PGCE Drama (QTS)

We welcome your application regardless of your background or experience.

For this course, ideally, we are looking for these qualifications:

An A Level (or equivalent) in Drama or a performance-related subject is preferred. This would be a requirement if your degree subject is less closely related.

If this is not the case, you’ll need to prove your subject knowledge in some other way. You may be asked to complete Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) training prior to starting the course.

We know that drama is at the centre of a strong arts curriculum. It allows pupils to gain confidence in their personal skills as well as challenge their creative thinking through devising and performing physical theatre.

Teachers adept in drama are able to educate and inspire pupils, develop their creativity and shape vital skills that impact pupils' performance across a range of other subjects.

You will be assessed to meet the national standards for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with drama as the main subject. The course offers a bespoke pathway depending on your degree specialism and other related experience.

The PGCE Drama (QTS) course offers a diverse and inclusive research-informed programme that allows trainee teachers to thrive in a challenging learning environment. It draws upon vibrant experiences in both university and school-based training, that will prepare you to be a robust early career practitioner. You will be introduced to the broad scope of drama as a curriculum subject across the secondary age range.

We personalise the course based on your interests and needs. We strive to promote adaptive, critical thinkers who can respond to the needs of children in multicultural, multilingual and multi-faith settings.

The course structure facilitates enrichment opportunities to think and learn beyond the classroom and campus. This can include a special school, a theatre and more. Our partnership with Trestle Theatre Company allows trainees to explore their creativity and make strong links between their love of drama and the practical skills they need to teach this subject in school. Partnerships with the National Theatre and British Library enhance your professional practice and reflect our process-based training approach.

What you will gain

Graduates of the PGCE Drama (QTS) course are confident, inquisitive and dynamic teachers. They see their entry into employment as an opportunity to further develop and build on the skills acquired in their PGCE year.

As an enthusiastic drama teacher, you will facilitate a learning journey for pupils where progression is promoted through oracy and performance as well as written evaluation and analysis. Through sustained exposure to a classroom environment, you will learn to exercise initiative and sound judgement when confronted by challenging situations

The diverse teaching placements enable you to understand, critically evaluate and respond to the needs of children in multicultural, multilingual and multi-faith settings and schools in an international, urban environment. Many of our graduates have their first teaching job at their placement school.

In addition to developing the knowledge and skills required to teach your chosen subject, you will also be able to identify and evaluate effective strategies for assessing children's learning in the selected subject, through formative and summative assessment strategies. You will understand the importance of literacy, numeracy and ICT in delivering an effective, all-round curriculum.