PGCE Secondary Geography with QTS (11-16) course preparation
We’re looking forward to welcoming you onto your PGCE Secondary Geography with QTS degree programme. Educating young adults and being able to inspire them to share your passion in Geography is one of the main reasons why people choose to train as a Secondary Geography teacher. Imagination is crucial, as is the need for patience and the ability to develop and sustain excellent relationships with pupils, communicating clearly with them and breaking down complicated concepts into manageable building blocks for learning.
We’ll support you as you develop your academic, professional and vocational knowledge, understanding, skills and values necessary to become a high quality and skilled teacher of Geography. You’ll get to experience professional training, delivered to the highest of standards, which immerses you in the very latest teaching and learning pedagogies.
Throughout your studies you’ll gain reflective and analytical skills and get practical experience in planning effective lessons and learning strategies. Along with hands-on classroom experience, and opportunities to further your own subject knowledge. The programme is acknowledged to be at the cutting edge of new approaches to innovative geography education in the classroom as well as incorporating an excellent fieldwork experience.
Before your studies begin, please read the information below and complete any of the tasks required.
Student Allocation Profile Survey
The survey helps the Partnership Development Team (PDT) find an appropriate professional practice placement (PPP) for you. This is done by taking as many relevant details of your personal situation into account as possible.
If you’ve got strong links to a school where you’d like to undertake a PPP please let us know. You can do this by completing our Professional Practice Allocation Form (PPAF). We’re always happy to consider these schools and have a set process in place to do so.
Academic preparation
The following items will be used within the first few weeks and it would be handy if you are able to obtain copies before you begin:
- O.S. Map Explorer series 275 (Liverpool) and 285(Southport)
- AQA 9-1 GCSE Geography Textbook (Ross and Rowles 2016): ISBN 0198366612 or new edition (July 22) 1382029128
- AQA GCSE 9-1 Revision guide ISBN 0198423462
- AQA GCSE Exam Questions (grades 7-9) ISBN 1382009593
Suggested reading
You will be given lots of information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access, when you begin your studies. In the meantime, you might like to begin some academic reading before starting your degree. We don’t recommend rushing out to buy texts before you arrive but if you can pick some up second hand, borrow from a library or access online to read over the summer, here are some suggested texts below:
- DfE, (2020) ITT Core Content Framework [online]
- Biddulph,M, Lambert,D & Balderstone,D (2015) Learning to teach geography in the secondary school. Routledge, Abingdon. 3rd Edition
- Jones,M (Ed) (2017) The Handbook of Secondary Geography Geographical Association, Sheffield.
- Jones,M & Lambert,D (Eds) (2018) Debates in Geography Education, Routledge, Abingdon.
- Rawding,C (2013) Effective innovation in the secondary geography curriculum: a practical guide. Routledge, Abingdon.
- Capel, S. Leask, M. & Turner, T. (2019) Learning to Teach in the Secondary School Routledge – CORE
- Beadle, P. & Murphy, J (2013) Why are you shouting at us? The Do’s and Don’ts of Behaviour Management, Bloomsbury Education
- Pollard, A. 4rd ed. (2014) Reflective Teaching: Evidence-informed Professional Practice, Continuum
Additional materials
It would be a good idea to think about obtaining some stationery and other resources that will help you on the programme. These could be basic stationery supplies (pens, notepads, glue, scissors etc.) and the use of a laptop (laptop loans are available from the library).