Teaching Dance in Schools - Training to Teach through the PGCE Route
Training to Teach through the PGCE Route
The PGCE in Dance is one of the main routes to become a specialist dance teacher working in secondary schools. The PGCE is a one-year full time course. Trainees have to pay the tuition fee but may be eligible for a non-taxable training bursary. Further information about fees and bursaries is available from the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). The number of places for PGCE dance is very limited and currently, the course is only offered by the following higher education providers:
University of Bedfordshire
University of Brighton
University of Exeter
Royal Academy of Dance (for 14-19 age range)
To apply for a PGCE you need to:
Complete an application through the GTTR
To meet entry requirements you will need to:
- have a related first degree with a minimum of 50% Dance (classification required depends on each institutions criteria)
- Grade C or above (or a recognised equivalent) in the GCSE English and GCSE Maths
- supply verifiable references
- have previous teaching experience with children or young adults
- be successful in a formal interview and practical tests (e.g. a prepared solo and a teaching task).
During the training you will be expected to:
- with support at the beginning of the course, audit your subject knowledge, ICT and teaching skills and during your training, monitor your progress against the Professional Standards for QTS
- attend regular lectures at the university
- teach under the supervision and guidance of a subject specialist mentor within 2 secondary schools for a minimum of 120 days in total working to an individual training plan
- teach a balanced timetable of Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and dance examination courses
- plan, deliver and evaluate lessons, schemes and units of work
- take part in the monitoring and assessing of pupils work
- undertake a short placement in a primary school
- attend weekly meetings with your subject specialist mentor for systematic monitoring of your progress
- attend school based professional sessions on whole school issues
- keep a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate you have met all the standards
- research and complete a number of written assignments both university and school based
- take and pass the literacy, numeracy and ICT Skills Tests
On satisfactory completion of all elements of the PGCE course and the QTS Skills Tests you will be awarded either a Post Graduate Certificate of Education* with the recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status or a Professional Graduate Certificate of Education with the recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status.
Further information is available on the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) website.
* The Post Graduate Certificate of Education includes a specified number of Masters level credits.