The Secondary Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is a one-year (36 week) academic course that trains graduates to be secondary school teachers of Modern Languages. The PGCE course has been designed to train teachers to practise as a subject specialist teacher for the secondary age range (11-16). Trainees are assessed against the standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) across the age range. Trainees will also often gain experience of the 16-18 age range, although they won't be formally assessed in this phase.

The Modern Languages PGCE explores all aspects of teaching and learning with a balance of theory and practice. The course is active and practical, allowing trainees to develop professional competence through work undertaken in schools and within the University. Trainees work with young people, develop their expertise in their specialist subject area, share and discuss educational issues and study relevant educational research. The course is just the beginning of what UWE hope will be a process of continual professional development throughout a challenging and rewarding career.

As a trainee teacher, students will complete a minimum of 120 days in school on placement practice. This will take place in at least two contrasting schools, in blocks of no less than six weeks, during which time they will be expected to demonstrate effective progress in their own practice and have a positive impact on pupil progress over time.