Why York?
Our friendly, inclusive and world renowned Education department looks forward to welcoming you to this Russell Group University to become an effective teacher, studying in a vibrant city. We offer a nurturing environment and dedicated support to help you to develop your skills and practice. You will spend two-thirds of the course on school placements ensuring you have a deep understanding of research-informed practice.
We work in close partnership with a wide number of diverse local and regional schools, in both the state and independent sector. All of our partnership schools have expertly trained, welcoming mentors who, working in collaboration with University staff, are able to offer you bespoke training and support.
Each Beginning Teacher is supported by expert supervisors throughout the PGCE, who provide one-to-one academic advice, mentoring and guidance. Students also benefit from the advice and support of practising teachers who will be involved in your assessment and in overseeing your progression through the PGCE.
"... all aspects of trainees’ practice are informed by high-quality research and supported by high-quality teaching. Trainees gain an extremely strong grounding in pedagogy and in their own subjects. The incisive subject-specific input that trainees experience prepares them extremely well to teach their subjects." - Ofsted 2024
- We are a Russell Group University acclaimed internationally for excellence and expertise in Education Research - Education, University of York
- We are nationally recognised for the outstanding leadership and management of our professional programme by Ofsted (2024)
- The programme is delivered by an award winning PGCE team (Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Award)
- Our Early Career Teachers are highly sought after by schools in the region and nationally resulting in high employment rates
- Being independent, we offer you the opportunity to experience and critically evaluate a range of approaches to teaching and learning to underpin, enhance and develop your own professional identity
- Sustainability of teaching as a career is at the heart of our programme
What do we offer?
Our PGCE seamlessly blends university study and school experience in contrasting placements, where you will experience different pupils, classroom practices and research in action.
Our PGCE is designed as a structured and individual preparation for becoming a teacher who makes a difference. It will help you to develop the core and specialist skills of an excellent practitioner which are highly valued by both academic and non-academic future employers.
"The seamless interweaving of education theories and research into the subject-specific aspects of the curriculum makes trainees’ experiences here distinctive. University staff and expert colleagues from partner schools provide trainees with deep insight into education research that is continually applied to classroom practice. The curriculum is taught in ways that model effective pedagogy for trainees." Ofsted report 2024
- A University of York PGCE Secondary (11-16 with post 16 enhancement) with QTS
- A University of York PGCE Primary (5-11) with QTS
- An ambitious curriculum
- Outstanding and bespoke support
- An internationally accepted teaching qualification
- A globally recognised Masters level postgraduate qualification
- In-depth subject specific training from university tutors and school based mentors to give you the best foundation for your career
- Strong links with subject associations that contribute to our programmes
- A Professional Enrichment programme in June for you to explore an area of your interest, e.g. SEND provision, charities, field centres, museum trust
- International opportunity for all visiting a European school and university (Münster University, Germany)
- A contribution to your travel costs during school placements for both public and private transport
Contact us
education-pgce-admissions@york.ac.uk
+44(0)1904 323640