Physical Education PGCE

What is the course like?

This course is open to trainee teachers who wish to qualify to teach Physical Education at Key Stages 3 and 4. The course is run both in the University and in conjunction with local partnership schools.

Following our recent successful OfSTED inspection, the course continues to offer a very effective training programme.

Particular attention is given to:

• Sport Education;
• Developing effective teaching and learning approaches;
• Planning for teaching;
• Organising and managing the classroom;
• Monitoring and assessing pupils;
• Promoting the use of ICT in PE;
• Teaching for equity and inclusion.

The curriculum focuses both on the professional practice and inherent subject knowledge. Principles underpinning professional practice are delivered through each of the prescribed areas of content:

a. outwitting opponents, as in games activities
b. accurate replication of actions, phrases and sequences, as in gymnastic activities
c. performing at maximum levels in relation to speed, height, distance, strength or accuracy, as in athletic activities
d. identifying and solving problems to overcome challenges of an adventurous nature, as in life saving and personal survival in swimming and outdoor activities
e. exercising safely and effectively to improve health and wellbeing, as in fitness and health activities.

Appropriate attention is also given to ensuring you can a high level of knowledge in the following key processes:

• Developing skills in physical activity
• Making and applying decisions
• Developing physical and mental capacity
• Evaluating and improving
• Making informed choices about healthy, active lifestyles

The course has two parts: School Based Experience and University Based Experience. During the course, you will spend time in two placement schools from our partnership group. Whilst on placement, you will work closely with your subject mentor and experience lesson observation, team teaching, working with small groups and whole classes of pupils.

University based work is subject focussed but also contains 'Professional Themes' which are common to all subjects and taught in mixed subject groups. Time spent in the University enables us to prepare you for your placements, evaluate your school-based work and plan ahead; and it allows you to share your experiences with other trainee teachers.

The university subject sessions are essentially workshop in nature. The tutors' aim is to model for you the good practice that they expect of you when you are on placement.

At the same time the course aims to produce 'reflective practitioners'; and so personal, critical reflection and evaluation forms a key part of the course.

Applicants should possess a relevant degree which has covered theoretical and practical aspects of sport, health and physical education.

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.

Features of the course:

• The effective modelling of good practice by the tutors
• The use of small/informal subject seminar and workshop groups
• 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 trained mentors
• Strong and individualised support from the University subject tutors

Susie Fawcett

Dr Gary Kinchin
Harvey Grout

The Physical Education Programme is built around ten key foci, which are addressed at the University initially through generic theoretical lectures, discussion seminars and then subsequently through the National Curriculum areas of activity for PE in a more practical context.

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.

What are the career prospects for trainees on the PGCE course?

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 head of department or head of faculty.

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

Within PE as you become more experienced there will be opportunities within your department for promotion or more responsibility. This could include being in charge of a particular area of the curriculum e.g. BTEC PE, Key Stage 3 PE.

Another career path is working within the Government’s Physical Education School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) strategy. The aim of this initiative is to enhance young people’s opportunities to participate in a wide range of sports and raise the standards of teaching and learning of PE and school sport. Schools are part of a School Sport Partnership (SSP) and within this partnership will be a Partnership Development Manager (PDM) and a School Sport Coordinator (SSCo).

A PDM is a full-time role usually based within a Sports College. They manage the SSP and develop strategic links with key partners in sport and the wider community.

An SSCo is normally a part time position (2.5 days teaching, 2.5 days SSCo) and is based in a secondary school. Their role is to improve the schools opportunities to access sport, including out of hours school learning, intra and inter-school competition and club links in their own school as well as a group of local primary schools.

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.

The Secondary Physical Education course at the University of Southampton is rated highly by both its students and its External Examiner. The course is challenging, but you will be well supported and we hope that your experience is rewarding and worthwhile.

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.

Applicants should possess a relevant degree, 2:2 or above, which has covered theoretical and practical aspects of sport, health and physical education. Candidates also need to have GCSE’s in Mathematics and English Language at grade C or above (or the equivalent qualifications).

You will be selected for interview based on the following basis:

• Your application shows good prior knowledge from study AND/OR
• The application shows good experience has been gained in a school or college AND/OR
• The application is well written and persuasive.

The selection criteria applied is

• Good subject knowledge and/or ability to learn further
• Good knowledge of educational issues and a strong sense of the professional demands
• Good interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively (oral and written)

A good academic reference must also be provided from your most recent university or college or in some cases an employer (where you have been away from studying for some time).

If someone is interested in applying for the PE PGCE course what should they do next?

Please read the PE PGCE admissions policy and interview guidance for further details. Please note that it is desirable that you spend a minimum 1-2 days in a secondary school PE department prior to interview. The letter sent to applicants inviting them to interview states this. Please bear this in mind when applying. Please also note that applicants who have a limited amount of school experience may find that any offer they receive as a result of an interview is conditional on their spending more time in school prior to the commencement of the course. Therefore potential applicants are urged to apply as early in the academic year as possible.

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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