Our Secondary RE PGCE course is highly respected nationally and is led by tutors who are experienced practitioners with international research profiles. We offer a diverse range of expertise and a genuine conviction that our approach to teacher education is the best way to develop outstanding teachers. We train you to be critical and creative, and to become educational leaders in your own right!

Overview

The Secondary PGCE RE course at the University of Exeter is one of the largest in the country. The course is highly respected nationally and is led by tutors who are experienced practitioners with international research profiles.

Key features include:

• high employment rates
• access to outstanding practitioners (including Heads of RE in partner schools)
• research led teaching
• opportunities to enhance subject knowledge
• a strong focus on the relationship between theory and practice
• practical tasks designed to develop classroom practice

Who are we?

As a trainee on the Exeter Secondary PGCE RE course you will be taught and supported by two very experienced and internationally well-known tutors.

What will you get?

This course will prepare you to teach RE in Key Stages 3-4 with post 16 enhancement. Being an RE teacher in schools today requires that you are able to teach the major world religions; non-religious beliefs; philosophy of religion and ethics. This course will help you to develop your subject knowledge in key areas to ensure that you are confident teaching the RE curriculum.

To be an effective classroom practitioner means that in addition to sound subject knowledge, you need to have a good understanding of teaching and learning. The course will provide you with plenty of opportunities to engage with current thinking in RE and to consider how theories of learning can improve your classroom practice.

Learning and assessment

By learning on campus for most of the first term you access the tools to rapidly build professional knowledge to underpin your work in school placements.

Our unique approach gives you opportunities to learn and become part of a community of trainees and teachers who are passionate about education, and will support you during your course and beyond. We carry out a detailed skills audit with every trainee so we understand your particular development needs and can personalise elements of training to strengthen the skills you need to excel as a teacher.

During placements Exeter trainees benefit from the focused support of two School-based Tutors: a Principle Tutor who works as an expert partner, and a Mentor who develops and challenges your thinking about teaching in ways that can be used to enhance performance.

You will be supported in developing the full range of teaching skills and effective reflection that you will need in your first teaching post as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT).

The PGCE is a Masters level programme and once you have achieved QTS, you can continue your studies during your first year of teaching and work towards achieving a Masters in Education.