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.
Develop your teaching skills, and qualify as a secondary physics teacher, on our PGCE Secondary Education with Physics course at the Institute of Education.
To find out more visit the Institute of Education website.
You’ll develop your skills throughout the programme so that you are ready to share your love of learning and knowledge about science with the children you'll teach.
You will be trained to teach biology, physics, and chemistry up to GCSE and your specialism to A level.
You'll develop the professional skills to:
You'll gain the expertise to:
The Institute of Education is a high-quality teacher training facility with extensive support, pastoral care, and excellent employment rates for graduates.
Our distinctive secondary PGCE courses are planned and delivered in collaboration with partner schools, other child-based settings and the local community.
At the Institute of Education, we have created an open, inclusive environment that promotes a sense of wellbeing and belonging. You’ll benefit from an experienced community of academics, with a breadth of expertise and experience of influencing education policy.
We pride ourselves on creating and nurturing a community where students are recognised and valued as individuals.
You'll learn through a series of lectures, practical seminars and workshops, where interactive and discussion-based techniques will encourage you to engage, reflect and challenge.
Some of our staff have national or international reputations as experts in their fields, and their research directly informs your learning.
Alongside University of Reading tutors, you will be taught and guided by a team of committed and experienced University-trained school mentors.
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:
Our PGCE science courses have links with the Association for Science Education, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics, and the Faraday Institute.
Other academic departments at the University of Reading also provide guest speakers for our education sessions.
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.
The University of Reading's Institute of Education is rated in the top quartile of education departments in the UK. 98% of our research is of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Education).
Discover more about our research:
