Postgraduate Certificate in Education - Secondary - Biology

The PGCE Secondary science programmes (Biology with Science, Chemistry with Science and Physics with Science) are designed to enable them to teach, as a minimum, all the science specified in the National Curriculum for science at Key Stage 3, and mainly the chosen science specialism from biology, chemistry or physics at Key Stage 4 and, if appropriate, at post-16. Students join the course with a variety of science degrees and backgrounds. Few, if any, are confident from the start in all aspects of science demanded by the National Curriculum or even by their own subject specialism. Early in the course they will complete a personal audit and begin an action plan to build on their general science and subject specialism knowledge. This is an important thread running through the programme. A similar approach is followed with their understanding and skills in ICT so that they will be able to make appropriate use of these when teaching.

The programme is the result of close collaboration between school-based mentors and the Roehampton team. It is arranged into three terms. In the first term, they begin to learn how pupils develop science understanding and skills while at the same time building enough confidence to plan and teach a science lesson. The second term extends this by using teaching experience to improve lesson performance and revisit and extend issues within science education. The third term addresses science education outside the classroom and broader issues concerning the role of science within the school curriculum. Towards the end of this term, they will develop an action plan to provide a basis for progression and development within their first year of teaching.

Science education at Roehampton is well staffed and resourced so that we are able to provide they with practical workshops as well as seminars and personal tutorials. Throughout the programme we aim to produce more than strong classroom practitioners; we aim also to produce reflective teachers who will go on to participate in, and influence, the future development of science education.