PGCE Secondary Computer Science

Become inspiring computing teachers through developing teaching skills and curriculum knowledge in the fields of computer science, and information technology and benefit from our consistently high employment rates. Our Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary (Computer Science) course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach the 11-18 age group in secondary schools in England and Wales.We teach you how to plan and teach computing informed by the most up-to-date subject-specific pedagogical approaches and critical reflections on theory and practice in the field.Our PGCE students benefit from rich opportunities to work with an experienced and highly regarded community of tutors, established in the field of computing education and IT, who are actively engaged in teaching, research, and national developments in computer science education and international projects in Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL). There are also many opportunities for community engagement and collaborations with local and national leading expert organisations in the field, like the British Computer Society (BCS) and Computing at School (CAS), in addition to input from Heads of Department and in-service teachers. Learn about the contributions our PGCEs make in wider subject-specific initiatives. We place a strong focus on inclusive approaches to curriculum development informed by Universal Design for Learning and capitalise on our contemporary and rich range of computing resources to develop you as practitioners that you can excel in any teaching context.You will learn through a series of practical seminars, workshops, micro-teaching activities, presentations by subject experts, as well as independent and group research in a purpose-built IT suite. Interactive and discussion-based teaching techniques will encourage you to engage, reflect and challenge ideas around computing education and pedagogy. Climate and sustainability educationAt the University of Reading we believe that climate and sustainability education is everyone’s responsibility. This is why we have set out our vision that all initial teacher trainees should be able to access training that empowers them to effectively incorporate climate education within their teaching across all levels and subjects as part of our National Climate Education Action Plan. Across all of our ITT programmes at the Institute of Education, you will learn about: what is happening to our climate, how to help children learn about climate and sustainability in an age-appropriate and accessible way, and how to develop your own positioning as a teacher climate justice, the impact of current and future changes to our environment and climate on ourselves and others and implications for teachers how to translate knowledge and theory into change and personal action through building climate and sustainability education into your planning, teaching, and children’s learning.Visit Partnering for the Planet to find out more about the University of Reading’s world-leading work in climate science.PlacementsPlacements enable you to develop the skills and knowledge valued and desired by employers – you will build your confidence in the classroom and gain practical teaching experience. Placements also provide you with the opportunity to connect with potential employers and build your professional network.At Secondary level we have strong relationships with around 90 schools in the local and surrounding area. It is a testament to the strength of these partnerships and the regard with which our graduates are held, that most schools in Berkshire employ at least one graduate of the Institute of Education.On your Secondary PGCE course, you are required to carry out three placements in two different age groups — ensuring you receive a broad range of experiences. Two placements must be undertaken in a school setting, but the third can be taken in a different setting, allowing you to sample teaching in an alternative environment.We offer our students an unusually flexible and broad range of contexts and educational environments – you will have the opportunity to gain experience in special needs schools, Pupil Referral Units, independent schools, museums and charities.You will have plenty of opportunities throughout your course to apply your developing skills in real settings. In schools, you will be involved in: observation of other teachers planning and teaching small groups and whole classes planning and teaching elements of lessons and whole lessons reflecting on and evaluating your teaching receiving feedback on your teaching gaining experience of the range of responsibilities of classroom teachers.Research98% of our research is of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Education). School DirectThis subject is also available via School Direct as well as the University-based route. Those students following a School Direct route may be studying for a PGCE or QTS only. However, all students come together as a subject group in University sessions.Those taking the PGCE will spend more time in the University than those taking the QTS-only course. The PGCE will involve writing assignments that are designed to help trainees to plan their teaching effectively and imaginatively, and to evaluate their developing knowledge and skills, particularly in terms of the quality of learning achieved by pupils. Successful completion will result in 60 master’s-level credits.For more information, please visit the Institute of Education website.  Our Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary (Computer Science) course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach the 11-18 age group in secondary schools in England and Wales.We teach you how to plan and teach computing informed by the most up-to-date subject-specific pedagogical approaches and critical reflections on theory and practice in the field.Our PGCE students benefit from rich opportunities to work with an experienced and highly regarded community of tutors, established in the field of computing education and IT, who are actively engaged in teaching, research, and national developments in computer science education and international projects in Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL). There are also many opportunities for community engagement and collaborations with local and national leading expert organisations in the field, like the British Computer Society (BCS) and Computing at School (CAS), in addition to input from Heads of Department and in-service teachers. Learn about the contributions our PGCEs make in wider subject-specific initiatives. We place a strong focus on inclusive approaches to curriculum development informed by Universal Design for Learning and capitalise on our contemporary and rich range of computing resources to develop you as practitioners that you can excel in any teaching context.You will learn through a series of practical seminars, workshops, micro-teaching activities, presentations by subject experts, as well as independent and group research in a purpose-built IT suite. Interactive and discussion-based teaching techniques will encourage you to engage, reflect and challenge ideas around computing education and pedagogy. Climate and sustainability educationAt the University of Reading we believe that climate and sustainability education is everyone’s responsibility. This is why we have set out our vision that all initial teacher trainees should be able to access training that empowers them to effectively incorporate climate education within their teaching across all levels and subjects as part of our National Climate Education Action Plan. Across all of our ITT programmes at the Institute of Education, you will learn about: what is happening to our climate, how to help children learn about climate and sustainability in an age-appropriate and accessible way, and how to develop your own positioning as a teacher climate justice, the impact of current and future changes to our environment and climate on ourselves and others and implications for teachers how to translate knowledge and theory into change and personal action through building climate and sustainability education into your planning, teaching, and children’s learning.Visit Partnering for the Planet to find out more about the University of Reading’s world-leading work in climate science.PlacementsPlacements enable you to develop the skills and knowledge valued and desired by employers – you will build your confidence in the classroom and gain practical teaching experience. Placements also provide you with the opportunity to connect with potential employers and build your professional network.At Secondary level we have strong relationships with around 90 schools in the local and surrounding area. It is a testament to the strength of these partnerships and the regard with which our graduates are held, that most schools in Berkshire employ at least one graduate of the Institute of Education.On your Secondary PGCE course, you are required to carry out three placements in two different age groups — ensuring you receive a broad range of experiences. Two placements must be undertaken in a school setting, but the third can be taken in a different setting, allowing you to sample teaching in an alternative environment.We offer our students an unusually flexible and broad range of contexts and educational environments – you will have the opportunity to gain experience in special needs schools, Pupil Referral Units, independent schools, museums and charities.You will have plenty of opportunities throughout your course to apply your developing skills in real settings. In schools, you will be involved in: observation of other teachers planning and teaching small groups and whole classes planning and teaching elements of lessons and whole lessons reflecting on and evaluating your teaching receiving feedback on your teaching gaining experience of the range of responsibilities of classroom teachers.Research98% of our research is of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Education). School DirectThis subject is also available via School Direct as well as the University-based route. Those students following a School Direct route may be studying for a PGCE or QTS only. However, all students come together as a subject group in University sessions.Those taking the PGCE will spend more time in the University than those taking the QTS-only course. The PGCE will involve writing assignments that are designed to help trainees to plan their teaching effectively and imaginatively, and to evaluate their developing knowledge and skills, particularly in terms of the quality of learning achieved by pupils. Successful completion will result in 60 master’s-level credits.For more information, please visit the Institute of Education website.