PGCE Secondary Religious Education

Opportunity to develop your own philosophy about both the subject and about how to teach it to enable students in schools to be excited by their learning and thinking about religion.

This programme adopts an open and exploratory approach and has been designed to prepare you to teach RE in a multicultural context.

Why study PGCE Secondary Religious Education?

Personal and social education are included to facilitate an exploration of the moral standpoints of a variety of world views, both religious and secular, and generates an understanding of the relationship between views on personal and social issues and cultural perspectives, including your own.

Course structure

The University based programme includes an examination of the place of RE in the school curriculum, the legal position of RE, world religions, the theories underpinning the various approaches to RE that you will find in practice in the classroom. You will explore current debates in the teaching of RE and examine various teaching methods and approaches used to deliver RE. This includes the  National Curriculum and the Secondary National Strategy. Throughout the aim is to bring together theory and practice. Your work in school will both inform and be informed by your work in University. In both areas you will need to reflect upon your learning. Over the course of the year we hope you will develop your own philosophy about both the subject and about how to teach it to enable students in schools to be excited by their learning and thinking about religion.

Course assessment

A personalised process of continuous assessment ensures that learning is appropriate and effective. Assessment takes account of both the programme experience and the school or setting and includes researching developing practice through assignment tasks.  Support is provided to develop a rigorous evidence-based account of your educational journey.

Assessment in all of the PGCE programmes is designed to be progressive and to assist you in the provision of evidence to support your achievement against the Standards for QTS.

PGCE programmes are assessed in University, school or other settings. The evidence base includes:

• Formally assessed assignments
• Professional dialogue in progress reviews
• The Professional Learning and Practice portfolio
• School phase reports and observations
• Professional development activities
• Subject knowledge tests and tasks (where appropriate)

Five Progress Review Points are held each year.  These assessment points review your attainment, professional learning and SMART target setting.

PGCE programmes are taught by highly qualified and experienced staff both in University and in partner schools or other settings. Teaching accommodation is located on the Newton Park campus, the Culverhay and Southdown sites and in several partner schools.

University teaching takes place in rooms equipped with relevant texts, equipment, training materials and electronic resources. Open access computer facilities are available. The University’s Virtual Learning Environment (Minerva) provides remote access to a wide range of resources.

Set texts are recommended for readings.

The Library holds a wide collection of teaching and learning resources. 

Teaching methods

Learning and teaching in PGCE programmes takes place through a combination of the following methods:

• tutorials at key points across the year
• lectures, seminars and workshops
• group activities: presentation; group discussion; role play and collaborative working
• independent learning
• peer support
• developing professional learning and practice in schools and settings
• blended learning employing electronic resources, including the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (Minerva)
• observation of teachers’ pracitce, including other Bath Spa Teachers’ practice
• professional development activities undertaken in University and school or other settings

Course enquiries

Please contact the Admissions Officer:

Telephone: (01225) 875624.

teaching@bathspa.ac.uk.

Entry requirements

In addition to the General Entry Requirements, you are required to have a degree pass in Religious Studies or Theology (or combination with Philosophy), Anthropology, African Studies, Sociology, Classics or History. We will also consider applications from candidates who have actively pursued a strong interest in religions. In addition you are expected to have enthusiasm for RE and for working with children, with recent experience of observing RE lessons in a secondary school.

Career opportunities

All PGCE courses culminate in Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).  This enables qualified Bath Spa Teachers to apply for a wider range of teaching posts and other education based employment. 

What students say...

'My mentor was fantastic. An excellent role model for outstanding teaching'

'Course leader and mentor very supportive and encouraging throughout School Phase 2'

'Excellent tuition and guidance'