{"id":272438,"date":"2026-02-23T10:51:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T10:51:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.edgehill.ac.uk\/?p=272438"},"modified":"2026-03-08T15:32:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T15:32:31","slug":"guide-to-postgraduate-teacher-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edgehill.ac.uk\/news\/2026\/02\/guide-to-postgraduate-teacher-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to postgraduate teacher training"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \n \n \n Guide to postgraduate teacher training <\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking to train as a teacher after getting your undergraduate degree, the first thing to decide is what age range you\u2019d like to teach. You can choose from early years, primary, secondary, or Further Education and Skills (FES). Primary and secondary teachers will work mainly in schools, while FES teachers work in colleges, sixth form colleges, or a range of adult education centres and training providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To teach at secondary or FES level, you\u2019ll also need to choose a specific subject. And for primary teacher training, you may be able to narrow down your age specialism, depending on where you study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve chosen an age range and a subject (if applicable), you\u2019ll be able to apply for a recognised teacher training programme. These allow you to gain recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) on completion, which is required to work as a teacher in the majority of schools in England and Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PGCE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most common postgraduate qualification for primary and secondary teaching is a PGCE<\/a><\/strong>, which is a Level 7 qualification awarded by universities. It\u2019s possible to obtain QTS without a PGCE if you’ve done an undergraduate teacher training degree, but for postgraduate qualifications, the PGCE is the most well-recognised. Edge Hill University offers a range of PGCE courses, and we\u2019ve been a recognised teacher training provider for over 140 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can choose between a university-led and school-led PGCE course. Both options will give you practical experience in schools, but the support you receive, the way you apply, the funding you receive, and the time spent in schools will differ depending on the route you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Completing a PGCE with a university will allow you to access a range of support, from personal tutors to placement mentors, and you\u2019ll spend time in lectures, seminars and group sessions with other trainee teachers when you\u2019re not out on school placements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find out more about school-based teacher training programmes, we\u2019d recommend looking at the government\u2019s website on training to be a teacher<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PGDiT or PGDE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re training to teach in FES, you\u2019ll usually need to complete a teacher training course in post-14 education, which will prepare you to pursue Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills Status (QTLS) when you begin your career. At Edge Hill University, we offer a Postgraduate Diploma in Further Education and Skills<\/a><\/strong>, which is an ideal first step towards training to teach in further education.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n Our teacher training partnerships<\/span>\n

At Edge Hill, we have a proud tradition of teacher training and we\u2019re committed to developing the very best teachers, and continued success of Edge Hill University as a provider of Initial Teacher Education is due to the well-established partnerships we have with our schools, colleges and settings. Learn more from our partners and students about the recent Ofsted ‘outstanding’ rating. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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