SCITT (Primary Education and Secondary Education)
PGCE
QTS
Postgraduate
September 2025
Overview
At Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), we believe the best way to learn to teach is through real classroom experience. Our school-based teacher training programme places you in a school from the start, giving you the practical skills and confidence to thrive as an educator.
You will spend most of your training in a school setting, supported by experienced teachers and mentors. Alongside this, you will attend at least 13 days of university-led sessions and take part in a structured professional development programme. You will also complete a second school placement, helping you gain experience in a different educational environment.
A dedicated school-based mentor will support you throughout your training, working closely with university tutors to ensure you develop the knowledge and skills needed to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Our evidence-based, research-informed approach equips you with effective teaching strategies and a strong subject understanding.
If you are interested in further academic study, you can choose to complete a PGCE alongside QTS. This option includes additional university-led sessions and assignments to deepen your understanding of educational theory and practice.
With a strong focus on social justice, sustainability, and inclusion, our course challenges and supports you to grow as a reflective, adaptable educator. Upon successful completion, you will be recommended for QTS, confident in meeting the teachers’ standards and ready to make a meaningful impact in the classroom.
Entry requirements
All entrants must hold a first degree from a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent qualification.
A good honours degree (2:2 or above) in the specialist subject (or a subject closely related).
English (Language or Literature) and maths at GCSE (Grade C or Grade 4 above, or equivalent). Primary candidates will also need science GCSE (Grade C or Grade 4 above, or equivalent).
Successful completion of the Occupational Health Clearance and a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
For more information on English language requirements for this course, please click here to visit our dedicated IELTS web page.
We're interested in your potential as a teacher and so each application is considered on a case-by-case basis. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to becoming an outstanding teacher. Your application will need to be supported by one professional reference. (References from personal email accounts cannot be accepted).
Module information
Core/optional modules
How you’ll learn
Your learning and development will be facilitated by a range of university-based and school-based colleagues. As well as having extensive experiences in the classroom as qualified teachers, our university-based lecturers are all subject specialists. Our school-based colleagues are also expert education professionals with a strong track-record of providing trainees with highly effective mentoring.
Through each level of study, you will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, school placements and self-study. All of these are supported through Blackboard, the University's virtual learning environment.
The use of a range of learning and teaching strategies is central to the design and planning of this course. This is because the learning you experience in the University and in schools needs to model explicitly and implicitly key aspects of subject pedagogy. Therefore, there is an emphasis on:
- Individual and collaborative learning
- Critical debate and discussion
- Micro-teaching; multi-sensory learning
- Active learning
- Use of inclusive and diverse resources and content
- Use of information and communication technologies
- Technology-enhanced learning and blended learning
- Independent learning and personal reflection
- Critical reviews
- Connections between research, theory and practical application.
You will learn in a variety of ways in school, including from experienced mentors, through observing others and through experience. There is also a degree of individual learning support offered on this course, provided by mentors in school and University tutors.
This is a full-time course and you should expect to be engaged in the course activity five days a week, Monday to Friday, during school term times. It is important to note that you will be expected to be in school 8am to 4pm as a minimum requirement.
Teaching School Alliance (TSA) PartnersAll applications for School-Based are made via APPLY. Places are not listed under Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), but under the lead schools who have these places.
The list below gives all the main partners working with CCCU in 2024/25. You may want to look at their webpages to see what they say about training to teach with them (and Canterbury Christ Church University).
|
Primary and Secondary |
Primary only |
|
CLASS: Collaborative Learning Alliance of Special Schools (Kent wide) Lead school: The Beacon |
Aquila (Kent wide) Lead school: Kingsnorth Primary School |
|
Dover, Deal and Sandwich Partnership Lead school: Sandwich Technology School |
Furley Park Primary Academy (Ashford) |
|
Kent Catholic Schools Partnership Alliance (KCSP) (Kent and South East) Lead school: St Margaret Clitherow Catholic School |
LEAF (Leading Education and Achievement for All) (Maidstone and surrounding area) Lead school: Five Acre Wood |
|
Shepway Teacher Training Schools (Folkestone and surrounding area) Lead school: Sandgate Primary School |
|
|
Swale Academies Trust (Kent wide) Lead school: Westlands School |
Secondary only |
|
Cardinal Hume Teacher Training: Lead School- St George's RC School (London) |
The John Wallis Academy (Ashford and surrounding area) Lead school: The John Wallis Academy |
|
Valley Invicta Academies Trust (VIAT) (Maidstone, West Kent and surrounding area) Lead school: Invicta Grammar School |
Brockhill Park Teacher Training (Ashford, Dover and surrounding area) Lead school: Brockhill Park Performing Arts College |
How you’ll be assessed
School-Based QTS
Your journey to QTS will be supported by a number of university-based training days and one-to-one tutorials that are focused on your teaching practice.
PGCE School-Based
You will be assessed in two main ways: via academic assessments, and the assessment of your teaching practice during Professional Placement 1 and 2. You will submit assignments for each academic module, gaining Level 7 credits as you progress through the course. A range of assessment methods that to help you to evidence your knowledge, understanding and skills.
The University-lead tutors and school-based mentors are all experienced qualified teachers.
Your future career
The successful completion of this course equips you for employment as an early career teacher (ECT) and to complete ECT induction into the teaching profession. Please note that the term 'early career teacher' (ECT) has replaced the term 'newly qualified teacher' (NQT).
From there, your teaching career can take you on a very rewarding and exciting professional journey involving learning and teaching, leadership and management, research and advisory roles. There is also potential for you to engage in further study in the form of a Master’s degree and a doctorate.
Related courses
Fees
Tuition fees for this course
| UK | Overseas | |
| Full-time |
£6,145 for QTS only |
£9,990 for QTS only |
| Part-time | N/A | N/A |
Important Information on Tuition Fees
Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated. Please read the Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding year on year fee increases. Students studying FULL PGCE courses may be eligible to apply to Student Finance for a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan. You can find out more on our fees and funding web pages.
Students may self-fund their course or a sponsor may fund or part-fund. Bursaries, scholarships and fee discounts may also be available.
Further information
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
20% PGCE Alumni Discount
CCCU Alumni are offered a 20% Alumni Discount on a range of PGCEs. For terms and conditions, and information on School-Based student eligibility, please visit our postgraduate fees and funding page.
Read the Terms and Conditions.
School-Based (fee-funded)
Bursaries and Scholarships:
Bursaries
Generous, tax-free funding is available to the best graduates training in a range of subjects.
Subject bursaries are available in:
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Maths
- Computing
- Languages
- Biology
- Geography
You do not need to apply for a bursary – if you are accepted on to a fee-funded postgraduate course and meet the eligibility criteria you will receive information on the bursary prior to your enrolment on the course.
Scholarships
If you have the potential to be an inspirational teacher and are passionate about your subject you could apply for a scholarship to support your training.
Scholarships of up to £30,000 are awarded to the most gifted trainees in a range of areas and in partnership with highly regarded professional subject associations.
Subject scholarships are available in:
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Maths
- Computing
View the Department of Education’s Get into Teaching pages to see details about the bursaries and scholarships available.
School-Based (salaried)
If you are studying on the School Based (salaried) programme you will be employed and paid a salary by your school. The salary rates will vary depending upon the location of your school and what you are training to teach. You will be paid on the unqualified teacher pay scale.
For more information, please visit Get into Teaching.
Loans and other funding
With or without a bursary or scholarship, you could receive a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan to help fund your teacher training year. Alternatively, you could earn a salary while you train.
Visit GOV.UK and use the student finance calculator to estimate student loans and extra funding that may be available, e.g. if you’re disabled or have children.
Apply now
Become a part of CCCU