Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach the secondary school music curriculum for the 11-16 age range.

This is a practical course where you will be immersed in music making, teaching and encouraged to use and develop your musical skills. You’ll be taught through practical sessions, and you will consider topics which support musical learning, using acoustic and IT instruments to develop your subject knowledge. You’ll explore immersive ways to teach music and how to encourage your pupils to engage with musical experiences.

We have a partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and we hold regular study sessions there. At RNCM, you’ll usually have the opportunity to experience guest lectures and concerts.

To help you explore how trips can benefit your students, you’ll typically be encouraged to visit a variety of musical venues across Manchester. This includes theatre schools and music organisations with outreach programmes.

When you’re at Manchester Met, you’ll mainly study with your PGCE music group. They are one of your greatest learning resources.

You’ll consider how to plan lessons, reflect on your planning, learn how research can develop your teaching practice, and look at ways to develop your teacher persona.

You’ll also learn through peer collaboration, sharing knowledge with your fellow music trainees.

You won’t only learn teaching methods with us on campus though, you’ll spend at least 120 days on placements in a variety of schools.

You will normally have a minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification. Your degree needs to support the subject knowledge requirements of the National Curriculum for Mathematics. For exceptional candidates, particularly those with substantial relevant work experience in schools or relevant occupations, we will consider applications from those who hold a 3rd class degree.

GCSEs
You will also need GCSEs at grade C/4 or above in English language and mathematics. However, Equivalency tests in English, Mathematics and Science are provided by Manchester Metropolitan University. The School of Teacher Education will accept these equivalency tests for any of its initial teacher education programmes, at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This will be at the discretion of the admissions tutor, and only offered if considered appropriate after interview.

We do not accept the following qualifications as equivalent to GCSE: Adult numeracy and literacy, Functional Skills or Key Skills

Experience in educational settings

Successful candidates will demonstrate a good understanding of teaching and learning within a secondary school setting. 

You may wish to evidence your understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools or other learning settings.

Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course

We usually offer a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course during the summer prior to the PGCE course.  This allows applicants who may have worked in industry for some time, or who have not covered all aspects of required subject knowledge as part of their degree, to ensure they are up to date with all subject requirements and will have the ability to teach the full range of topics with confidence.

Funding for SKE courses

The SKE courses have previously been subject to funding by the Department for Education. 

The current position is the Department of Education has not confirmed the SKE funding package available for SKE candidates starting in 2021, and will not do so until the end of the 2020 calendar year. Funding is dependent on the government’s ‘Spending Review’, which is currently underway. Therefore, funding for SKE and the subjects available, may change. 

We will update this guidance once the government’s ongoing Spending Review is concluded. All information in the directory is therefore subject to change and will be updated for academic year 2020 to 2021 once the funding position has been confirmed.

Other requirements
A Disclosure and Barring Service Check and DfE Fitness to Teach test are also required.

Also

• A-Level Mathematics or equivalent
• An ability to communicate effectively in spoken and written English
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• An informed and realistic understanding of the complexities and challenges of teaching in a Secondary school
• An understanding of how learning develops within an engaging rich and broad context, with recognition of the contribution made by parents and carers
• Personal qualities and abilities appropriate to becoming an effective teacher, including a strong motivation to teach young students, an ability to express personal views with clarity and conviction, to listen and respond appropriately to the views of others, awareness of, and commitment to, issues relating to Equal Opportunities and providing all students with an inclusive learning environment
• Intellectual capacity to critically reflect upon experience and personal challenges

Overseas
Overseas candidates should have Cambridge Proficiency in English, IELTS Band 7 with no less than 6.0 in any element.

Interview

You will be expected to attend an interview as part of the application process. Full details of your interview will be provided by email once your initial application has been approved.