Skip to main content

Initial Teacher Education (PGCE)

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at Queen’s prepares students to teach in secondary-level schools. The PGCE is structured broadly in line with the Northern Ireland Curriculum, training to teach the following school subjects up to Advanced-level GCE:
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Information Technology/Computing
  • Modern Languages (applicants, including native speakers of languages other than English, should normally offer two languages from the following list: French, German, Irish, Spanish)
  • Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
  • Sociology
  • Politics
  • Religious Education
  • IME (Irish Medium Education) - Extra places are reserved to prepare those who are interested in teaching a subject through the medium of Irish in Irish medium schools.  These students do a number of elements, including a Gaeltacht residentual in the August preceding the course, which is delivered by St Mary's University College.  They receive an additional certificate in IME and applications are welcomed from students wishing to do such courses in one of the subjects listed above.
 

Structure - the PGCE is a 36 week, full-time course commencing in early September. The course combines University based tuition, consisting of taught sessions and directed independent study, with professional placements in schools.  The programme of study is organised around three interdependent strands:
Subject Teaching
The Professional Role of the Teacher
Professional Performance
Focusing upon the teaching of the student’s particular specialism - a list of subjects can be found above.

Concerned with common aspects of teaching and the general professional role of the teacher including for example:

  • the Northern Ireland Curriculum
  • the education system
  • assessment and recording
  • classroom processes and cognition
  • educational disadvantage
  • the social context of teaching
  • pastoral care, counselling
  • general management issues
  • teaching as a moral activity
  • relationships with other professionals
  • promotion of equal opportunities
  • use and understanding of information technology
  • literacy and numeracy in the classroom
Focusing on developing practical teaching competence particularly through working closely with experienced teachers during periods of school placement.

Irish Medium Post Primary PGCE
In response to the demand for subject specific teachers in the growing Irish Medium Post Primary sector, St Mary's Univeristy College, Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and the University of Ulster (UU) have formed a partnership to offer a one year PGCE course to students interested in becoming teachers in Irish Medium secondary education.