Almost every young person at secondary level loves music! You’ll find them listening to their favourite bands and singers whenever they have some down time. Plus, there’s that group of pupils who live and breathe music: you’ll find them in the department every break and lunch time forming bands, singing their favourite songs, or practising their instruments. As a musician, you’ll have the opportunity to spend your working day sharing the subject you love with young people and hearing their creative work take shape. You’ll also get to know pupils outside the classroom through the extra-curricular activities such as concerts and shows, seeing a different side of the young people in your school.

Key Information

Available to study in English and Welsh

1 year full-time

For entry requirements, pre-entry tests and how to apply, visit the PGCE Secondary course page.

About PGCE Music

When you study the Secondary PGCE Music at Cardiff Met you’ll already be educated to a high standard in music (whether that’s through a ‘classical’ music degree or a degree in music technology, production or song writing – which are all very much in demand with pupils). We’ll help you translate that subject knowledge and passion for music into learning experiences that ensure that every young person you teach is included in high-quality musical experiences.

Reputation & Teaching Excellence

On campus, you’ll have practical music sessions in specialist spaces which allow you to develop your music pedagogies, whether that’s teaching pupils to compose using music technology or perform rock music in the classroom. You will be guided by specialist tutors who have extensive experience as teachers and leaders of music. You will also be supported by our technical demonstrator in music and live production technologies.

Research and enquiry activities are embedded within the programme to deepen and expand your thinking and we work closely with all our Partnership Schools to provide our students with the best clinical practice experiences. Guest speakers from our Partnership Schools and external organisations enrich and enhance the taught provision.

Employability & Careers

We will support you to develop as high-quality music teachers who can make music come to life and deliver lessons which are inclusive but will challenge and excite all learners. Career prospects following successful completion of the programme at Cardiff Partnership are extremely positive. Almost all graduates secure offers of full-time work before completing the PGCE programme and many continue to quickly progress into positions of responsibility.

What’s the best way to prepare for studying a PGCE in Music?

Develop and refine your subject knowledge and your teaching philosophy. Think carefully about why you want to teach the subject and the relevance of music in the context of the new Curriculum for Wales.

We strongly recommend observing the subject being taught in a mainstream secondary classroom: there are many contexts in which music is taught, and the mainstream secondary classroom is just one of them. Remember that music is a very broad subject area and, while you don’t need to be an expert in all of them, you do need to be committed to broadening your mind beyond your own musical specialism so that you can serve all of your pupils. Talk to a secondary music teacher and find out what the job involves so that you know what you’re signing up for! As a musician educated to degree level, it’s likely that you’ll perform, compose or create music to a very high level. How will you make the subject accessible to young people who don’t engage with music outside the classroom?

“You build strong networks with fellow music teachers who are up to date with the most current research in the education sector. Alongside expert guidance from mentors and lecturers, you learn collaboratively with teachers from other disciplines, sharing experiences and techniques during designated cross-curricular days. The specialist equipment ensures you are prepared to teach any classroom instrument. From steel pans to rock bands, the Music department at Cardiff Met has it all!”

Bethany Durston, PGCE Secondary (Music)

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Contact Us

For further information about the programme please contact Tom Breeze, PGCE Secondary Music Programme Leader at tbreeze@cardiffmet.ac.uk.