History PGCE

Please note that our History PGCE course is now full for 2008-09 entry. Applications for 09 entry will begin in October.

Who is the course designed for?

The programme is looking for people who wish to become excellent history teachers, have high standards and are committed to the education of all pupils. Applications from people with a variety of history related degree backgrounds are accepted; so besides history, applications from candidates with combined degrees, archaeology, politics and so forth will receive serious consideration.

How does the training take place?

The course combines theory and practice in a dynamic way so that you learn how to teach history successfully but also understand what makes for effective teaching and why. Time is divided between school and university based work, but there are strong links between the two. A range of teaching approaches are adopted, which include discussion-based workshops, seminars, practical demonstrations, fieldwork and micro-teaching activities, independent and group research and through reading and writing activities

Are there particular features of the course?

• The effective modelling of good practice by the tutor
• The use of small/informal subject sessions
• An intensely practical approach grounded in a sound understanding of the theory
• Professional Themes in mixed subject groups
• A close partnership with a large number of schools
• The support of experienced and trained mentors, many of whom are former trainees
• Strong and individualised support from the University subject tutor
• The tutor is in close touch with subject developments through his position as Chair of the Historical Association’s Secondary Committee and contacts with national organisations, and works with local authorities
• Local fieldwork with pupils

The central focus of the course is on teaching history in a challenging yet accessible way, understanding how children learn. At the same time it aims to produce 'reflective practitioners'; and so personal, critical reflection and evaluation form a key part of the course.

If someone is interested in this course, how would you recommend them prepare for the course?

• Spend some time in one or more secondary schools, observing history teachers and working with pupils. Include a visit to a comprehensive school. Reflect on what makes a ‘good’ lesson
• Develop your knowledge of history, especially of areas covered in the school curricula with which you are less familiar
• Read the National Curriculum for History and the Standards for the award of Qualified Teacher Status
• Ensure your ICT skills are suitable for working in the classroom.

Comments from previous trainees

Everything is really good. It is just such a good way to prepare you for school. NO part is not covered and more than enough time is spent on important aspects of history teaching.

Excellent course which I am very pleased I have been a part of.

I feel like a better historian! Very challenging but this is good in many ways.

Lots of reading, lots of writing, lots of hard work – but so worth it!

Really good – I have learnt loads and been encouraged to work independently with the support there if I need it.

I have found the whole thing very rewarding and am proud to have been a part of the course.

Richard Harris

The course is designed to create history teachers that have a clear and well-founded philosophy towards the subject and how to teach history. We aim for reflective and dynamic practitioners willing to use a variety of teaching strategies to inspire all the youngsters in their classes. They will have a clear understanding of the problems pupils encounter in history, be prepared to find ways to overcome these difficulties and help pupils make progress.

This will be achieved by:

• discussion to develop your own philosophy towards the importance of the subject, what should be taught and how it should be taught
• discussion of different approaches to teaching topics or ideas that you reflect upon critically
• planning of lessons and sequence of lessons that engage pupils, challenge them to progress in their knowledge and understanding of history
• planning of lessons and sequences of lessons that are evaluated critically using feedback from experienced teachers and your own views, underpinned by reading
• justifying the selection of teaching strategies appropriate to pupils' needs
• using assessment data to inform your own planning and target setting for pupils using a variety of techniques that match pupils' needs
• knowledge of current developments within education and how they can be utilised for history
• input from a variety of sources that you reflect upon critically, including a wide range of literature to inform your thinking
• assignments that make you link theory and practice in history teaching
• working creatively and professionally with curriculum/professional tutors and curriculum/professional mentors to enhance your understanding of teaching and in particular the demands of history teaching

The course itself is designed to cover all aspects of teaching History, from issues of classroom management to effective ways of getting pupils to understand historical skills like cause and effect. Below is an outline of the course.

• Preconceptions, personal experiences, why school history, how is history taught and how should it be taught? The big debates
• The context of history teaching
• The five Cs – cause, consequence, chronology, change and continuity
• A sense of time, period and diversity (or avoiding the stereotypical!)
• Planning lessons
• ICT workshops
• The use of evidence in the classroom – the basis of the discipline?
• Role play, drama and practical demonstration
• Communicating history – reading and writing history
• Communicating history – explaining, questioning and talking in the history classroom
• Teaching interpretations and significance
• Marking, assessment and progression
• Getting a job
• Short, medium and long term planning
• Teaching difficult issues
• Visit to the Holocaust Exhibition at the Imperial War Museum
• Multicultural history
• History for All
• Doing fieldwork and using local history (work with a local school)
• GCSE History day
• Communicating history – research and group work
• A level History day - AS/A2 History
• Primary school history revisited
• The NQT year and course evaluation
• Citizenship

During the course you will work in two different schools, closely with a designated mentor in the History department. You will be assessed during the course in a number of ways. This will be based on your teaching, ICT skills, presentations and written assignments. You will receive thorough preparation for all these, and they are all designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of the why and how of effective History teaching.

Please note that for PGCE Teacher Training, applications and information is available via the GTTR.

As a prospective PGCE student you must contact the GTTR directly for information . All applications are made centrally and we are unable to provide application forms. Course vacancies across the country can be checked from this site. All forms are available for downloading as well as facilities for on-line applications. You can also monitor the progress of your application from this site.

For an Interview Letter, please click here.

Trainees are assessed formatively and summatively across the course. This ensures that progress is reviewed regularly and you are aware of the progress being made against the Standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). There are informal activities that need to be completed, and are important in developing a deeper insight into effective teaching.

Besides completion of all subject based tasks there are three elements common to all trainees in order to complete the course successfully. All trainees have to demonstrate that their teaching is suitable to meet the Standards for QTS. Secondly, as part of the Standards everyone must pass QTS skills tests in literacy, numeracy and ICT (there is a TDA test centre on campus). Finally everyone must pass two major assignments, called the Curriculum Subject Assignment (CSA) and Special Study Assignment (SSA). The CSA is based in an aspect of subject teaching, whereas the SSA is based around a study of a whole school issue. The assignments are marked at Masters level and if successful trainees will leave with 60 credits towards a Masters degree and a Post-graduate Certificate in Education. It is possible to complete these two assignments at H level, which will lead to the award of a Professional Certificate in Education. Both awards lead to QTS and therefore enable you to teach in school.

Careers Prospects:

Teaching is a rewarding profession in more ways than one, offering fantastic career prospects and development opportunities. The variety of potential career paths available can see you enjoy all kinds of experiences, roles and responsibilities. In secondary schools you can move up the management structure to gain responsibility as a subject leader or beyond. In addition many teachers have responsibility for aspects of school life, such as supervising Newly Qualified Teachers, having responsibility for coordinating provision for Gifted and Talented pupils, having a pastoral role.

Ultimately, you could progress to a senior management position such as deputy or assistant head and/or headteacher - at which point you would have overall responsibility for the management of a school and the education its pupils receive.

The course at Southampton provides you with a very firm foundation for your teaching career. We have high employment rates from the course and many trainees are actually employed in our partnership schools. The Masters credits are an additional boost to your career. There is a growing expectation that increasingly teachers will gain Masters level qualifications. Not only do we offer the chance of gaining 60 credits at the start of your career, but we have developed a number of routes for teachers to continue their study, allowing them to obtain a full Masters degree.

For more information on Funding, please click here.

Click here for a list of "Frequently Asked Questions regarding Applications".

Click here for fees related Frequently Asked Questions.

Details on how to apply for the Secondary PGCE are available here...

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