The PGCE Religious Education (RE) programme at Cardiff Met offers a direct pathway to the award of Qualified Teacher Status and is available through English and Welsh medium. The course will fully prepare you for teaching Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) or Religious Education in secondary schools in Wales or further afield.

It will give you a strong understanding of the importance of RVE as a mandatory subject in the Curriculum for Wales and how to teach it in secondary schools. You will gain an excellent understanding of the legislation and guidance surrounding RVE and RE in Wales and England.

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 Religious Education

The course will enable you to build excellent subject knowledge and give you a deep understanding of the pedagogies needed to become an excellent subject practitioner. Through research and enquiry, you will explore current debates in RE and RVE to support you in working with our Cardiff Partnership schools. The secondary RE programme will give you the confidence to teach religious and non-religious worldviews and contemporary issues and topics across the 11-18 age range, including GCSE and A level. You will have the opportunity to work closely with different Humanities subjects and Areas of Learning and Experience. Additionally, you will be given opportunities to work collaboratively with primary PGCE student teachers on curriculum design with a focus on progression for all learners.

You will be able to share your enthusiasm for the subject and use creative and engaging activities to inspire the next generation into a range of careers where RE and RVE is highly valued. In a world full of ethical and moral challenges, you will enable learners to develop an understanding of religion, belief, culture, community and cynefin which can help to nurture a sense of place and belonging.

Reputation & Teaching Excellence

The PGCE RE programme is highly regarded by schools, leaders and teachers in Wales, nationally and internationally. University sessions are exciting, challenging and engaging. The subject tutor has wide-ranging teaching experience in a variety of different schools and further education settings, in several different roles including as Head of RE, as well as extensive experience as a subject adviser and consultant. Educational research is an integral part of the programme together with practical experience and support from your subject tutor and subject mentor. 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 the taught provision.

Employability & Careers

The PGCE Religious Education aims to prepare student teachers to be highly skilled, confident, critically reflective, and innovative practitioners who are committed to life-long professional learning and the education of young people. Career prospects following successful completion of the programme at Cardiff Partnership is extremely positive. Most graduates secure offers of full-time work immediately after completing the PGCE programme and many continue to quickly progress into positions of responsibility. The demand for Welsh-medium RVE teachers is particularly high.

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

Develop and refine your subject knowledge and your teaching philosophy. Think carefully about why you want to teach the subject and the relevance of RE or RVE to twenty-first century schools. Research the recent changes to the subject in Wales including reading the relevant sections of Humanities AoLE curriculum guidance on the Hwb website. Explore the WJEC GCSE and A level specifications, past papers and Examiners’ reports. Make visits to places of significance to people of faith and belief and think about how learners will benefit from such experiences.

Contact Us

For further information about the programme please contact Paula Webber, PGCE Secondary Religious Education Programme Leader at pwebber@cardiffmet.ac.uk.