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PGCE - Secondary (11-16 years) Biology with QTS

Inspire the next generation of scientists by sharing your passion for Biology with young people. In this specialised PGCE pathway, you can instil a love of the fast-moving world of Biology within the children you teach.

Our well-respected PGCE Secondary with QTS supports you through your journey from student to Early Career Teacher (ECT). Moreover, as the PGCE programme includes QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) you'll apply for your first teaching position whilst studying with us.

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OFSTED Rated 'Good' 2023:

Department for Education

Secondary (11-16 years) Biology with QTS cover image

Course Overview

Grounded in the learning of our PGCE Secondary programme, this Biology pathway allows you to develop the skills to teach in the secondary school setting, delivering engaging Biology lessons. This unique specialism gives you the opportunity to inspire the next generation of ecologists, doctors and microbiologists.

You’ll learn through a blend of theory and hands-on experience, working within the National Curriculum Framework. You'll explore the key concepts and themes of the PGCE curriculum, confidently devising and delivering engaging lessons to children and young people, aged 11-16 years old.

Over half the course will be spent working in the classroom on assessed placement, with school-based enrichment activities alongside your university-based study. You'll take two placements across a variety of schools and settings, building a wealth of experience to help advance your future career.

On this course you will...

Inspire young people to explore the world of biology.
Benefit from high-quality support from our academics and staff on a programme designed around you.
Learn from an experienced, highly qualified programme team, working at the forefront of the academic field.
Enjoy the intimate feel of our course delivery, with small class sizes and your own personal tutor.

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Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
EU / EEA / International
Course LocationLancaster
Institute Institute of Education, Arts and Society
DFE CodeC1X1
Mode of DeliveryIn-person
Course DurationFull-time: 1 Year
Course Start PointSeptember
AwardPGCE
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysLancaster
All

Minimum entry requirements

UK Tuition fees

£9,535

Entry in academic year 2025/26

£9,790

Entry in academic year 2026/27

International Tuition fees

£14,900

Entry in academic year 2025/26

£16,000

Entry in academic year 2026/27

Tuition Fees Policy

What our graduates say

When I think of my studies here, I look at each course with a real sense of achievement. Each has helped pave my career pathway to date, providing me with a first-class education and the necessary foundations to excel professionally.

Kerryann Wilson, PGCE Secondary English

Alumnus of the Year 2021 and Winner of Pearson National Teaching Award 'Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School' 2021

Kerryann Wilson

Course Structure

What you will learn

Our course ensures that you learn all the skills you need for effective teaching, from the basics of structuring and planning lessons to developing personal skills and confidence. Our school-based programme is delivered through dedicated sessions with trainees and school mentors, and allows you to learn from working alongside experienced school colleagues. Working with individual groups of pupils in school, you will gradually build up to teach whole classes about topics such as particle theory, acids and alkalis, the reactivity series and many other exciting topics. You will learn how to organise practical work and also carry out many of the practical activities that are common in schools. You will also receive training in key stage 3 Physics and Chemistry, reflecting the fact that in most schools you will be expected to teach all three sciences at key stage 3.

Modules

There are two distinct phases to teaching on this course; September-December and January-June. In the September-December phase, you will develop your understanding and implementation of key teaching strategies. During this phase you will take your first teaching steps by working with individual groups of pupils in school, gradually building up to the teaching of whole classes. The key focus in this initial phase is that of helping students to understand the needs of individual learners. In the January-June phase, you will hone your whole-class teaching experience, fostering achievement and a love of learning in students, in correspondence to the requirements of the Teachers’ Standards.

Year one

PGSC7011 Investigating Teaching and Learning in Biology
Explore concepts and structures within Biology in-depth, along with the connections between key subject themes.
PGSC7012 Investigating Teaching and Learning Across and Beyond the School Curriculum
Develop a secure understanding of the curriculum and the ways in which as practitioners you can contribute to the school community.
PGSC9011 Developing Professional Skills, Knowledge and Practice
Draw together your school-based experiences and achieve your QTS.

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

As a student at the University of Cumbria, you are part of an inclusive learning community that recognises diversity. You will have opportunities to learn by interacting with others in a collegiate, facilitative and dynamic learning environment. Teaching, assessment and student support will allow equal and equitable opportunities for you to optimise your potential and develop autonomy. We seek to create a stimulating and innovative community of learning, whether encountered on campus or at a distance, on placement or in the workplace. Facilitated by our expert practitioner staff, you will experience a learning environment that is well equipped, flexible, and stimulating.

THE SECONDARY PGCE CURRICULUM OVERVIEW.

During your studies, you will follow our Secondary PGCE Curriculum. The curriculum has 6 themes:

Behaviour
Curriculum
Pedagogy
Assessment
Professional Behaviours
Challenging Disadvantage.

The first 5 themes are informed by and align with the 5 themes of the Core Content Framework (CCF), a Department for Education (DfE) publication outlining the minimum entitlement that you can expect from your Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course. These 5 themes are linked to the 8 Teachers’ Standards that you must meet by the end of your course.

Access Core Content Framework

The latter theme, Challenging Disadvantage, is a key focus for the Institute of Education at the University of Cumbria, allowing you to learn from an ambitious PGCE Curriculum that goes above and beyond.

Our PGCE Curriculum is delivered through taught sessions that include students from all PGCE subjects. These occur alongside Pedagogy for Learning (PfL) sessions where you will be taught in specific subject groups led by expert tutors. These sessions will equal twelve full days of training.

The training and skills you learn throughout the generic and PfL sessions are known as Learn That and you will put them into practice during a school placement, known as Learn How To.

How you will be assessed

Assessment loosely follows two forms; summative and formative. ‘Summative Assessment’, involves making some sort of judgement on your work that is recorded, such as essay writing. 'Formative assessment', is carefully crafted feedback that does not count towards your final grade but helps you develop your professional learning.

Progression

The programme also recognises that gaining a PGCE and achieving QTS is not the end of your professional learning journey. It is with this in mind that the contributory modules have been planned to allow you to undertake a seamless transition to a University of Cumbria MA in education. The learning outcomes of the modules have been mapped to the learning outcomes of the MA and the credits that you accrue on the PGCE are recognised as part of the MA.

Grants & Scholarships

Scholarships and Bursaries

For postgraduate ITE programmes, the incentives include:

£29,000 for chemistry, computing, maths and physics.
£20,000 for D&T and languages (including ancient languages)
£5,000 for biology & geography

There are also scholarships available of £31,000 chemistry, computing & physics and £22,000 in French, German and Spanish.

Further Education (FE) initial teacher education (ITE) pre-service bursaries programme will be available in academic year 2026/2027; subject eligibility will be the same as this year, and values will be £31,000 for STEM subjects, £15,000 for SEND and £10,000 for English.

To learn more about eligibility, funding amounts, and application details, visit the Get Into Teaching website.

Additional Grants

Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to additional funding from Student Finance England to help support you during your course. The figures illustrated below are based on the 2025-26 academic year and will be subject to review and inflationary increases.

Parents’ Learning Allowance - means-tested on household income. Maximum available £2,024.
Childcare Grant - means-tested on household income. A maximum of 85% of your weekly childcare costs may be paid on your behalf, up to £199.62 per week for one child and £342.24 per week for two or more children.
Adult Dependants’ Grant - means-tested on household income. Maximum available £3,545.
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) - students with a disability or specific learning difficulty may be eligible to receive help towards enabling costs; e.g. non-medical helper, specialist equipment etc.

You may also be eligible to apply for additional funding from external subject bodies that provide incentives to recruit into specialisms. These bodies may include

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

UK Tuition fees

£9,535
Entry in academic year 2025/26

£9,790
Entry in academic year 2026/27

International Tuition fees

£14,900
Entry in academic year 2025/26

£16,000
Entry in academic year 2026/27

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

Funding

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us.

As when you study for an undergraduate degree, on a PGCE programme most applicants are eligible for student finance support provided by the UK government. This support includes a loan which covers all of your tuition fee, as well as a maintenance loan, which takes into account your personal situation to provide the support you need to live comfortably whilst on your course.

If you train to teach in a shortage subject - Chemistry, Computing, Maths or Physics - you could be eligible for up to £28,000 over the course of your training period. Specialising in Languages, Geography, or Biology could entitle you to £25,000, and English, Music, and Art and Design provides around £10, 000 in tax-free bursary.

In Languages and Physics, trainees starting courses in the academic year 2024/25 will not need to be eligible for student finance to be eligible for a bursary or scholarship. In all other subjects, trainees are only eligible for a bursary or scholarship if they are entitled to support under the student finance criteria.

Scholarships also come with a range of additional benefits, including membership to a relevant professional body, subject specialist events and webinars, subject specialist mentors and coaching, access to classroom resources and subject specialist networks, and continuing professional development (CPD) and networking events during your ITT year.

For more information click here.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000..

Student Finance

Additional Costs

Stationery, printing and digital storage

Approximately £30 to £40 per year

RequiredPer yearStationery

You should budget for stationery and consumables for personal use. These may include notebooks, pens and pencils, digital storage devices, printing and photocopying. The amount you spend will depend on your study preferences.

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check

£69.50 (2026/27 fee)

RequiredOne-offChecks, clearances and health requirements

An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required before you start placements. The Entry requirements section for your course shows which barred lists the check covers.

DBS checks for applicants

Books and journals

Approximately £50 to £300 over the course of your studies

OptionalThroughout the courseBooks and journals

Most core textbooks and journals are available through the University library. You may choose to purchase personal copies of books or other resources used to support your studies.

Some courses recommend particular books or provide an estimated annual budget for purchasing personal copies. Search for your course below for details.

Technology requirements

Cost depends on the equipment and internet service you choose

RequiredThroughout the courseDigital learning and IT

You will need regular access to a laptop or computer capable of accessing the internet and running software such as a word processor and Microsoft Teams. Microsoft 365 is provided as part of your studies. You will also need a reliable internet connection. The amount you spend will depend on the equipment and internet service you choose.

Information on borrowing university laptops

Travel to education placements

RequiredPer placementPlacements

You will need to pay for travel to and from your placements. Placement locations vary, and a placement arranged by the University may require additional travelling time. The amount you spend will depend on the placement location and your chosen method of transport.

You may be eligible for financial assistance towards some placement travel or subsistence costs. Any assistance available will depend on the scheme and eligibility criteria in place at the time of your placement.

Professional clothing for placement

Cost depends on what you already own

RequiredThroughout the courseClothing and uniform

Placements require sensible, professional clothing and footwear appropriate to the setting.

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Location
Lancaster Campus
Lancaster is the Red Rose heartland, a student haven full of history and culture. With iconic stone architecture, parkland, and a caring community, this is the place to get involved. The campus houses top-quality facilities tailored to the needs of life-savers, world changers, and future leaders.
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PGCE - Secondary (11-16 years) Biology with QTS