Secondary with QTS: Music

This course is available at the university and through School Direct.

Why study with us?

Nurturing and developing a young person’s creative skills can make a huge impact on their life, changing the way they view themselves and giving them new-found confidence. Music can bring young people together and give them a sense of purpose as well as pleasure. Sharing your skills and passion for music can be fulfilling and rewarding for you, but it can also make a difference by inspiring young people. You can foster the same appreciation of music and arouse their interest in really listening, and perhaps in performing and composing too.

In this pioneering course, you will work with your university tutor largely in a school setting, bringing the theories of the classroom into a live context from the outset. You will be immersed rapidly into the role of a teacher and member of staff at an outstanding comprehensive school with a diverse intake. Neurological understanding of musical learning will enhance your teaching and you will have the opportunity to undertake many aspects of running a music department that are not available on traditional PGCE courses. You will also be able to observe and analyse the teaching of your tutor and your peers.

What can this course lead to?

University of Cumbria PGCE Music graduates have a good success rate in gaining teaching posts. With qualified teacher status (QTS) built into the course, you will be able to apply for a position as a secondary school music teacher immediately after qualifying.

Masters credits for the M level modules count towards the credits required to achieve Masters level qualifications.

If, at the end of the course, you decide not to teach, it is important to know that employers value candidates who have followed a professional course of study. The successful completion of a professional degree requires dedication, commitment, good interpersonal and organisational skills and the ability to maintain a positive attitude, all of which are qualities highly sought after in the employment market.

Resources and facilities

There is a designated music area on the Lancaster campus, with two large teaching spaces, a small meeting room and a music technology area. There, you will have access to a range of equipment, including tuned and untuned percussion from around the world, several pianos, guitars, and PC and Mac computers. The school resources boast a professional recording studio and access to versatile performance areas.

Entry requirements See course specific entry requirements listed below.

More about levels and credits

Credit and UCAS requirements Credit: 60 credits UCAS code: W3X1 Selection criteria

• A minimum UK 2:2 honours degree or recognised equivalent qualification is required. A minimum 50% of your degree must be in Music. All successful applicants must have met this requirement by 31 August 2013.

  If you don’t have an undergraduate degree but do have a Masters or other higher qualification, your application will be considered by our academic tutors on a one-to-one basis.

  Practical skills in vocal and/or instrumental music are essential. You also need basic ability as a keyboard player since you will be expected to teach and accompany using this instrument by the time you complete the course.

• GCSE grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics or recognised equivalent qualifications. Preference will be given to those who hold these qualifications at the point of application and all successful applicants must have met this requirement by 31 August 2013.

• Successful completion of the QTS skills test in literacy and numeracy by 31 August 2013.

• You should be able to demonstrate recent experience of working with young people, ideally though not exclusively in a musical context. This might include observing or assisting in a secondary school music department, working with youth music groups or other groups for young people.

• You should have an active interest in a wide range of music and be able to articulate what young people can gain from engagement with music in particular and the arts in general.

• You should be able to display some understanding of the qualities of good teaching, including preparation and planning, resources, understanding the needs of young people and assessing progress.

• You should be able to demonstrate performing skills and general musicianship skills such as simple harmonisation and transposition. At least a basic ability at the piano keyboard is required.

• You should also be interested in pursuing an aspect of music in education as a masters level research project as part of the course.

• These attributes will be assessed through a masters level writing exercise, a 10 minute teaching exercise undertaken with the course tutor and fellow candidates as your class, a performing audition and a face to face interview, which will all be conducted on the same day.

• We strongly recommend that you obtain a minimum of 2-3 days secondary school experience in a mainstream UK secondary school observing a class in your chosen teaching specialism before applying.

• A satisfactory academic (university) reference OR a satisfactory professional reference if more than three years since academic study.

• All candidates must demonstrate professional suitability through interview and must obtain medical and enhanced CRB clearance according to established university procedures.

More detailed information and advice is available on our how to apply page.

Costs

Click the links below to view information on your study type and residence status. If you are unsure of your status, please see the UKCISA website for more information.

University-based students

Home

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £9,000.

As a full-time UK student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which you only start to pay back when you are earning over £21,000 a year if you're from England or £15,795 if you're from Scotland. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan (up to £5,500) and a maintenance grant (up to £3,354). For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.

Teaching Agency bursary

The Teaching Agency awards training bursaries based on subject and the classification of your first degree. For this course, you may be eligible for:

• £9,000 if you have a first class degree
• £4,000 if you have a 2.1

If you have exceptional subject knowledge from another career or postgraduate study (ie PhD or Masters), you may be eligible for a higher bursary than your degree classification would otherwise allow. Find out more about the TA discretionary bursary.

More financial support

Access to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several support funds available to our current students, including:

• Access to Learning Fund
• Utilities trust

EU

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £9,000.

As a full-time EU student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which you only start to pay back when you are earning over £21,000 a year (or the equivalent in your country). For more information about student loans, visit our student finance page.

Teaching Agency bursary

The Teaching Agency awards training bursaries based on subject and the classification of your first degree. For this course, you may be eligible for:

• £9,000 if you have a first class degree
• £4,000 if you have a 2.1

If you have exceptional subject knowledge from another career or postgraduate study (ie PhD or Masters), you may be eligible for a higher bursary than your degree classification would otherwise allow. Find out more about the TA discretionary bursary.

International

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year is £10,800.

Fees are billed annually and may be paid by the student or a sponsor. 75 percent of the annual tuition fees must be paid before or at registration. For students requiring a Tier 4 Student Visa, a deposit of £3,500 is expected as a minimum before a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) will be issued. For more information, visit our international student finance page.

Early payment discount

If you are paying your own fees, you may be eligible for an early payment discount of £1,000. This discount is awarded to students who pay in full before registration.

Additional financial support

Our money doctors will be on hand throughout the year to help you manage your money while you’re in the UK. However, if you do happen to run into financial difficulty during your time here, you may be able to access a small emergency support fund.

School Direct students

Salaried

If you have a salaried school direct place, you won't have to pay a penny; your host school will cover your tuition fees in full. You will not be eligible for any additional funding.

School direct salaries are set by the school and should be in line with unqualified teacher pay scales.

Non-salaried

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £9,000.

As a full-time student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which you only start to pay back when you are earning over £21,000 a year if you're from England or £15,795 if you're from Scotland. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan (up to £5,500) and a maintenance grant (up to £3,354) if you're a UK student. For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.

Teaching Agency bursary

The Teaching Agency awards training bursaries based on subject and the classification of your first degree. For this course, you may be eligible for:

• £9,000 if you have a first class degree
• £4,000 if you have a 2.1

You may receive a 25 percent premium on your bursary if your training is based in a school where more than 35 percent of the pupils are eligible for free school meals.

If you have exceptional subject knowledge from another career or postgraduate study (ie PhD or Masters), you may be eligible for a higher bursary than your degree classification would otherwise allow. Find out more about the TA discretionary bursary.

More financial support

Access to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several support funds available to our current students, including:

• Access to Learning Fund
• Utilities trust

Apply Now

University-based
Visit the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) to apply online.

School Direct
See the School Direct course list for application links.

Modules

• Meeting the Needs of Young People (generic module for all PGCE subjects)
• Music and the Curriculum and Personalisation Agenda
• Small Scale Research for the Beginning Music Teacher
• School placement
• Enrichment activities: deploying your skills in different contexts

For detailed summary of all course content please read our programme specification for this course.

Course summary

Developing and making use of your music skills, you explore teaching methods in all areas across Key Stages 3 and 4, which span ages 11 to 18. You secure the skills you require for the classroom, from the development of learning and teaching programmes to promoting musicianship and performance in schools. While on placement, you have the chance to work with an instrumental teaching service and a community music-making organisation.

We share good practice and professional values with you and we teach you how to nurture diverse musical talents, abilities and cultures. Your professional development includes sessions in school and university, including lectures, demonstrations, exploring specific knowledge, practical work based on guided exploration, problem-solving, music projects, performance with instrumental and vocal ensembles, group work as part of the learning experience, independent learning involving information collection and drafting ideas for subsequent presentation, exploring innovative styles of learning and teaching, and the integration and implementation of electronic technologies.