The PGCE Secondary Science courses at Cardiff Met offer three distinct pathways to the award of Qualified Teacher Status and are available through English or Welsh-medium routes. Depending on your subject background, you have the option to choose either Biology with Science, Chemistry with Science or Physics with Science, specialising in teaching the 11-18 age range.

Teaching your subject specialism at secondary level, along with wider aspects of science, gives you the opportunity to share your enthusiasm and to use creative and engaging activities to inspire the next generation into the many careers relying on scientific expertise.

Key Information

Available to study in English and Welsh

1 year full-time

Priority Subject Incentive Bursary

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

About PGCE Sciences

All science-based sessions at university will be delivered in our well-equipped laboratories that have been modelled specifically to replicate school provision. Taught content will include topics such as the nature of science; how students learn; meeting the needs of individual learners including challenging the more able and talented; effective teaching strategies for science and teaching and managing practical work safely. As you would expect, there is a strong emphasis on practical work, as we believe young minds engage best with science through ‘doing it’.

Developments within the Curriculum for Wales place Biology, Chemistry and Physics within the wider Science & Technology Area of Learning and Experience. To support this structure, you will also gain experience of working alongside those undertaking Design & Technology and ICT courses.

Reputation & Teaching Excellence

The PGCE Science courses are managed and taught by highly skilled staff all of whom have considerable experience of teaching at secondary school level and within Higher Education. Additionally, we are supported by a highly qualified technician who has significant expertise, gained both in industrial and education environments.

Employability & Careers

The PGCE aim 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. At university, your specialist sessions will prepare you to teach your subject up to and including A level, whilst additional science-based sessions will develop your confidence in teaching wider aspects of the science curriculum. At school, you can expect to teach all aspects of science to lower year groups, with the possibility of some wider science teaching up to GCSE and sixth form experience of your specialism in at least one of your two placement schools.

Science is also recognised as a priority subject by the Welsh Government, and so all successful graduates will receive a £15,000 bursary while you train in Wales for Science and meet eligibility criteria.

“I was always passionate about Science and Maths right from my school days. I believe Physics has a strong connection to numeracy than any other Science subject. So, I chose Physics for my degree with Maths and followed by doing a master’s in Physics. Studying the PGCE was a wonderful experience for me, adapting to a foreign classroom culture, gaining confidence, making connections with fellow student teachers, staff on school placement and the university tutors.”

Dhanya Cherukudi Mattuvayal, PGCE Secondary (Physics with Science)

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“I chose to go into secondary teaching because I absolutely love my subject. I’m so passionate for science – I really want to put that enthusiasm on to my students. I knew that, as soon as I set foot in that classroom, that was definitely the career path that I needed to do.”

Zoe Fullbrook, PGCE Secondary (Biology with Science)

“The PGCE at Cardiff Met has made me confident on so many levels. At the beginning I thought I will start to be a Teaching Assistant, but that wasn’t true. In the first week of teaching on placement I was teaching completely, teaching 2 classes, 60 children, that’s a lot of responsibility. But that’s the beauty of it. To throw someone in at the deep end, to actually understand that this is real life, this is what we have to do. And that challenged me and pushed me further and made me confident.”

Monjurul Islam, PGCE Secondary (Biology with Science)

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“I have always been interested in teaching, but after graduating in biochemistry and physiology I moved to France and embarked on a career linked to communication of science in the media. Although it might seem a little late in the day to be thinking about a career change at the age of 62, I was very admiring of Cardiff Met for taking a chance on an unusual profile of applicant and grateful for the chance they gave me to do the Secondary PGCE Chemistry with Science. It has lived up to all my expectations. I’ve been fascinated by every aspect of the theoretical and practical aspects of teaching.”

Lucy Vincent, PGCE Secondary (Chemistry with Science)

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Take a virtual tour of our Science teaching laboratories at the Cyncoed Campus.

Our large modern practical laboratories are used for science-based teaching on a range of PGCE and BA Education Courses. They are intended to replicate well-equipped school laboratory spaces that give student teachers opportunities to develop vital skills that will support them in demonstrating and facilitating practical activities for themselves in school settings.

Contact Us

For further information about the programme please contact Ceri Pugh, PGCE Secondary Sciences Programme Leader at cpugh2@cardiffmet.ac.uk.