Qualifying in the UK to become a United Kingdom school teacher means you have different options at early years, primary and secondary teaching age.
Becoming a qualified teacher you can choose the undergraduate route, QTS only or complete you’re undergraduate degree then a postgraduate teacher training qualification, such as a PGCE.
Graduate teacher training England PGCE equivalent UK is Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Scotland both studied over one year and involves academic study & 2 school teacher training placements.
What is equivalent to UK PGCE
School teacher training England & Wales 60 credits postgraduate route PGCE equivalent is Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in Scotland, both one year training. Also, 120 masters’ credits Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) 1 year course Wales, N Ireland and England provides recognised school teacher training.
Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) is offered by universities Scotland for teacher trainees that are looking to teach in Scotland.
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is for teacher training through universities & schools aimed at teaching in England, Wales or N Ireland.
Entry requirements
Scotland’s Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and England PGCE entry requirements include:
- Good bachelor’s degree in the subject or similar subject.
- Maths & English school C grades and above, primary teaching science C or above grade.
- General teaching Council Registration country you’re teaching England or Scotland.
- At least one academic reference for a university course application.
- Criminal police background check the university course provider conducts.
University course study
For both Scotland’s teaching PGDE course and PGCE you’ll be taught academic theory as well as how to teach initially at university, and one day a week.
Course content, teaching & learning and requirements to successfully pass either course are similar. Scotland’s PGDE for teacher trainees is around 36 weeks in one year, with 18 weeks at university and 18 weeks school teaching placements.
Similarly, a PGCE course when I completed my teacher training there was more emphasis on school placements with a greater number of weeks in the school classroom rather than university study, although still 12 weeks.
School placements for Scotland PGDE & PGCE
Choosing either PGCE or Scottish PGDE for training as a secondary or primary teacher requires successfully completing 2 school placements where you’ll be trained how to teach school children effectively in the subject you teach.
Specialist subjects you can choose to teach are similar for both courses including: Science, maths, English, IT, Humanities, physical education, music and home economics.
Difference PGCE and Postgraduate Diploma in Education
Although both studied in England & Wales there are significant differences between Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and PGCE teacher training courses, PGDE being a diploma & PGDE is a certificate qualification.
Both the Diploma in Education (PGDE) and PGCE are recognised UK qualifications for teacher training with requirements of academic study and school training placements. The PGDE is at a higher academic level, and has more empathises on university study, generally with less classroom teaching hours than PGCE’s.
Academic year 2000-2001 I completed a PGCE full time that included university academic study & 2 teacher training placements over 11 months, although I could have equally chosen the diploma path.
PGCE awards 60 cat masters credits, where training & study for Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) awards 120 master’s cat credits, both are 1 year full time or part time 2 years.
University of Sheffield Postgraduate Diploma in Education course offers:
As well as a PGDE qualification and Qualified Teacher Status, you will have gained 120 masters credits which you may wish to put towards study for an MA Applied Professional Studies in Education.
A fair number of UK school teachers go on to complete a masters in education once they’re qualified school teachers. With a graduate diploma in education you require completing another 60 credits for a master’s degree at 180 cat credits, although teachers with a UK PGCE require completing 120 credits of study for a master’s award in education.