We have an excellent reputation with schools in the region and have been training highly skilled, inspirational secondary teachers for over 75 years.
Joint 1st in the UK for Quality Education
We're rated 'Outstanding' for teacher training
University of the Year finalist
Recognised for our graduate success, we’re shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2025.
Overview
Studying English and Drama gives young people the tools to express themselves, understand others and make sense of the world. As a teacher of English and Drama, you could be a guiding voice as young people explore stories, language, creativity and performance. At Worcester, you can specialise in English with Drama or follow our English-only route.
Whether your background is in English, Drama, or a related humanities subject, you’ll join a supportive community where you’ll develop strong subject knowledge and practical teaching skills. Before the course begins, we’ll help you prepare through online tutorials, development activities and recommended reading focussed on the English and Drama curriculum.
During your training, you’ll complete placements in two secondary schools, teaching a range of year groups with support from a subject mentor and University tutors. When you’re on campus, you’ll learn through workshops, lectures and interactive sessions that model effective, research-informed teaching and build your confidence in areas such as oracy, planning and classroom management.
You’ll explore how pupils engage with both English and Drama, including opportunities to study diverse texts, consider how curriculum choices shape pupils’ experiences, and examine themes such as representation and global literature. We’ll also enrich your subject knowledge through experiences designed to connect you with the wider world of English and Drama, such as talks from visiting practitioners or activities that explore performance, reading for pleasure and creative expression.
Alongside your English and Drama pathway, you’ll choose an enhancement activity where you can pursue an additional subject that's important to you from Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to climate change to reading for pleasure, to broaden your expertise.
When you successfully complete the course, you'll be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status. QTS is awarded by the Teaching Regulation Agency in England.
Placements
You’ll complete a minimum of 120 days of placement, teaching English with Drama in two different schools, so you can experience a wide range of age groups and learning environments. There will also be additional school visit days where you can explore practical strategies for the classroom, with opportunities to practice, rehearse and then implement in school.
We have a strong relationship with over 100 partnership schools, where you will be supported by subject specialist mentors. School mentors are experienced teachers who we work with to make sure you get the highest quality, placement experience.
Regional Training Hubs
You can apply to study a PGCE directly with the University or with one of our partner Regional Training Hubs.
These Regional Training Hubs are networks of schools working together to train teachers. When you apply through a hub you will do a mix of training at their sites and at the University, and the hub will organise your placements within their network of schools.
"Trainees benefit from an exceptional learning experience at the University of Worcester. This experience instils in them a deep-rooted commitment to making a difference to the lives of the children and young adults in the communities they serve."
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Course details
School experience is a substantial and integral part of the course, and you will have visit days and block placements in terms 1, 2 and 3.
The full-time course has 36 contact weeks in total. 24 weeks will be spent in partnership schools. In addition, up to 8 days will be spent in schools focusing on specific teaching skills.
Indicative themes explored through the course content are outlined below.
We regularly review our courses to reflect the latest research and developments in the subject area, as well as feedback from students, employers and the wider sector. As a result, modules may change to ensure the course remains current and relevant.
Careers
This course will qualify you to teach in secondary schools across the UK. Most of our students quickly find jobs after graduation, thanks to the confidence they’ve gained on the course, the connections they make on placement and our excellent reputation with schools in the Midlands region.
Many of our graduates go on to work in schools as an English or drama teacher – but others have found positions such as media teachers.
Our graduates also pursue leadership roles within schools, as curriculum leaders, special educational needs coordinators, key stage leaders, deputies, or head teachers.
The PGCE is an internationally recognised teaching qualification and can widen your opportunities for a career overseas. You’ll be able to seek work in countries such as America, Australia, and Canada.
Course highlights
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is a mix of interactive seminars, classroom simulations and one-to-one tutorials – alongside this you’ll be supported by university staff and school mentors when out on placement. Your assessments will prepare you for a career as a teacher, and include creating a learning resource, delivering a presentation, and writing reflective essays.
Teaching and assessment contents
Each programme incorporates a range of teaching, learning and assessment methods including lectures, workshops, peer group activities, seminars, directed reading, independent research, directed study tasks, presentations, e-portfolio, tutorials and school experience. There are also 20 days identified within the provider-based programme for ‘Intensive Training and Practice’ (ITaP), where there is a focus on an area of pivotal practice.
Students’ experience specialist subject training to develop the necessary knowledge and understanding of their subjects and related pedagogy, which will enable them to teach their subjects across the full age and ability range of training.
Schools and further education settings in the partnership play a crucial role in designing training that provides the range of experiences that students need. ‘The cream of the talent’ from within the partnership, alongside subject specialist tutors, provide taught experiences to give students a breadth of experience and provide them with opportunities to demonstrate all the Teachers’ Standards
In addition, meetings with Personal Academic Tutors (university lead tutors) are scheduled throughout the course. Tutors and Regional Training Hub Leads also visit students in school to quality assure the process and offer tutorial support.
The majority of teaching sessions will be face to face. There will be elements, especially large cohort sessions, that may be delivered online.
Typically contact hours for the centre-based training will be structured around:
- Interactive small group seminars on campus
- Practical skills sessions on campus
- Scheduled online lecture/discussions
Meet the team
You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course.
You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Anita Iddon
Anita is a member of the PGCE Secondary English tutor team. She is an experienced English teacher who has enjoyed teaching for 34 years working in a variety of roles across two schools in Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire.
She has substantial experience working as a Lead English teacher, Head of English and an Advanced Skills teacher for Worcestershire affording the opportunity to liaise closely with many schools.
Bronwen Duggan
Bronwen is the subject lead for PGCE Secondary English. She spent 22 years in secondary education, before moving to a career in teacher education. During her time working across three schools, she held various roles including Head of English, whole-school literacy lead and professional mentor for ECTs and trainee teachers.
Anita Iddon
Anita is a member of the PGCE Secondary English tutor team. She is an experienced English teacher who has enjoyed teaching for 34 years working in a variety of roles across two schools in Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire.
She has substantial experience working as a Lead English teacher, Head of English and an Advanced Skills teacher for Worcestershire affording the opportunity to liaise closely with many schools.
Bronwen Duggan
Bronwen is the subject lead for PGCE Secondary English. She spent 22 years in secondary education, before moving to a career in teacher education. During her time working across three schools, she held various roles including Head of English, whole-school literacy lead and professional mentor for ECTs and trainee teachers.
Entry requirements
Honours degree, normally 2:2 or higher from a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent qualification, in a relevant subject area. Applicants with a 3rd class degree will be considered on an individual basis.
GCSE grade C/4 in English Language or English Literature and Mathematics, or equivalent qualifications. We do offer an equivalency test if you don’t have the required GCSE grade to apply for our courses.
Trainees who begin courses before providing evidence of the required GCSE standard (or equivalent) will not be eligible for financial incentives, such as bursaries or grants until they achieve the required standard.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.
Fees
Fees contents
UK students
The standard tuition fee for full time UK students enrolling on a PGCE in the academic year 2026/27 is £9,790 per year (subject to changes in the government tuition fee cap).
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
International and EU students
The standard tuition fee for full time international and EU students enrolling on a PGCE in the academic year 2026/27 is £18,400 per year.
*Please note that for EU students who are not in receipt of a UK government bursary/scholarship package, the fee is £9,790 per year (subject to changes in the government tuition fee cap).
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
How to apply
How to apply contents
Applications for PGCE courses, both Primary and Secondary, should be made online through the government's Find Postgraduate Teacher Training website. The course code for English with Drama is Q154
Start your application
Apply PGCE Secondary English with DramaRegional Training Hubs
You can also apply to study a University of Worcester PGCE with one of our partner Regional Training Hubs.
These hubs are networks of local schools working with us to deliver your PGCE close to where you live and teach, with training and placements organised through the hub alongside support from University of Worcester tutors.
- Cleeve Training Hub - Gloucestershire
- Hereteach Alliance - Herefordshire
- North Worcestershire Teacher Training Hub - Redditch, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove, Malvern
- Shires Teaching Alliance - Herefordshire
- Stour Vale - Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, South Staffs and Shropshire
- Woodrush Training Consortium - Birmingham/Bromsgrove
For detailed information on how to apply for a PGCE visit Get Into Teaching.
Contact
If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.
Secondary PGCE Office
secondary@worc.ac.ukAdmissions Office
admissions@worc.ac.uk01905 855111More to explore
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