become a physical education teacher in secondary education.
(nss, 2019 and 2020)
three a-levels at grades bbc or above.
or btec triple grades dmm or above.
or access 30-42 d/m with minimum 18d.
and gcse english language and mathematics at grade 4 or grade c or above.
all candidates are required to attend an interview with representatives from schools as well as university tutors.
our unique physical education teacher training course leads to qualified teacher status (qts) at secondary level. the course is carefully structured to equip trainee teachers with real-world skills and deepen their passion for teaching. it also trains teachers in educational leadership and resilience, enabling graduate teachers to progress quickly in their careers. this progression is reflected in their salary growth; five years after graduating, our education graduates are the sixth highest earners from any university in wales and england (source: leo data, department for education, july 2018).
trainees study the scientific principles of physical education and sport and explore these through practical activities. developing a wide range of subject knowledge, this intensive course blends theory and practice helping trainees to understand how children learn best.
through school based placements in our partnership schools and placements in other educational settings, trainees enjoy ample contact with qualified teachers and students. this enables them to gain a wide range of experience and a healthy understanding of what the profession looks like in the current climate. analytical thinking is encouraged and developed, ensuring that we deliver passionate newly qualified teachers who have a desire to drive their profession forward. with a clear focus on national priorities and current developments in education our pe teacher training graduates are well prepared for teaching today.
enhancement means you can pick up a second specialist subject when you qualify to teach.
study in small groups with access to world class facilities.
on-site sport and health centre, pool, gym and sports therapy clinic.
easy access to teaching and coaching qualifications to enhance your subject knowledge and career prospects.
variety of teaching and assessment styles designed to enable you to find your own strengths.
school based training in every year and 26 weeks on teaching placement in the final year.
“the support from the lecturers is outstanding. the range of theory and practical learning is top drawer and allows you to build amazing subject knowledge. the school placements give you insight into what it takes to be a pe teacher. on this course i’ve personally developed greater self confidence and i’ve learnt how to achieve high standards of academic work.”
“i enjoy being able to learn through practical experience on placements as you are learning on the job in the profession you are going into. i’ve received lots of guidance from lecturers and mentors. tutors are easily to access and they understand how to accommodate your needs. there are excellent facilities to enable me to gather wider research.”
“i like the ratio of practical to theory as it allows you to develop your skills as a teacher. we have specific workshops that give us the best chance to succeed, looking at things like how to write essays or do academic referencing. the lecturers are amazing and will support you both personally and professionally.”
is it possible to influence children to engage with lifelong physical activity?
can schools impact the health of children and adolescents?
can you teach maths or literacy through physical activity?
could high quality physical activity in schools save the nhs budget in decades to come?
how do you engage the disengaged with physical activity and sport?
could less 'traditional' activities such as yoga or street surfing motivate more children?
“ "the course is well structured, thorough, and clearly effective in producing outstanding teachers of physical education ... there are many aspects of excellent practice within the course for which the team should be applauded ... assessment tasks are innovative and creative. the extent to which the assessments enable students to apply theory to practice is very good." ”
on completion of this programme you will be a fully qualified teacher of secondary physical education. you may also choose to do an enhancement in a second subject, key stage 5, primary or special education, to enhance your employability as an early career teacher (ect). ofsted (2014) praised the university’s ‘effective use of local diversity and wider links which ensures trainees have breadth and variety in their training, so making them highly employable’. over 90% of our trainees go on to secure teaching posts locally, nationally or abroad which is above national rate. others go on to further postgraduate study or research posts within higher education. some of our trainees have gone on to establish themselves as freelance specialist teachers in their field of expertise.
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“one of the most significant factors in regards to preparation for work was the school based training placements that i completed throughout my 3 years at the university. not only that but the broad range of topics we covered ensured that we had the appropriate baseline skills for teaching and the means to develop in whichever way best suited us. the university staff provided endless amounts of support which is helped by the open door policy and willingness to help at any hour of the day!”
marta is now working as a pe teacher.
“ "in our first year we learnt the foundations of teaching, behaviour and how to manage a classroom. we also learnt about non-invasion games like tennis and badminton and learnt different drills we could teach children. in our second year we went on a placement and also did a special needs placement to learn practices from teachers in different learning environments. we also looked at drills to teach invasion games like football and rugby. third year is largely placement-based but we are also engaging with current issues in education."”
fees uk students: £9,250 per annum
fees for international students: £12,000 per annum
includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, practical sessions in the sports science lab, practical sessions to develop subject knowledge in pe and conferences. 26 weeks of placement experience, in five blocks in different educational settings.
includes portfolios, presentations, essays, blogs, portfolios, exams, practical skills assessment, teaching practice and a final research project.
julie stevens taught in secondary schools as a pe teacher in devon, cornwall and sussex, having worked as a head of dept for the lea education department advisory service and the youth sport trust. she has been teaching in universities for over 10 years with a focus on teacher training and physical education.
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clare graduated from marjon as a pe teacher and returns as a lecturer following a very rewarding career teaching pe, mentoring trainee teachers, being head of ks3 pe, house leader and assistant head of sixth form.
hannah wood studied Applied Sports Science & Coaching (with ICT), then took a PGCE in Secondary Physical Education and a Masters in Education (all at Marjon). She then taught for ten years and now teaches at Marjon, mostly working with trainee PE teachers. One of her main research interests is in mentor and mentee relationships; expectations, roles and responsibilities of each; a passion that she brings to the course recognising the often informal mentoring role that PE teachers particularly can play in young people’s lives.
