Curriculum reform in Wales is underway and it is an exciting time to train as an English teacher. The changes to curriculum structure and delivery mean that English practitioners will collaborate with colleagues in Welsh and Modern Foreign Languages to bring together essential skills from all three subjects in the Languages, Literacy and Communication Area of Learning and Experience (LLC AoLE).

As an English specialist, you will work alongside colleagues and peers to co-construct research-informed, knowledge-rich, diverse curricula that place authentic learning, inclusivity and purposeful creativity at its heart.

Key Information

Available to study in English and Welsh

1 year full-time

For entry requirements, pre-entry tests and how to apply, visit the PGCE Secondary course page.

About PGCE English

When you study Secondary PGCE English at Cardiff Met, you will explore innovative ways to bring your own love of reading and literature, writing and oracy to the young people with whom you work. Our course at Cardiff Met will prepare you to meet the demands of teaching a core subject in the Secondary sector. Your progress towards QTS is placed at the centre of course design in which there is a focus on interactive, innovative teaching that prepares you to take your first steps in school placements and for longevity in a highly rewarding (and sometimes challenging!) teaching career.

Reputation & Teaching Excellence

The course has thrived in recent years through innovative, hybrid programme delivery but a return to full-time, on campus provision means that you will benefit from engaging with tutors and peers in a face-to-face setting throughout the year. Our specialist English tutors, with Secondary and Further Education teaching backgrounds, understand the demands of classroom practice. They will work closely with you to develop your skills and experiences in the Secondary English classroom. They will guide you as you plan, evaluate and refine your teaching. We are fortunate to have excellent working relationships with colleagues in Partnership Schools and past students alike. Research and enquiry are at the heart of our programme and will become integral to your own research-informed teaching. Our English subject mentors are highly experienced and will support you every step of the way throughout your training year.

Employability & Careers

We maintain close links with our graduates, many of whom frequently return to the course to contribute in a professional capacity and lead sessions in their subject specialisms. Almost all graduates of the PGCE Secondary English progamme move into full-time employment, either in classroom teaching or closely associated fields. Cardiff Met has a long history of excellence in teacher education and career prospects, following successful completion of the programme, are extremely positive.

What’s the best way to prepare for studying a PGCE in English?

There are several things you can do to prepare for studying English PGCE:

• Explore opportunities for experience in the classroom before you apply. Experience in the Secondary English classroom would be preferable, but this may not be possible and you might want to find out more about the Primary classroom in order to compare and find out which one you prefer.
• Speak to practitioners in your subject area to find out more about the role of an English teacher in a Secondary setting. This will provide you with valuable insights and will give you an opportunity to ask about practice and pedagogy, providing you with information that you can bring to your interview for a place on the programme.
• Consider your English subject knowledge – which texts have you enjoyed studying and why? Are there any areas of language or literature that you are particularly challenged by and would like to revise or revisit?
• Explore the WJEC website for GCSE and AS/A level exam specification information. Try and find out which narrative and poetry texts are tested at each level and dip into reading lists to uncover your own thoughts and opinions on these texts.
• Consider the reasons why you have chosen to teach English. Did you enjoy English during your own time in school or was your English teacher an inspiration to you? Have you studied English from an academic perspective and now wish to work with young people in order to spark the same passion in them? Discover your ‘why’ and be prepared to tell us all about it!

“The course is intense, and you hit the ground running from the very start but it’s worth it and your own development as a teacher has the same pace. The support you receive from your University tutors and school mentors are second to none and really help you with your studies and classroom experiences. In addition to your clinical practice and school experiences you also learn through School Led Training (SLT) days. These are great as they offer support and guidance about teaching and the newly changing curriculum. The School Led Training Days are invaluable in making you a better teacher as you learn so much about different ways of teaching from your mentors and peers.”

Callum Williams, PGCE Secondary (English)

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“This has truly been a phenomenal and once in a lifetime course that I would urge anyone with a love for education or teaching to partake in. I never thought that my life could change so much in a year and yet this course has changed my life and future in the most incredible way. Through the support of University mentors and school staff I’m now teaching English Key Stage 3 & 4 at a Secondary school in Blaenau Gwent. I guarantee that anyone who leaves this course will feel inspired and eager to help the future generations in the classroom.”

Nathan Jones, PGCE Secondary (English)

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Contact Us

For further information about the programme please contact Rhian Mulligan, PGCE Secondary English Programme Leader at remulligan@cardiffmet.ac.uk.