How final is your PGCE subject?

[pr0crastinating]

Hello, I will be starting my PGCE application for September 2021 in the coming months but was just after some advice on choosing a subject. I know I want to teach secondary science, but am undecided on either Biology or Chemistry. I am also aware that science teachers will teach all 3 up to GCSE and am happy with that.

Ideally id like to opportunity to teach both up to A-Level in the future (not necessarily at the same time) but dont know whether that is possible without undertaking 2 seperate PGCEs.

My degree is life science based so much more Biology than chemistry, but I have A*s in both at GCSE and A-Level (2013 and 2015 respectively).

Presumably, if i opt for chemistry (largely due to the bursary and job prospects) I would have to also complete a SKE? How would this work in terms of timings and applications, would it be organised for me by the PGCE provider? Would this also then mean I would only have the option to be a chemistry teacher at the higher level in future?

Apologies for the million questions this is just all very new to me so trying to get my head around it!

TIA :)

Hi there,

I started off doing a secondary PGCE (I'm a primary class teacher now as secondary wasn't quite the right fit for me). My specialisms were French and German, but I was advised that French and Spanish would make me more 'marketable'.

Once I had secured my place to study for my PGCE at university, I did a remote SKE in Spanish via TES. They weren't great as a provider, to be honest, but there are plenty of good universities offering online SKEs. Although it was a lot of work, it meant that I could continue work until I began my PGCE full time, which was the right choice for me. I also really enjoyed learning something new in my own time. Is this something that has been suggested to you? Might be a good fit as you've got plenty of time to squeeze in your SKE before the start of the PGCE year.

Hope that helps!

Go for Chemistry - harder to find good Chemistry teachers. Plenty of biology teachers around.

Not many schools will let you teach both subjects at A-Level and science departments are large departments like English and Maths. A-Level teaching tends to be shared as the reward to teaching KS3.

You can only do one PGCE :)
Definitely chemistry... better still, physics! They're like hen's teeth.

There are definitely more biology teachers around and the bursaries may be higher for chemistry but honestly I'd go for the one that you have the most passion/excitement for. You're the one that has to teach this for years to come and it will really help if you really enjoy it. Once you have a PGCE, you are a teacher and can technically teach any subject your school feels you are able to. You don't have to qualify in different subjects.

I trained for secondary science and I'm now a primary SEN teacher. You can definitely change!

Agree with PP to go for chemistry, more difficult to recruit to and you will therefore have better choice of schools- and enjoying teaching is ALL about finding the right school.

Not final at all. Especially within science. Agree with others that Chemistry will be more in demand.

Thank you all! Very helpful :) Will crack on with my application x