We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2026/27 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2025/26 courses.
Study our PGCE Secondary English at the Institute of Education and benefit from highly experienced tutors and consistently high employment rates.
At the University of Reading, we recognise the importance of teaching children to think, create, and explore the world through language and literature.
Training to teach English at the University of Reading is a dynamic, innovative, and practical experience. You’ll share your passion for English literature and develop professional skills to become an excellent teacher.
Your learning will take place through a blend of pedagogy sessions, professional studies, and school experience. You’ll engage in about 50 three-hour taught subject sessions and 10 professional studies sessions.
Throughout the course, you’ll learn:
This Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary English course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach the 11-18 age group in secondary schools in England and Wales.
You will be taught by highly experienced University tutors, guest presenters from the Institute of Education, and several of our partnership schools.
The evidence-informed sessions will enable you to explore the connections between research and practice in a collaborative and stimulating environment. You'll be supported by University-trained subject mentors, and your progress will be monitored closely by University tutors.
This course is designed in collaboration with our strong schools partnership, ensuring that it meets your needs as a learner and the needs of the children you teach. At secondary level, we have relationships with around 90 schools in the local and surrounding area. It is a testament to the strength of these partnerships and the reputation of our graduates, that most schools in Berkshire employ at least one graduate from the University of Reading.
Placements enable you to develop the skills and knowledge valued by employers. You'll build your confidence in the classroom and gain practical teaching experience.
Placements also provide you with the opportunity to connect with potential employers and build your professional network.
On your secondary PGCE course, you'll carry out school placements in contrasting educational contexts, ensuring you receive a broad range of experiences. Your placements will cover the full 11–18 age range, and you will visit at least one primary school as part of your studies.
In your school placement, you will:
We offer a flexible and broad range of educational environments. You'll have the opportunity to gain experience in:
This course is linked with the National Association for the Teaching of English (NATE), offering great networking and professional opportunities in a community of English teachers.
At the University of Reading, we believe that climate and sustainability education is everyone's responsibility. You will be given access to training that enables you to incorporate climate education into your teaching, as part of our National Climate Education Action Plan.
You will learn about:
Visit our Partnering for the Planet site to find out more about the University of Reading’s world-leading work in climate science.
98% of our research is of international standing (Research Excellence Framework 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Education).
For more information, please visit the Institute of Education website.
