Secondary Business Studies with QTS (14-19) PGCE
GOV.UK code: B308
Become a confident and skilled business studies teacher ready to make a real impact in secondary education. Upon successful completion of our PGCE Secondary Business Studies with QTS (14-19), you’ll gain a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status.
Subject to validation.
Overview
| Course length: | 1 year full-time |
|---|---|
| Start dates: | September 2026 |
| Location: | Edge Hill University |
| Example offers: | 2:2 or above (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. View full entry criteria |
| Subject(s): | Education and Teaching |
| Faculty: | Education |
| Department: | Secondary and Further Education |
If you’re passionate about business, finance, or economics and want to inspire the next generation, our PGCE Secondary Business at Edge Hill University is the ideal route into teaching. Whether you’re a recent graduate or considering a career change, this programme will equip you with the skills, confidence, and professional expertise to thrive as a business studies teacher in secondary schools.
You’ll learn how to bring complex business concepts to life through creative, inclusive, and practical lessons that connect the classroom to the real world, from entrepreneurship and ethical decision-making to financial literacy. A strong focus on curriculum planning, behaviour management, and effective communication will help you develop into a reflective and adaptable educator.
Extensive school-based placements are a core part of the course, giving you significant hands-on experience in a variety of settings. Supported by dedicated university tutors and experienced school mentors, you’ll build your classroom presence and learn to meet the needs of diverse learners.
Successful completion of the programme leads to a recommendation for the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Ofsted Outstanding Provider
Course features
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Ofsted outstanding provider for Initial Teacher Education
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Professional accreditation
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Professional practice placements
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International students can apply
What you'll study
This course consists of three, key elements. The first is academic study at Masters level. You’ll get to grips with key, research-based theories of learning and curriculum design and develop your ability to critique them. You’ll identify adaptations needed to meet the needs of all learners and apply them to your own practice, where appropriate.
You’ll also explore evidence-based practice within the context of Secondary Business Studies, how it has influenced educational policy in England and why it is considered to be the ‘golden thread’ of teacher development. You’ll get the opportunity to critique primary educational research and apply it to your own practice, where relevant.
You’ll get the opportunity to develop both your specialist subject knowledge and practical, teaching skills through professional placements. This experience is essential for achieving qualified teacher status, and will allow you to spend a significant amount of time in schools and other educational settings.
How you'll study
A combination of academic study, collaborative discussion, critical reflection, and practical, work-based learning in the classroom will equip you with the skills and confidence to become a creative and effective Business Studies teacher. The programme encourages a reflective and critically analytical approach to education, with a strong focus on real-world relevance and inclusive practice.
You will enhance your subject knowledge by exploring how business education connects to wider social, economic, and ethical issues. This may include engagement with external organisations, business case studies, or enrichment visits to institutions such as the Museum of Liverpool (covering regional economic history), the Bank of England’s KnowledgeBank, or enterprise hubs with a focus on financial education and entrepreneurship.
You’ll undertake extensive school placements, gradually progressing from observing and supporting lessons to planning and leading your own classes. You’ll work closely with experienced mentors and peers to develop your professional identity and teaching practice.
You will also engage in Intensive Training and Practice (ITAP)—a distinctive feature of our curriculum. These focused, high-impact sessions allow you to rehearse key elements of teaching such as behaviour management, scaffolding, questioning, and professional behaviours. ITAPs are grounded in the latest educational research and delivered by expert tutors, mentors, and partner schools.
During ITAP periods, your schedule may vary from the standard pattern, requiring you to attend sessions on campus or in school on different days. These experiences are designed to deepen your understanding and refine your teaching skills in key areas of classroom practice.
How you'll be assessed
You will be assessed, through a balanced combination of coursework and portfolio assessments, against both academic criteria and the Standards related to QTS. Weekly tasks undertaken in schools will enable you to develop an understanding of effective teaching and learning approaches which will inform University based sessions. Various other tasks will enable you to show your competence in ICT, numeracy and literacy. The most demanding assignment is a reflective and analytical piece of classroom-based research in which you will consider how pupils learn Business Studies, and how your teaching can make that more effective.
Your professional practice will conclude with a final viva that will allow you to demonstrate appropriate achievement against the Teachers’ Standards in order to allow us to make a recommendation for QTS.
Who will be teaching you
The Faculty of Education has been at the forefront of teacher education for over 140 years and today enjoys the enviable position of being one of the country’s leading providers of education, training and research for the children’s workforce.
You will be taught by a dedicated team of knowledgeable, experienced, friendly and supportive tutors who have the welfare of their trainees as a number one priority.
The Edge Hill lead mentors and mentor leadership team play an important part in your teacher training as experts in their field. They have a deep knowledge of the trainee curriculum and support trainees and mentors to make progress providing guidance and support on aspects of the curriculum and assessment.
Entry criteria
To join this PGCE, you will be expected to have:
- A degree equivalent to UK first-class or second-class honours (2:2 or above) in a relevant subject.
- GCSE English Language or English Literature and GCSE Mathematics at Grade C or Grade 4 or above (or equivalent qualification)
- Satisfactory levels of information and communications technology competence
- A commitment to, and understanding of, secondary education, demonstrating the personal attributes, values and motivation required to train as a teacher.
Please note, for the purposes of initial teacher training, level 2 literacy and numeracy qualifications are not considered as equivalent to GCSE Grade C or Grade 4 in English Language or English Literature and Mathematics.
An interview forms part of the selection process, which can be conducted online or face to face.
If you accept a formal offer from Edge Hill University you will be required to meet the Department for Education’s standards for physical and mental fitness to teach and clearance to work with children. Further information, including a Declaration of Health questionnaire and details of how to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure will be sent to you after you have firmly accepted an offer.
English language requirements
International students require IELTS 6.5, with a score no lower than 6.0 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.
If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.
How to apply
Application links will be added when available.
Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.
There’s plenty of opportunities to come take a look around campus. Attend one of our open days to see what life at Edge Hill University is all about.
Book an open day
Facilities
The Faculty of Education enjoys the enviable position of being one of the country’s leading providers of transformative education, training and research for the teaching and education workforce. Housed in a state-of-the-art £9m building, the Faculty of Education enjoys a stunning setting from both its lakeside and piazza buildings.
Facilities in the lakeside building include a 300-seat lecture theatre, five well-equipped ICT suites, and 18 teaching rooms complete with the latest technology.
Our nearby piazza building houses our Research Hub and our Secondary and Further Education department including a lecture theatre and a number of seminar rooms.
Where you'll study
Your future career
This PGCE is accredited by the Department for Education. Successful completion of the programme will enable you to gain recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). You’ll be ready to progress into employment as an early career teacher of business studies at secondary school level.
By completing the PGCE Secondary Business Studies course at Edge Hill, you’ll develop a wide range of professional and transferable skills that will benefit you throughout your teaching career and beyond. This course will support you in developing the skills, confidence, and professional expertise to become an effective and engaging secondary school business teacher.
With plenty of academic and professional experience, you could also continue to MA or MRes study. Following this, you could even work towards a PhD.
