PGCE - Secondary - Psychology

This page includes specific details for the Secondary PGCE with a subject specialism in Psychology. Full details of the course are available on the wider Secondary PGCE course page.

Subject Tutor: Judy Miller

Entry requirements: GCSE English Language and Maths (Grade C or above) and a degree (2.2 or above) with at least 50% Psychology.
You would qualify to teach 14-19 year olds
You will be required to teach a second subject in addition to Psychology.

We are looking to recruit people who are:

#Passionate about Psychology and want to pass on their enthusiasm to the next generation of psychologists
#Confident in their subject knowledge and are willing and able to push the boundaries of their own learning
#Eager to engage with young people and to be a positive role model

The Psychology component of the PGCE prepares trainees to deliver GCSE and A Level psychology to secondary school pupils in the 14 – 19 phase. University subject sessions are designed to encourage trainees to actively support each other and to share ideas. During these sessions we use the psychology specification as a vehicle to explore issues such as motivation in the classroom, learning styles and differentiation. We consider how Psychology can be delivered in the classroom in a way that engages all pupils. To this end, recent sessions have involved small groups planning and performing the “Oedipus and Electra” play and making a 3D model of Freud’s personality theory. As individuals, trainees created a PowerPoint loop of behaviourist images. As a whole class, trainees worked collaboratively to design, run and report on an investigation into semantic priming and face recognition. This experiential learning is designed to provide trainees with the skills to bring Psychology to life in the secondary classroom and provides opportunities for trainees to take risks in a safe and supportive environment.

All trainees are expected to be prepared to teach a second subject at Key Stage 4. This will usually be a subject that you studied at A Level, however if you studied subjects such as Law or Sociology, which are less common at GCSE level, then you should be prepared to teach an alternative such as Health and Social Care.

Our aim is to train dynamic enthusiastic and well qualified teachers who:

#Appreciate the value of applying scientific principles to the understanding of human thought and behaviour
#Can deliver activities that help students develop skills, intellect and values
#Can take an examination specification and turn it into a curriculum that excites and motivates young people

For further information contact secondary@worc.ac.uk