PGCE Geography

Tutor: Jane Ferretti

Geography is an important and dynamic subject and has an important role in educating young people to live successfully in a diverse society and a changing world. This course will help you to develop teaching strategies and skills so that you can use your enthusiasm to interest and motivate pupils. It is important to make learning enjoyable and to inform and hopefully inspire those you teach.

Sheffield offers excellent opportunities for Geography PGCE student teachers. The Geography PGCE course is regarded very highly both locally and nationally. It received top grades in all aspects inspected in the 2000-2001 OFSTED inspection, these grades were confirmed in the inspections of 2004 and 2007. The course is planned to promote teaching as a research-based profession in which critical understanding is developed alongside practical competence.

The Geography curriculum course aims to develop student teachers´ confidence to enable them to teach in a wide variety of situations. In some university-based sessions the emphasis is on developing strategies for whole class teaching. In other sessions alternative teaching and learning strategies are introduced including the use of group work, simulation games and role-play exercises. There is emphasis in the course on pupils´ active engagement in the learning of Geography and reference to the needs of pupils aged 11-18 at all levels of attainment. The course takes into account the requirements of examination specifications at GCSE and A Level and the Geography National Curriculum, and enables student teachers to develop a critical understanding of recent developments. The theoretical foundations which underlie approaches to teaching and learning are considered, particularly with regard to how these relate to Geography teaching in schools.

The use and application of Information and Communications Technology is now a major feature of the work of teachers and there will be opportunities for student teachers to gain practical experience in this area, including using Interactive Whiteboards which are now found in many schools. There is also an emphasis on how computers can be integrated into teaching to help pupils understand geography including the use of GIS. The course will also help students to develop expertise in fieldwork activities and working with pupils outside the classroom. All students will have the opportunity to attend a weekend course at Cranedale Field Studies centre in Yorkshire to find out more about teaching Geography in the field. Some student teachers will also have the opportunity to participate in field trips organised by schools.

Most of the assessed work encourages reflection and investigation of classroom practice, related to a range of ideas gained from wider reading.

All PGCE students are asked to complete two School Experience placements in two different schools, first for seven weeks between October and December and then from late January until June. There are also opportunities to visit at least three other schools during the course. The Partnership schools used for Geography are very supportive and give student teachers the opportunity to work with pupils from a wide variety of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Several of the schools used for Geography have been in the forefront of geographical education in this country for many years, and many are involved in innovative approaches to education. Student teachers will have the benefit of working alongside teachers in these schools.

Geographically, Sheffield and its surroundings provide an interesting area for local studies and field-work. The border of the Peak District National Park is within five miles of the University of Sheffield and the towns and cities of South Yorkshire provide good examples of urban renewal and redevelopment. Furthermore, the national headquarters of the Geographical Association (GA) is in Sheffield and students are expected to become active members of the GA.

We are looking to recruit student teachers with a Geography degree or a joint degree where Geography is at least 50%. This is an academic course and we look at degree classification and also take into account A-level grades. It is essential for applicants to have a real enthusiasm for Geography and some experience of working with young people in the 11-18 age group. We expect applicants to have spent time in a secondary school either working, volunteers or as a visitor and to have spent some time with the Geography department if possible. We look favourably on people who have taken the opportunity to travel either before University or after graduating.

"It was not until I was sat in my first interview that I realised how good the Sheffield PGCE Geography course is. The range of activities such as the Malham field trip, writing a scheme of work, producing displays, the A level marking day by Edexcel chief examiner and PSHE training to name but a few set us apart from other PGCE candidates. We have been snapped up fast by schools in Sheffield and beyond. It has been a fantastic year, and we are all looking forward to an enjoyable career in teaching."

Geography student teacher

Valuing Diversity

The School of Education values diversity and promotes the development of a diverse teaching workforce. We are happy to make any appropriate and reasonable adjustments to enable students with a disability to gain Qualified Teacher Status. In order for this to be possible, we invite anyone with a disability to contact the School´s Disabilities Officer (Dr Anita Franklin) by telephone 0114 2228169 or e-mail. Any information can be disclosed in confidence and will be used in order to consider appropriate adjustments to our provision, including the interview process.

PGCE Enquiries:

T: 0114 2228080, 0114 2228081
E: ite@sheffield.ac.uk