About this course
Do you enjoy maths and have a passion to help young people enjoy it too? Our PGCE Mathematics course prepares you to teach young people aged 11 to 16 across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. At the University of Southampton, you’ll learn the skills and knowledge to teach mathematics with confidence.
Learn how different methods for teaching secondary school maths create a fun and inspired learning environment for mathematics. You'll train in two secondary schools across Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset to build on your practical experience and grow your professional network.
By studying PGCE Mathematics you'll:
- critically assess different teaching styles and resources to develop your own methodology and set of teaching skills
- train to work within a range of different schools
- consider different ways of learning mathematics and how this impacts teaching
- understand how to overcome current challenges in mathematics education
You’ll teach mathematics within the National Curriculum framework and Secondary Curriculum. Your tutors and mentors will help your personal and professional development as you'll get the support you need throughout your learning.
Qualified Teacher Status is awarded for the 11 to 16 age range, the majority of schools in our partnership serve cohorts to match this age group. Trainees are also appointed to posts in the 11 to 18 sector for their NQT year and you may also get the opportunity to teach older students.
Course lead
Your course leader is Rosalyn Hyde. She is a Principal Teaching Fellow in secondary mathematics and has particular interests in initial teacher education and mathematics-specific pedagogy, as well as the effective use of technology in teaching and learning. Ros has considerable experience in writing and training mathematics teachers. She co-edited Mentoring Mathematics Teachers: Supporting and inspiring pre-service and newly qualified teachers, published by Routledge.
She currently works in partnership with the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM), is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and recently completed a PhD study in the field of employment-led initial teacher education.
Course location
This course is based at Highfield.
Awarding body
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
Download the programme specification
The programme specification sets out the learning outcomes of this course and details how the course is taught and assessed.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
You’ll need a 2:2 degree in maths or a related subject.
You’ll need at least a grade 4 or C in GCSE Maths and English GCSE.
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
If you don’t have the required GCSE grades, you can take our GCSE equivalent tests in Maths and English.
We might ask you to take a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course before starting your PGCE, depending on the maths content in your undergraduate degree.
Recognition of professional experience
Recognition of professional experience
If you don’t have the exact entry requirements, we'll consider your application based on your:
- evidence of experience teaching or observing in a school or college
- relevant professional experience
- subject knowledge
- suitability for the course
Got a question?
Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Course structure
This is an intensive 1-year course which you’ll study on a full-time basis.
You’ll spend a minimum of 120 days in two different schools and you’ll attend taught sessions at the University every Friday. You’ll be expected to apply the learning from the taught sessions to your time in school.
During your time in school, you’ll start by observing classes before you are gradually introduced to teaching the whole class. With the support of your school-based mentor, you’ll be expected to quickly develop the skills and confidence to work with whole classes.
If you’d like to progress your qualification, you can apply your credits from the PGCE maths towards a master's.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
For entry in Academic Year 2021-22
Year 1 modules
You must study the following modules:
Learning and assessment
Learning
There is a variety of different learning activities including:
- workshops and seminars
- tutorials
- group activities
- directed study
- independent study and research
- conference days
- guest speakers
Assessment
We'll assess you on your ability to teach and mainly through coursework and assignments, rather than exams.
You’ll be assessed by a combination of:
- 3 assignments; 2 written and 1 assessed presentation
- successful completion of your teaching placement
- completion of a portfolio against the Teachers’ Standards
Explore course modules for full details of learning and assessment.
Dissertation
You will not need to complete a dissertation for this course.
Academic Support
We’ll assign you a personal tutor, and you’ll have access to a senior tutor.
Careers
We welcome students from any background to learn the skills required to teach maths.
Past students have gone on to work in a variety of different roles:
- teaching secondary school maths
- senior managers in schools
- mentor for trainee teachers
- lecturer in higher education
- teaching in special education
- teaching overseas
- personal tutor
Students have also continued their studies with a PhD to specialise further in their specific area of interest.
Careers services at Southampton
We're a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:
- work experience schemes
- CV/resume and interview skills workshops
- networking events
- careers fairs attended by top employers
- a wealth of volunteering opportunities
- study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a thriving entrepreneurship culture. You'll be able to take advantage of:
- our dedicated start-up incubator, Futureworlds
- a wide variety of enterprise events run throughout the year
- our partnership in the world’s number 1 business incubator, SETsquared
Fees, costs and funding
Tuition fees
Fees for a year's study:
- UK students pay £9,250.
- EU and international students pay £19,850.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams.
Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:
Initial Teaching Education funding
Depending on your circumstances, you could get:
a tax-free bursary or scholarship
financial support if you're a parent, have an adult dependant or a disability
a tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of your course
a maintenance loan to help with living costs
Find out about Initial Teaching Education Funding
Other postgraduate funding options
A variety of additional scholarships, grants and bursaries may be available to help you fund your master’s study, both from the University and from other organisations.
Funding for EU and international students
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
How to apply
PGCE course applications are processed through UCAS. When you apply, you'll be taken to the UCAS website where you'll need to register an account with UCAS to submit an application.
Once you've registered with UCAS, you'll be invited to apply to several courses by including their course code in your application.
PGCE course | Course code |
---|---|
Art and Design | 32HL |
English | QX31 |
Geography | F8X1 |
History | V1X1 |
Mathematics | G1X1 |
Modern Languages (French) | R1X1 |
Modern Languages (German) | R2X1 |
Modern Languages (Spanish) | R4X1 |
Physical Education | X9C6 |
Sciences (Biology) | C1X1 |
Sciences (Chemistry) | F1X1 |
Sciences (Physics) | F3X1 |
Physics with Mathematics | F3GX |
Primary | X100 |
Primary with Mathematics | 2DXB |
Application deadlines
UK students
Applications must be received no later than 4 weeks before the start of the course. You must supply all supporting documentation at least 2 weeks before starting your course.
International students
We recommend you apply at least 6 weeks before the start of the course to ensure you're able to meet our requirements and apply for a visa in time.
We cannot guarantee students who do not meet these deadlines will be able to begin their course.
Application assessment fee
We’ll ask you to pay a £50 application assessment fee if you’re applying for any postgraduate taught course that starts in or after September 2021.
This is an extra one-off charge which is separate to your tuition fees. It covers the work and time it takes us to assess your application. You’ll be prompted to pay when you submit your application which won’t progress until you've paid.
If you're a current or former University of Southampton student, or if you're applying for a Master of Research (MRes) degree, you will not need to pay the fee. Find out if you’re exempt on our terms and conditions page.
Supporting information
UCAS process applications for this course. When you apply, they'll give you details of any supporting information or documents you'll need to submit.
Learn more about how to apply with our postgraduate application guide.
What happens after you apply
Following application through UCAS you'll hear back by email from the University. The University has 40 working days to respond to your application, but you'll almost always hear back much sooner than that.
If you get through to the next stage of the process we'll invite you to an interview. This will include a chance to find out more about the course and to ask questions. You'll give a short presentation, complete a short written task and have an interview with tutors. Following the interview, we'll make a decision on whether or not to offer you a conditional place. The decision will be uploaded to UCAS within 5 working days of the interview date.
Interviews will take place online if they are not possible in person. You'll receive an email from the admissions tutor if we'd like to talk to you before offering you a place.
All offers are conditional on enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and health checks.
Equality and diversity
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Got a question?
Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000