Get into teaching with us
Whether it's within primary, secondary or further education, teaching is a rewarding, inspiring and exciting career where no two days are the same.
Whatever stage of education you're at, there's no better place to get your teaching qualification than here. We've been a respected teacher training provider for decades, and our secondary school teacher training is rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted.
Today, we offer a number of different routes into teaching. Whichever type of teacher training you choose, you'll get the hands-on experience you need to progress, thanks to our partnerships with schools and colleges across the region.
You'll not only gain the skills and knowledge you'll need to become a teacher, through our connections you'll also open the door to job opportunities once you graduate.
There's more good news if you're a final year student at the University of Portsmouth or a graduate of one of our undergraduate degrees - you'll be guaranteed an interview if you apply for our Primary PGCE or Further Education and Skills PGCE courses, regardless of your subject or when you graduated.
Study your PGCE with us
Discover our PGCE courses that can set you on the path to becoming a teacher. Whether you're interested in Primary, Secondary or Further Education, our PGCE courses will help you start a rewarding career in teaching.
Andrew: I really do think that people who come to Portsmouth to teach here will stay here for a really long time. At Portsmouth, we offer three different programmes for teacher training.
We have a Primary programme which you can come on as a post-grad or an undergrad.
We have a Secondary teacher training programme across a range of subject areas and we have an F.E. programme so if you want to teach 14 year olds to adults, the Further Education programme is ideal.
Tanya: The reason that I selected the Further Education strand rather than the Secondary was purely because of my specialism.
Being able to teach in Further Education meant that I was able to teach fashion in its fullest.
Andrew: We want the curriculum we offer at Portsmouth to be ambitious and we want it to be personalised for the students.
We put training in to help our trainees to really think about the needs of children that they're going to encounter and I'm really proud that our courses are tailored to be able to do that.
Tanya: When you first start, you will do a week or a few weeks specifically in university learning new skills, etc. and you then go on to get selected or given your placement.
Andrew: If you're on the Primary or Secondary programme, you have to train in two different schools and that would be the same on any teacher training programme that you're on.
We try to make sure there are contrasts in the placements to really give you a range of experiences and different types of pupils. That ultimately makes you more employable.
Jack: [For me], placement one at The Priory School in Southsea enabled me to really focus on behaviour management skills.
At St Edmund’s Catholic School for my second placement. I was then able to really hone in and practice my subject knowledge. It then allowed me to observe how outstanding lessons were delivered.
Andrew: On the Further Education programme, you spend the whole year in one college and that also has advantages because you really get to know those pupils over a very long period of time.
We put wellbeing and support for trainees right at the heart of what we do, and I think that's what's unique about Portsmouth.
You can train to teach anywhere, but you're not going to necessarily get that level of individual support from everybody.
Jack: I want to be a teacher because I want to make a difference. I really want to see that I can deliver English lessons and teach English in exciting, stimulating and creative ways.
The University of Portsmouth has been a great experience for this PGCE journey.
Tanya: If I'm honest, the University of Portsmouth has my heart. It's given me everything that I needed, from my undergraduate to my teaching degree and then beyond that as well. What more could you want really?
When I first knew that I wanted to get into teaching, I spoke to a couple of friends who I knew were teachers, Portsmouth came up a few times as having a really good programme.
I feel like I want to get in the classroom when I’m not in the classroom. I keep getting excited about getting back in there and teaching the kids because it’s always so different.
Discover more about our teacher training
Find out more about the types of teacher training degrees and courses we offer, as well as how to fund and apply for them, by following the links below or in the left hand menu.
Become a primary school teacher
Develop the skills you need to become a primary teacher with our primary teaching degrees, including extensive practical experience on teaching placements.
Become a secondary school teacher
Explore the different ways you can train to teach in a secondary school with us, including our full or part-time PGCE courses in a range of subjects, rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted.
Become a further education teacher
Explore the further education teaching degrees and courses we offer, which enable you to teach in sixth forms, colleges and training centres.
Subject knowledge enhancement courses
Need to fill some knowledge gaps before you start your teacher training? Boost your understanding and confidence with our subject knowledge enhancement courses.
Fees and funding for teacher training
Find out more about how much teacher training costs, as well the options available to you for funding, including scholarships and bursaries.
English language and translation training for teachers
Improve your English language or translation and interpreting skills while also experiencing British culture on our of our short courses, designed for teaching professionals from international institutions.
