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Secondary English with Drama PGCE

UCAS code P789

Study options Award

Duration

9 Months

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Learn how to bring characters, scenes and plots to life so pupils become gripped by the power of literature and language.

You’ll explore the use of dramatic techniques to help young people engage with learning and explore texts such as novels, plays and poetry. Our Secondary English with Drama PGCE will also equip you with strategies to become a confident and successful teacher across KS3 and KS4.

You’ll spend time in local schools, plan lessons, cover behaviour management techniques and discover how pupils learn. On campus, we’ll help you reflect on your teaching from a subject-specific perspective and give you one-to-one support.

But you’ll get far more than just a teacher training qualification with us. As part of our Institute of Education, you’ll have access to the latest research on what works in the classroom and other evidence-based approaches.

On the PGCE, you’ll get hands-on experience on placement and will discover creative ways to teach English, with guidance from our experienced staff. Trainees also get to spend a day training with the New Vic Theatre. You will delve into the history of drama education too.

The course is designed to support you to use a range of tools to teach language, literature and drama, alongside the skills to integrate these effectively in both English and drama classrooms.

From getting the most out of your induction to tips on teaching your first lesson, your personal tutor will be there to support you every step of the way. We have also developed a close partnership with school-based mentors for your placements.

As well as teaching pupils, you’ll have the chance to get them involved in our poetry and visual arts project. It will culminate in the students’ creative pieces being published in an anthology.

After you pass your PGCE, you will be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). But the support doesn’t stop there - we’ll even offer you a mock interview in a school to prepare you for job applications.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: PGCE Secondary English with Drama

Work placements

At the University of Staffordshire, we have partner schools in the Midlands and North West. As well as close links with those in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire, we work with schools in Derbyshire, Shropshire and Birmingham.

We will always aim to arrange placements within 40 minutes of where you live.

At University of Staffordshire, we have close links with partner schools across the region.

We’ll always aim to arrange placements within 40 minutes of where you live.

Course content

Our PGCE Secondary English with Drama takes 36 weeks to complete. This school-led course includes a three-week induction to prepare you for your placement and weekly sessions to develop your knowledge of the curriculum. To give you experience in the classroom, you’ll spend at least 120 days working in two local secondary schools as well as visiting a local primary school. But, don’t worry, you won’t have the pressure of teaching an entire lesson straight away.

Your training will begin with observing a teacher and helping with group work. Then you’ll share the classes with the teacher and work towards teaching lessons independently. Alongside teaching, you’ll join in with day-to-day life at the school. Each school has a professional mentor to help you understand the ethos, pastoral care systems, legal and social framework, and supporting services. You’ll also have weekly meetings with your subject or class mentor to help you prepare for teaching, review lessons, and develop your subject knowledge.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Year 1 compulsory modules
Educational And Professional Issues - Secondary	40 credits
Teaching A Knowledge Rich Curriculum - Secondary	20 credits
Teaching Practice 1 (The Emerging Teacher) - Secondary	N/A
Teaching Practice 2 (The Esablished Teacher) - Secondary	N/A

Entry requirements

For this course, you need an Honours degree with at least a 2:2 classification in an English related degree with some experience of drama as a subject, or a degree in Drama or a Drama related degree with some experience of English as a subject. You will also need a grade 4/C or above in English and Mathematics.

The university requires a minimum of IELTS 7, with a minimum score of 6.5 in any one area.

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

Facilities

The course utilises the University environment for teaching and learning using a variety of classroom spaces. An online learning environment further supports your learning with additional information and resources for you to engage with.

Libraries

We have Libraries and service desks at both sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. Our experienced and friendly staff can answer your IT queries, help you to access resources, show you how to research for your assignments and help with referencing.

Careers

At the University of Staffordshire , we have partner schools in the Midlands and North West. As well as close links with those in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire, we work with schools in Derbyshire, Shropshire and Birmingham.

We will always aim to arrange placements within 40 minutes of where you live.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will be taught using a variety of lecturers and workshops. All subject related sessions will be taught in small subject related groups.

Assessment

A variety of written assignments, presentations and teaching assessments.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
Academic writing (including how to reference)
Research skills
Critical thinking
Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Inclusion Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Feedback

Students will have individual tutorials to discuss their progress throughout the course.

Independent learning

Students will be expected to undertake a variety of independent tasks such as reading and lesson planning.

Staff

Rebecca Sherratt

Lecturer

I am extremely passionate about developing English education in the local area, with a particular interest in creativity in the secondary English classroom.

Rebecca's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 8 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Tuition fees for PGCE-Full-time
Study option	UK / Channel Islands	International
Full-time	£9,250 per course	£16,750 per course

Included in tuition fees
Included in the fees:
If you accept a place with us, we’ll cover the cost of your Enhanced DBS check. You’ll also receive Level 1 Safeguarding training during induction week.

Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,570 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning.

For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.

Apply

Location	Award	Study option	Start date	Apply Link
Stoke-on-Trent campus	PGCE	Full-time	8 September 2025	Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.