Kingston School Direct

26Z7 – PGCE in secondary

music
(including QTS and 60 MA credits)

About the course

• The course is run by the UCL Institute of Education (Russell Square), lasts from
September to June, and leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status, PGCE
and 60 MA credits.
• The course will help you to develop the professional skills you need to teach
music up to A level, as well as your knowledge of contemporary issues in music
education, and your understanding of how to support effective learning for all
pupils of all abilities. You will teach a range of topics and learn to use a range of
techniques, strategies and approaches for high quality teaching and learning.
• This forward-thinking course will prepare you to teach music and music
technology in an exciting and innovative way. The PCGE develops your expertise
in a variety of teaching situations by exploring and sharing different traditions,
teaching styles and materials.
• Our tutors are committed to the delivery of interactive and thought-provoking
sessions and to promoting a strong collaborative ethos that allows you to learn
with, and from, your peers by sharing materials, ideas and resources.
• Music workshops are a key part of the programme and are led by professional
musicians and music educators who specialise in areas such as conducting,
improvisation, music technology and the teaching of composition. A number of
activities are arranged in collaboration with learning and participation
programmes such as London Symphony Orchestra (Gamelan) and the Kingdom
Choir (Gospel).
• The course draws on current research at the UCL IOE and elsewhere to inform
your music teaching and encourage you to engage with recent debate and
literature in the field. The programme is underpinned by the foundation
disciplines, psychology, philosophy and sociology in music education. The
course’s underlying aim is to develop you as a reflective and highly skilled
teacher. The UCL IOE provides excellent facilities, including a newly refurbished
music technology suite and classroom instruments from different traditions.
• You will have full access to the library and other student facilities at the UCL IOE.
• The course attracts an training bursary for eligible candidates: see
http//:www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/funding/postgraduate-funding
About the teaching placements

 There are two block teaching practice placements (October-January;

February-May). For both, you will be in a state secondary school in Kingston-
Upon-Thames, SW London.
 We aim to place each trainee in two contrasting schools, such that they have a
varied experience and the best opportunities to develop a wide range of skills.
In Kingston we have a unique contrast of settings - selective, non-selective, all
boys, all girls, mixed – and our schools enjoy a high reputation for quality
provision, innovation, outstanding results and excellent behaviour, making it a
safe, rich and nurturing training environment for our beginner teachers.
 From the beginning you will be treated as a member of staff, welcomed into
your subject department and invited to attend staff meetings, development
days, staff social activities and relevant educational trips.
 Each trainee will have a dedicated mentor in their placement school, who will
guide you and work alongside you to identify needs and provide personalised
support as you develop. Our mentors are outstanding teachers who are
required to undertake a rigorous training programme to develop their
coaching, effective classroom observation and feedback skills. They will work
with you to develop rigour, professional knowledge, understanding and skills
in order to deliver creative, purposeful and challenging teaching and learning.
 You will gradually build up your contact time with students as you develop
your confidence, teaching skills and time management.
 You will also be assigned to a tutor group, in order to regularly shadow a tutor
and support all-important pastoral work.
Entry requirements

By the time you start the PGCE, you will need:

Degree: minimum of a 2:2 in music or music technology, or where at least 50

per cent of your undergraduate studies were in music. (We will consider
different subjects, providing music has been a significant part of your
undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications.) Preference will normally be
given to candidates with first class honours, or to those who have
supplemented their lower second class degree with a masters or doctoral
qualification.

GCSE: a GCSE pass (grade A* to C) in both English language and mathematics,

or in approved equivalent examinations. Secondary PGCE applicants with a
GCSE pass in only one of the two required subjects will be considered for the
Secondary PGCE if planning to sit or resit the other examination in the summer,
before starting the programme.

Skills tests: You must also currently pass two computer-based skills tests, set
by the National College for Teaching and Leadership, in numeracy and literacy
prior to confirmation of your place on the programme.

Proficiency in English: If English is not your first language, you will have to
demonstrate a satisfactory level of English language proficiency. For initial
teacher training programmes, we currently accept the following evidence of
satisfactory competence: IELTS (minimum overall score 7.0, with score of no
lower than 6.0 for writing and 6.5 for reading), TOEFL (650 in the paper-based
test, 280 in the computerised test, 114 in the internet-based test), Cambridge
Certificate in the Proficiency of English (Grade A or B).

Medical fitness: All PGCE candidates must be certified as meeting national

requirements for physical and mental fitness to teach, although this does not
preclude disabled people from pursuing a programme of study at the Institute
or a career in teaching. We apply the Fitness to Teach requirement and will ask
you to complete a health questionnaire for scrutiny by our occupational health
provider. Candidates are currently responsible for the cost of obtaining
occupational health clearance, which is approximately £45.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS): You will be asked to apply for an
Enhanced Disclosure Certificate from the DBS as a requirement of entry to the
course.
What we are looking for

• We expect you to have an excellent knowledge of music, and to be familiar

with the main skills and topics taught in schools at KS3-5. You should also
be able to demonstrate awareness of current issues in education.
• You should have a high level of practical musicianship and musical interests,
and an openness to expanding your personal musical knowledge and skills.
• You will be ambitious, passionate and enthusiastic about your subject, with
a real desire to share this with young people of all abilities, needs and
backgrounds at secondary level. You must be able to explain your subject in
a clear way to stimulate pupils’ interest and self-confidence.
• Good spoken and written English are essential. You should also be well
organised, receptive, adaptable and able to work as part of a team and work
well under pressure.
• You will ideally have some experience of working with young people,
perhaps through volunteer work, youth clubs, sports teams or charities. We
would like you to have carried out some classroom observation, ideally
across the age and achievement range, in at least one urban state school.
• We expect you to be confident in the use of information and
communication technology, and be willing to extend your abilities in the use
and application of technology in your teaching.
• By the end of the programme you will need to reach the required Teacher
Standards. These cover professional values and practice; subject knowledge;
knowledge of theory and research; lesson planning and record keeping
skills; classroom management; your understanding of assessment and pupil
progress; and the ability to reflect critically on your own practice and
progress.

What to do next

To contact us by e-mail:
schooldirect@coombegirlsschool.org
or telephone the lead school (Coombe Girls’ School) 0208 942 1242

For more information or to apply (UCAS teacher training):

www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training