PGCE Secondary Music with Specialist Instrument Teaching with QTS* PGCE

Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach the secondary school music curriculum for the 11-16 age range. <br/><br/>This is a practical course where you will be immersed in music making and teaching and encouraged to develop and apply your own musical skills.  You’ll be taught through hands-on sessions and explore topics that support musical learning, using both acoustic and digital instruments to strengthen your subject knowledge. You’ll consider creative and inclusive approaches to teaching music and ways to engage pupils  in meaningful musical experiences. <br/><br/>A key focus of the course is on teaching music musically. You’ll learn how to plan and deliver lessons that are rich in musical content and activity—lessons that enable pupils to make, understand, and enjoy music, rather than simply learn about it.<br/><br/>You’ll also actively explore how music education can promote inclusion and support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), developing strategies that make music accessible and relevant for all learners.<br/><br/>On the specialist instrumental teaching route, you’ll receive additional subject knowledge development in your first instrument and its wider family. As part of your placement timetable, you’ll also gain experience in possibly delivering individual, small group, and large group instrumental tuition, helping to prepare you for teaching both in schools and through music hub or peripatetic roles. The focus is to see the pupil(s) at the centre of the musical experience and how the varying facets contribute to their overall musical development and progress.<br/><br/>We have a strong partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), with elements of the course co-delivered by RNCM colleagues.<br/><br/>While at Manchester Met, you’ll mainly study within your PGCE music group – one of your greatest learning resources. <br/>You’ll learn how to plan and evaluate lessons, reflect on your practice, explore how research informs effective teaching, and develop your teacher persona. Peer collaboration is central to the course, giving you opportunities to share knowledge and experience with your fellow trainees.  <br/><br/>FEATURES AND BENEFITS:<br/><br/><br/>• Employability - You’ll have the skills and experience to teach music at GCSE and potentially A/AS-levels. <br/><br/><br/><br/>• Teaching experience - You will spend at least the minimum Department for Education (DfE) required time (approximately 120 days) on placement, gaining experience in mainstream secondary schools.  <br/><br/><br/><br/>• Postgraduate credits - When you graduate, you’ll achieve 60 masters level credits (this is one-third of a masters degree). You can put these towards a masters degree to help you develop your new career. <br/><br/><br/><br/>• Partnerships - We have partnerships with over 500 schools, colleges and educational organisations, meaning we are able to provide students with a range of school experiences. <br/><br/><br/><br/>• Research-led teaching – Many of our staff are active researchers in education and their research influences our programmes.  The School of Education at Manchester Met ranks in the UK’s top 10 research power in education (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) and the Institute of Children’s Futures launched in November 2024 which brings together academics, policy makers and practitioners to improve the lives of young people.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Student support - You’ll receive guidance throughout your journey, including academic support from subject tutors and professional mentoring while on placements, helping you develop the skills and knowledge to meet Teachers’ Standards. <br/><br/>