in secondary schools.
• This includes a short period of placement in a primary school.
• Assessment:
• Professional Practice in Education:
• Continuous assessment of teaching practice
• Three progress reports by placement school staff
• Master's-level modules:
• 6,000-word written assignment based on in-school research
• School Data:
• Assignment focusing on data collection methods

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Course Schedule:

• The course typically involves:
• Over 50 days of academic sessions at King's College London
• 120 days of teaching placement
• One-to-one tutorials
• Regular meetings with a mentor at the placement school

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Individual Modules:

• Professional Practice in Education: This module focuses on the teaching practice that students carry out in secondary schools.
It includes:
• Lesson planning
• Observing lessons
• Marking pupils' work
• Teaching
• School Data: This module explores how data is used in schools to improve teaching and learning.
It includes:
• Data collection methods
• Data analysis
• Data interpretation
• Studying Policy & Professional Practice: This module examines the policies and practices that shape education in England.
It includes:
• The National Curriculum
• The Ofsted framework
• School leadership
• Focused Pedagogical Studies: This module allows trainees to specialize in a particular area of English teaching.
It includes:
• Literature teaching
• Language teaching
• Drama teaching

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Assessment:

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Assessment Methods:

• Continuous assessment of teaching practice
• Written assignments
• Presentations
• Portfolios

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Assessment Criteria:

• Professional Practice in Education:
• Effectiveness as a teacher
• Subject knowledge
• Pedagogical skills
• Professionalism
• Master's-level modules:
• Critical thinking
• Research skills
• Writing ability
• School Data:
• Understanding of data analysis and interpretation
• Overall:
• Meeting the Teachers' Standards set by the Department for Education

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Teaching:

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Teaching Methods:

• Seminars
• Lectures
• Workshops
• Tutorials
• One-to-one feedback
• Online learning

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Faculty:

• Experienced and qualified English educators
• Research-active with expertise in various areas of English education

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Unique Approaches:

• Strong research base informing the course
• Excellent links to cultural institutions such as the Globe and National Theatre
• A working partnership with a broad range of schools
• Opportunities to learn how to teach a diverse mix of students

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Careers:

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Career Paths:

• Teacher of English in secondary schools
• Head of English department
• Educational administrator
• Educational consultant
• Policy advisor

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Career Opportunities:

• Public and private schools
• Further education colleges
• Universities
• Government agencies
• Non-profit organizations

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Career Outcomes:

• 100% of English trainees who applied for teaching posts after graduation were employed as Early Career Teachers (ECTs) at schools in the UK and abroad.

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Other:

• The PGCE English program at King's College London is rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
• Two assessed pieces of coursework give you 60 Master’s-level credits – a third of an MA – which puts you well on the way to a Master’s degree in your chosen profession.

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UK:Full time: £9,250 per year (2024/25) International:Full time: £23,820 per year (2024/25)