PGCE
Initial Teacher Education
You’ll need to be well suited to the teaching profession both personally and academically.
See 'What we look for in potential students' for more information.
Skilled teachers make a difference to the lives of those they teach. This teacher training course is designed to enable you to become a qualified, passionate teacher of Music in Secondary schools.
We encourage you to embrace the professional qualities and attributes that successful teachers need, including:
With our support, you’ll become an empathetic and skilled teaching professional who is responsive to the needs of all pupils. You’ll have a positive impact on those you teach – from the beginning of your training within schools.
Many musicians wish to pass on their passion for music, just as they’ve been inspired by their music teachers. Sharing your passion for Music not only broadens pupils’ musical experiences and interests, but also helps them to build confidence, discipline and teamworking skills, all of which help them flourish as individuals.
We help you to plan effective sessions, using clear learning objectives, and show you how to model and adaptively teach key musical skills and concepts. We define what real musical learning looks like and sounds like and explore how we can ensure that pupils make musical progress both within and beyond the classroom.
Subject sessions explore the Secondary Music curriculum and how different schools may interpret its delivery according to their resources. These sessions are practical and led by a range of experts. You’ll get the chance to practise modelling these skills in university before using them on your placements in schools.
"Completing my PGCE at Bath Spa University gave me confidence and inspiration to achieve my goals within teaching. I gained valuable experience and explored various avenues of pedagogy through practical and collaborative learning, which has set a strong foundation going into my first year of teaching. Through a supportive atmosphere, access to wider opportunities and lecturers who are open and show enthusiasm to your ideas; the PGCE course at Bath Spa creates a positive and forward thinking teacher."
Rachael Robinson, PGCE Secondary Music graduate
Explore the fundamentals of teaching through an integrated programme that encompasses both university and school-based training.
You’ll develop your understanding and practice through these core components:
We’ll revisit these components to enable you to gain, apply and refine your knowledge and skills throughout the year.
The PGCE Secondary programme covers all subjects and is studied full-time over one academic year.
Your first school placement begins with familiarisation, where you observe your Training Mentors teaching the classes that you will eventually take over. You’ll teach parts of lessons before assuming responsibility for them. You’ll also learn about the curriculum in your subject, how schools work and how pupils make progress.
Throughout your training you’ll be supported by your Academic Tutor, who is a specialist in your subject. Your Academic Tutor nurtures and develops you as an individual and a professional, while working closely with your Training Mentors and Lead Trainers to provide vital support.
Your PGCE Secondary journey culminates in you developing independence and your own identity as a teacher. You’ll create your own resources, style and techniques for teaching, and build the confidence you need to bring your subject to life.
Throughout the year, you'll track and reflect on your experiences and gain evidence of your suitability to be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Learn through doing – gain practical teaching experience (planning, assessment and the impact of these on pupils’ progress) during your placements in schools. Explore the professional role of a teacher, including safeguarding, working with colleagues and parents, taking responsibility for a tutor group, and extracurricular activities. Your Academic Tutor and Training Mentor will model good practice and provide regular feedback on your progress.
You’ll also learn through seminars, lectures and talks delivered by expert practitioners, with follow up question and answer sessions. You’ll be guided to reflect on your own progress and set targets, to read widely and to develop Music subject knowledge. You’ll also learn from your peers – discussing what you’ve learned and sharing ideas with other BSTs as you develop your own identity as a teacher.
To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.
Throughout the programme, you’ll gather examples of practice to reflect your progress at each of the four review points during the course.
Your Training Mentor will observe you regularly during school training, and provide personalised feedback to enable you to succeed as a teacher.
You’ll write reflective reviews; these are designed to help you further your knowledge and skills and to become a reflective practitioner.
Your subject knowledge and fundamental skills in Maths and English will be monitored throughout the programme.
You’ll also submit two subject-focused assignments at Level 7 to gain 60 Master’s-level credits and demonstrate the critical and academic knowledge you’ve gained in your subject.
This course offers or includes the following modules. The modules you take will depend on your pathway or course combination (if applicable) as well as any optional or open modules chosen. Please check the programme document for more information.
As a graduate of our PGCE with a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you can begin your teaching career right away.
During the course, we offer support with applications and interviews so that you can give your teaching career the best possible start.
As an Early Career Teacher, you’ll be supported by your new employing school for a further two years, after which you might work to become a Head of Department, Assistant Head, Deputy or Headteacher, or take on a more pastoral role such as Head of Year.
Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.
As a Bath Spa Teacher, you'll learn in a variety of locations within our wide partnership, both at the University and in schools.
Your main campus will be Sion Hill. Teaching will take place in rooms equipped with relevant texts, equipment, training materials, and electronic resources.
You'll have access to a range of facilities, including our Libraries.
Open access computer facilities are available. The University’s Virtual Learning Environment (Minerva) provides remote access to a wide range of resources.
| 2023/24 entry | £9,250 |
| 2024/25 entry | £9,250 |
| 2025/26 entry | Published Autumn 2024 |
| 2023/24 entry | £15,050 |
| 2024/25 entry | £15,750 |
| 2025/26 entry | Published Autumn 2024 |
Teachers are role models for their pupils and must act with integrity at all times, while having the highest expectations of themselves and their pupils. They forge positive professional relationships and engage with wider communities.
You’ll need to be suited to the teaching profession both personally and academically. We look for committed individuals with a professional approach and an exceptional work ethic. We value strong communication skills, adaptability and emotional resilience. Having a true passion for your subject will give you the edge.
In your application, you should detail why you want to work with children and young people, and what experience, if any, you have of this.
In order to apply you'll need to have completed, or be in the final year of a UK degree (or an equivalent qualification). You’re required to have a good honours degree or above in Music (including similar courses for example, Music Technology and Performance) with music as a major part of the degree. In addition, a Music A-level is also required, and some keyboard skills are desirable.
You'll also need GCSE passes at grade 4/C or above (or recognised equivalents) in English and Mathematics. In addition, for some Secondary programmes you are also required to have an A-level in the subject.
If you don’t meet the entry requirements above, we may be able to accept your prior learning or experience from outside of formal education. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) page to learn more.
All teacher training applicants are required to complete a number of compulsory assessments before they’re permitted to enrol onto their course. These assessments include an interview and compliance checks including: Enhanced DBS, Prohibition from Teaching, Self-Declaration and Fitness to Train to Teach questionnaire. You may also need to enrol in a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course.
Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page to apply through the Department for Education's application system. If you need more guidance, please head to our how to apply webpages.
Once your application has been received and assessed, and if it is successful in making it to the next stage of the application process, you'll be invited to attend an interview (these are currently held online). At the interview, we'll assess your suitability and passion for teaching. The interview will include a short teaching exercise and a discussion of educational issues. We'll ask you about your experience to-date of working with children and young people.
Website feedback to web@bathspa.ac.uk
