PGCE Secondary History
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- Course Code
- V1X1
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Course Overview
If you are looking for a career where you can inspire, motivate and make a difference to the lives of young people, teaching is for you.
At UEA, we don’t believe in a prescribed method of teaching. Instead, we will support you in exploring a range of pedagogical approaches and strategies, so that you can meet the needs of pupils and develop your own style of teaching.
As you'll be learning from a variety of experts from our extensive partnership (more than 80 schools), you’ll need to be open minded, trying a range of different methods and finding out what works for you and your pupils.
With a gradual progression in solo teaching hours, our PGCE programme is carefully sequenced to allow you to succeed in the classroom and become a reflective practitioner, whilst supporting you in making learning history an engaging, challenging yet fully inclusive experience for pupils.
At UEA, you'll be studying a course developed with our partner, the University of Worcester, that Ofsted rated “Outstanding” in 2023. Our one-year, full-time Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary History programme will equip you with the skills, experience and knowledge you need to teach history to pupils aged 11 to 16, with Sixth Form enhancement. This gives you the opportunity to develop post-16 teaching skills if this is something you are interested in.
Upon successful completion of your PGCE, you'll graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and 90 Master’s credits. QTS will qualify you to teach children up to 18 years old.
Our PGCE Master’s programme closely interweaves school (minimum 120 days) and university-based training to provide a solid foundation for the rest of your career. As well as providing a structured introduction to the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching, our partnership curriculum will provide you with the opportunity to research and evaluate the latest research in teaching practice, helping you understand the optimum ways pupils learn.
By the end of the course, you'll evolve your own style of teaching, not only to meet the differing needs of pupils but so that it matches your personality. You'll be supported by your Subject Lead in starting your career in a school that works for you.
Learning to become an accomplished history teacher, able to inspire pupils of all ages and abilities, is a complex and multi-faceted challenge. The way history is taught in schools has recently aroused a lot of controversy, with many views emerging on how it should be done. Train with us and we’ll help you engage with these views and learn how to ensure that your history teaching brings together theory and practice in a practical and intellectually rigorous way.
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Accreditations
Successful completion of this course leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), accredited by the Department for Education.
Our accredited partner, the University of Worcester, will recommend successful trainees for the award of QTS.
The University of Worcester has designed the curriculum in partnership with UEA. Your PGCE academic award will be from UEA and all of the course will be delivered at UEA. UEA is responsible for your wellbeing and support.
Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll be learning in a variety of settings – both at UEA and in two placement schools. Over the year, you'll spend a minimum of 120 days on school placement and 60 study days in structured learning at UEA.
You’ll begin the first few weeks of the course being taught on our Norwich campus where you’ll be engaging in hands-on workshops, seminars, and lectures. These will enable you to develop a repertoire of skills so that you feel comfortable and confident when teaching your first classes.
You’ll have opportunities to work with trainees from other subject areas, but whilst in university, you’ll spend most of your time in your history group, reflecting on subject specific pedagogy with people who share your enthusiasm for your subject. In addition, you’ll be supported by a Subject Lead with considerable secondary school teaching experience, who is an expert in their field.
In your history seminars, you'll investigate the purposes and benefits of school history. Alongside building your own substantive knowledge of history, you'll develop a deeper understanding of how to approach teaching the substantive concepts and disciplinary knowledge of the subject. In an age of social media, it is important that pupils can ask questions about who has written a source and why. You'll explore how to foster critical thinking skills in your pupils. You'll also learn how to promote equal opportunity and understand special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
You’ll gain experience working in two different schools whilst on placement. This will enable you to gain a broad range of experience and greater insight into different types of schools; this will prove invaluable when it is time to make an informed choice regarding your first teaching position. Our school partnership extends across East Anglia, so we’ll consider your home address when deciding on your placement schools. We take great care in deciding where to place you, considering your individual circumstances and ensuring excellent training opportunities, such as contrasting placements. You'll be able to explore different approaches while finding out what works for you.
You'll also learn how to make an effective contribution to the work of schools beyond your subject specialism and to establish yourself as part of a community of practice.
Between placements, you’ll discuss and reflect on your school experiences with your fellow students, while learning more about the theory and practice of learning.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
We draw on expertise from across our partnership to offer you a rich and rewarding range of learning opportunities throughout the PGCE within and beyond UEA.
In our partnership curriculum sessions, you'll work with a specialist history UEA Subject Lead who is both an academic and experienced teacher, with a focus on the application of history pedagogy in the classroom, drawing on recent and current subject-specific research.
You'll be expected to prepare for Subject and Professional Studies sessions. The emphasis is on collaborative working, as you'll learn with and from your peers, so prepare to be engaged! You'll also study independently throughout the course, researching and writing your Master’s-level assignments, and developing your subject knowledge, under the guidance of your UEA Subject Leads and your school mentors.
Throughout the year, you'll be encouraged to reflect on your teaching practice, taking every opportunity to put theory into practice. You'll work closely with your UEA Subject Lead and your mentors in your placement schools to ensure you meet the Teachers’ Standards by the end of the year.
You'll develop a range of essential knowledge and skills in the following core areas: Professional Behaviour, Adaptive Teaching, Assessment, Behaviour Management, Equality Diversity and Inclusion, Help Pupils Learn, Subject Knowledge and Pedagogy. This will encompass understanding the requirements and content of the national curriculum, and the development of essential skills such as planning, classroom practice, adapting teaching to ensure all pupils’ progress, and how to assess learning in history. You'll develop strategies to encourage positive pupil engagement and learn how to promote equal opportunity, understand special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Finally, you'll become familiar with wider issues relevant to the professional identity of a history teacher and learn how to manage your workload effectively.
Assessment
You'll complete three Master’s level assignments that are carefully designed to help you become an effective teacher. Your assignments will relate directly to your professional knowledge and understanding, as well as your practical teaching experience within your school placements.
Throughout your time in schools, you'll benefit from the support and mentoring of expert colleagues. You'll have your own subject specific mentor who will provide feedback on your teaching and through regular professional dialogue, will help you to progress towards meeting the Teachers’ Standards by the end of the course.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2:2 or above preferred
Degree Subject
History or a related subject
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants are required to have achieved a good honours degree (preferably class 2:2 and above) or its equivalent* by the beginning of the PGCE programme in September. Applicants with a third class degree will be considered on an individual basis. As a general guideline, approximately 50 per cent of the degree should be relevant to the subject you will teach.
PRE-APPLICATION CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE
From February 2018, applicants are not required to have gained any prior experience within a school.
Although not a requirement, time spent in a school could help you to gain valuable insight into the role of a teacher, how teaching and learning takes place within the classroom, and help you to decide whether teaching is the right profession for you. It is recommended, that where possible, you gain some school experience prior to application.
It would be most useful if experience could be gained across the Secondary age range in your chosen subject area.
If you are able to gain classroom experience prior to submitting your application there are a number of ways in which this can be achieved:
Contact Your Local School:
Try contacting local schools where you live to see if you are able to arrange a time to observe some lessons, or register with the DfE School Experience Programme to help book school experience through their online portal.
KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM, KEY CONTACTS AND USEFUL LINKS
Applications are considered on an individual basis and being able to demonstrate a strong level of knowledge about the National Curriculum and current issues affecting teaching is advantageous. These educational links will provide you with some useful points of contact to help to get you started.
DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK (DBS)
Disclosure of Criminal Background for Those with Access to Children
All applicants for the PGCE course will be required to obtain an Enhanced Criminal Records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The enhanced disclosure will be used to assess suitability for the programme and information provided may be discussed with the external members of the School's Safeguarding Sub-Committees. Candidates are responsible for payment of the DBS fee. General information about this process can be obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service Website. As part of the DBS process, you will be checked against the Children's Barred List and Prohibition list. If you have lived overseas for a continuous period of 6 months or more during the last five years, a Certificate of Good Conduct will be required. The UEA Student Disclosure Service will contact you prior to the start of the course with more information on completing the DBS check.SATISFACTORY HEALTH CHECK
You will need to demonstrate your fitness to teach by completing an Occupational Health Assessment. This will give us information about any special needs you may have, and enable us to assess whether the University and placement areas will be able to provide support. It is therefore, in your interest to provide full answers to the questions.
- English and Mathematics
Before making your application you must have a GCSE pass at Grade 4 (formerly C) or its equivalent* in English Language or English Literature and Mathematics regardless of your date of birth.
*Please note: It is at the discretion of the individual Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making their application.
We are able to consider GCSE equivalency tests taken via equivalencytesting.com only, with grades of A*-C or 4-9.
Qualifications not listed? Contact the PGCE Admissions Office for advice by email: edu.pgce.admiss@uea.ac.uk.
- Interviews
Interview required; please be aware that we cannot guarantee that all candidates who apply will be shortlisted for interview. Interviews will usually be conducted in person. Online interviews will be offered to applicants overseas.
- Placements
You’ll gain experience working in two different schools whilst on placement. Our school partnership extends across East Anglia, so we’ll consider your home address when deciding on your placement schools. We take great care in deciding where to place you, considering your individual circumstances and ensuring excellent training opportunities, such as contrasting placements. You'll be able to explore different approaches while finding out what works for you.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2:2 or above preferred, or it's equivalent*
*Please note: It is at the discretion of the individual Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making their application.
Degree Subject
History or a related subject
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants are required to have achieved a good honours degree (preferably class 2:2 and above) or its equivalent* by the beginning of the PGCE programme in September. Applicants with a third class degree will be considered on an individual basis. As a general guideline, approximately 50 per cent of the degree should be relevant to the subject you will teach.
PRE-APPLICATION CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE
From February 2018, applicants are not required to have gained any prior experience within a school.
Although not a requirement, time spent in a school could help you to gain valuable insight into the role of a teacher, how teaching and learning takes place within the classroom, and help you to decide whether teaching is the right profession for you. It is recommended, that where possible, you gain some school experience prior to application.
It would be most useful if experience could be gained across the Secondary age range in your chosen subject area.
If you are able to gain classroom experience prior to submitting your application there are a number of ways in which this can be achieved:
Contact Your Local School:
Try contacting local schools where you live to see if you are able to arrange a time to observe some lessons, or register with the DfE School Experience Programme to help book school experience through their online portal.
KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM, KEY CONTACTS AND USEFUL LINKS
Applications are considered on an individual basis and being able to demonstrate a strong level of knowledge about the National Curriculum and current issues affecting teaching is advantageous. These educational links will provide you with some useful points of contact to help to get you started.
DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK (DBS)
Disclosure of Criminal Background for Those with Access to Children
All applicants for the PGCE course will be required to obtain an Enhanced Criminal Records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The enhanced disclosure will be used to assess suitability for the programme and information provided may be discussed with the external members of the School's Safeguarding Sub-Committees. Candidates are responsible for payment of the DBS fee. General information about this process can be obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service Website. As part of the DBS process, you will be checked against the Children's Barred List and Prohibition list. If you have lived overseas for a continuous period of 6 months or more during the last five years, a Certificate of Good Conduct will be required. The UEA Student Disclosure Service will contact you prior to the start of the course with more information on completing the DBS check.SATISFACTORY HEALTH CHECK
You will need to demonstrate your fitness to teach by completing an Occupational Health Assessment. This will give us information about any special needs you may have, and enable us to assess whether the University and placement areas will be able to provide support. It is therefore, in your interest to provide full answers to the questions.
- English and Mathematics
Before making your application you must have a GCSE pass at Grade 4 (formerly C) or its equivalent* in English Language or English Literature and Mathematics regardless of your date of birth.
*Please note: It is at the discretion of the individual Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making their application.
We are able to consider GCSE equivalency tests taken via equivalencytesting.com only, with grades of A*-C or 4-9.
Qualifications not listed? Contact the PGCE Admissions Office for advice by email: edu.pgce.admiss@uea.ac.uk.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS Academic: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
-
- Interviews
Interview required; please be aware that we cannot guarantee that all candidates who apply will be shortlisted for interview. Interviews will usually be conducted in person. Online interviews will be offered to applicants overseas.
- Placements
You’ll gain experience working in two different schools whilst on placement. Our school partnership extends across East Anglia, so we’ll consider your home address when deciding on your placement schools. We take great care in deciding where to place you, considering your individual circumstances and ensuring excellent training opportunities, such as contrasting placements. You'll be able to explore different approaches while finding out what works for you.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Following the Government announcement made on 4 November 2024 we are updating our fee information. We will update this page shortly.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
MAKING YOUR APPLICATION
Candidates can submit their application by using the GOV.UK service called Apply for teacher training. Please note, UEA is not responsible for content on external websites linked from this page.
PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION
Candidates are encouraged to prepare thoroughly. Application forms should be able to demonstrate not only your depth of subject knowledge but also your enthusiasm and commitment to a career in teaching. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the information available from the Department for Education. These sources will help you to gain knowledge of the current issues facing teaching, specifically in the subject area for which you are applying. During interview you will be expected to be able to answer questions about these issues, and what has prompted your desire to choose teaching as a career.
Candidates are selected on the basis of their application form, interview and references.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The University of East Anglia operates an equal opportunities admissions policy. We aim to ensure that no applicant receives less favourable consideration on the grounds of gender, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin or religious belief. More on equal opportunities.
Students with a Disability (including Dyslexia):
The University welcomes students with disabilities and is working towards the provision of an inclusive environment for all its students, staff and visitors. More on disability support.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:
PGCE Admissions Office
Email: edu.pgce.admiss@uea.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1603 592855
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
Alongside your PGCE, you'll gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and 90 Master’s credits.
You'll be supported by your UEA Subject Lead in making an informed choice regarding your first teaching position, as well as throughout the application and interview process.
The support will continue beyond your training year, as we work closely with schools and Early Career Teacher (ECT) induction bodies to provide support in case it is needed.
Within a few years of joining the profession, you could find yourself being promoted into a role with leadership and/or pastoral responsibilities.
Careers
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- Teacher
- Curriculum Leader
- Head of Year/Phase
- Deputy headteacher
- Headteacher
- Tutor
- Maths Subject Lead
- UK and overseas teaching opportunities
Discover more on our Careers webpages.