We are looking forward to working with you as you train to become a secondary school teacher. Your studies will be challenging and hard work, but very rewarding.

Preparation tasks

Please complete the preparation tasks outlined in our Welcome Pack before you start the course. We will add activities and information (such as timetables) as we get closer to the start of the course. Please check back regularly.

In addition to gaining QTS at the end of the year, you have the option of gaining a PGCE by undertaking some additional study during the course. More information about this option will be given to you at the start of the course in September. To consider whether to opt for the PGCE, you could talk to your colleagues in school when you start.

Getting to know your school

Look at the most recent Ofsted report

• What type of school is it?
• Number of pupils on roll?
• How many boys/girls?
• How many children with English as an Additional Language (EAL)?
• What are the main linguistic groups?
• How many children have Free School Meals (FSM)?
• How many children attract Pupil Premium funding?
• How many children have Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
• What do you notice about pupil progress?
• What does Ofsted recommend the school should be doing to improve?
• Look at the OfSTED Data
• How does pupil progress compare with other schools locally and nationally?

Look at the school’s website:

• How is the curriculum delivered?
• What extra-curricular opportunities are available to children?
• What can you discern about the ethos of the school?

Your course will start in your school, on the first day of their term.

We look forward to meeting you during Welcome Week w/c 9th September 2024.

General background reading to support the Secondary School Direct and PGCE courses

All pre-course general and subject-specific readings can be found in the Welcome Pack

You can pre-order or purchase any of the books mentioned on this page through our University Bookshop.

It is useful to note that the University Bookshop offers 10% discount on most titles in print and have some price-beating book bundles. They also price match Amazon on core texts recommended in the module handbooks you will receive when you start in September.