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Postgraduate courses
Initial Teacher Education (QTS)
Choose from one of our PGCE options and work towards your QTS status.
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We offer 3 different routes for your PGCE study, so that you can choose the option that suits you best.
| Course | Duration | Placements | QTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary (School Centred) PGCE | 1 year full time | Autumn, spring and summer placements | Yes |
| Primary (University Centred) PGCE | 1 year full time | Two thirds of the course is on placement in schools (1 in autumn term, 2 in spring and summer terms) | Yes |
| Secondary (School Centred) PGCE - 15 subjects available | 1 year full time | Autumn, spring and summer placements | Yes |
Find out more about each course below, or apply now through the Department for Education.
Find your route
Primary (School Centred) PGCE
On a Primary (School Centred) PGCE you will train in a school as you work towards your Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) recommendation.
You will be based in one of our partner schools from the start of your course. You will gain a thorough understanding of the current primary and early years curriculum, including core and foundation subjects. We also emphasise the importance of meeting the individual needs of children from diverse backgrounds.
There are academic sessions both at university and within school which are designed to integrate theory and practice and develop a deeper pedagogical knowledge.
"Since my placements were based in contrasting school settings, I feel really prepared to take on my NQT year after graduating."
Lucy Anderson, Primary PGCE (School Direct), 2020 - St George’s
"I feel I have grown in confidence as the course has progressed, and the course design has supported this as the teaching percentages gradually increased. I have also really enjoyed the academic side of the course and have felt this complemented my teaching. Completing a reflective essay helped my own practice and made learning theories extremely relevant."
Jessica Rose, Primary PGCE (School Direct), 2020 - Campus Stockton
"YSJ's reputation as a training provider is well known and I have not been disappointed. I have found the program to be supportive and I have enjoyed the subject knowledge days such as the Football Association training day."
Daniel Rice, Primary PGCE (School Direct), 2020 - Campus Stockton
Primary (University Centred) PGCE
The Primary PGCE (University Centred) combines academic study on the York St John campus with school-based experience. You will work towards your Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) recommendation.
On campus you will critically engage with educational issues and develop as a reflective practitioner. You will be introduced to all core and foundation subjects of the National Curriculum and Early Years framework. There is a focus on how to support learners from diverse cultural backgrounds.
You will spend a minimum of 120 days in school-based training. As well as school experience placements, there are opportunities to observe children in other settings such as nurseries.
This course can be studied full time over 1 year.
"I have found that the lecturers are extremely knowledgeable, supportive and welcoming. The course has helped me to prepare for my teaching career by offering unique opportunities and experiences."
Rachel Green, Primary PGCE (University Centred), 2020
"I have loved all the opportunities the PGCE course has to offer. With a rich number of placements, an excellent supporting staff and plenty of support outside the lecture room, York St John is the perfect place to come for anyone with an ambition to teach."
Joseph Brewer, Primary PGCE (University Centred), 2020
"I chose York St John because: I love York as a city, the university's city centre location, and the opportunities the university offers to study abroad. I am exceedingly thankful I chose the university because not only have I made amazing friends for life, but the staff could not be more encouraging and supportive along every step of the way."
Tylar Siddle, Primary PGCE (University Centred), 2020
Secondary (School Centred) PGCE
On a Secondary (School Centred) PGCE you will be fully immersed in your school placements from the start.
We offer the following subject specialisms:
- Art and Design
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- English
- Geography
- History
- Mathematics
- Modern Foreign Languages
- Music
- Physical Education
- Physical Education (with an EBacc subject)
- Physics
- Religious Education
Most of your learning will take place in one of our partner schools, with time out each week for academic sessions on campus. These academic sessions will underpin and support your school based practice. You will also explore wider educational issues, reflecting local and national policy.
Teaching bursaries and scholarships
Bursaries and scholarships are available for some secondary subjects. For information about subjects and eligibility, visit the Get into teaching website: Bursaries and scholarships.
"The course is run and delivered by a passionate team who are highly regarded in their fields. I particularly liked the fact that if there were any concerns, they were addressed and dealt with quickly and professionally."
Robert Gerrard, Secondary Chemistry PGCE, 2020
"The subject tutors have a wealth of experience and knowledge helping to support you throughout the PGCE year. The mixture of academic support, personal wellbeing services and effective school partnerships make York St John's PGCE course a superb platform to begin a career in teaching."
Will Lawn, Secondary PE PGCE, 2020
"No problem was too small to contact the partnership about. Any questions or worries I had were communicated effectively between the university and the alliance, the partnership continually helped me along the way. Their communication and support kept me going!"
Megan Hardcastle, Secondary English PGCE, 2020
Hear from our partner schools
"The high quality of professional care and support that York St John invests in ourselves and our partners exemplifies the reason we enjoy working together with them so much."
"Our students get the best of both worlds... excellent in school support from teachers and leaders, combined with great University support from staff who are trained and experienced as teachers/school leaders themselves. Our students are trained to be reflective practitioners, able to apply relevant theoretical learning to practical classroom practice in order to have maximum impact on all learners."
"Our close partnership with York St John allows us to offer student teachers excellent school-based training across our alliance of schools with the confidence that this is underpinned by the highest standards of academic teaching and robust theory. We work with York St John University as a close team, dedicated to providing the highest quality teacher training. The passion and expertise across the partnership is as good as it gets: our trainees are confident in the knowledge that we (Polaris) have been training great teachers for six years, and YSJ for a hundred and eighty years!
"We greatly value the partnership with YSJ, particularly the support for the programme in Middlesbrough and individual support for our students. The shared expertise is a real strength for our schools and students and contributes to the strong and talented workforce development in our local area."
"I have worked with YSJ for a number of years now; the relationship between the Partnership is superb. I am fully supported by my colleagues at YSJ and always considered during strategic planning and developments made to the course. I believe that YSJ are always at the forefront when it comes to educational change and prioritise communications with their Partners to provide a challenging and rewarding ITE curriculum. My colleagues at YSJ are incredibly experienced and knowledgeable and I find them a pleasure to work with."
When you choose to become part of the YSJ ITE partnership, you will be welcomed into a supportive and inclusive team of educationalists, driven by a culture of excellence and a genuine desire to make a difference, to the educational lives of young people. This ethos is extended to include all ITE partners and their schools, who also benefit from guidance, professional development opportunities, great communication and perhaps most importantly, the sense of belonging to an academic community, that has been dedicated to training teachers for nearly 200 years
