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Secondary PGCE : Art

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Our PGCE Art & Design course is rigorous and stimulating with specialist tutors working in partnership with experienced mentors in schools. We have connections with local museums, such as the Fitzwilliam and Kettle's Yard with their internationally acclaimed collections, and a purpose-built specialist studio in the Faculty.

We aim to draw upon and develop our trainees' range of skills and understanding in art, craft and design within the contexts of education and schooling. Emphasis is placed upon trainees themselves being their most important resource, working together and sharing skills. We seek to promote a questioning and critical approach to art teaching, addressing fundamental issues relating to art, craft and design in education. You can follow the work of our PGCE Art & Design trainees on the course Instagram page: @cambridge_art_pgce.

The art PGCE at Cambridge was exhilarating. Faculty staff are exceptionally supportive and informative, precisely what you need on an intensive PGCE course. More importantly, the faculty of education is equipped with a huge studio, perfect for any budding art teacher.


Bursary
Home students in 2024-25 will be eligible for a DfE bursary. See the DfE 'Get into Teaching' website for more details.


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Who is this course for?

Aimed at academic studio practitioners, the course is ideally suited to those who have a degree in any art, craft or design subject, including history of art.

We occasionally take people whose degree is in another area altogether as long as their portfolio and performance at interview demonstrates that their subject knowledge and skills are at least degree level.


PGCE student group

What will I study?

The course examines areas such as the development of children's imagery, intercultural approaches, critical and contextual studies and the role of language. Practicing teachers and other professionals are actively involved throughout the course, including assessment of trainee teachers' progress.

We aim to examine concepts in education in relation to contemporary art and design practice, as well as examining concepts in relation to current educational practice.

We study art education as an epistemologically discrete area of study, in addition to concepts related to art and education.


PGCE study group Faculty of Education Cambridge

How will I study it?

The subject will be taught via seminars and one to one tutorials.  We aim to draw upon and develop our trainees' range of skills and understanding in art, craft and design within the contexts of education and schooling.

Emphasis is placed upon trainees themselves being their most important resource, working together and sharing skills.

We seek to promote a questioning and critical approach to art teaching, addressing fundamental issues relating to art, craft and design in education.


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Advice for applicants

It is important that prospective students note that they must demonstrate portfolio evidence of competence in a studio skill (such as drawing).

It is expected that all candidates will be familiar with ICT; it is desirable for candidates to be proficient in art and design-related software such as Photoshop.

For full application details visit our PGCE admissions page.

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How the course prepares me for leadership roles?

We anticipate that graduates from this course will be leaders in their subject; past trainees have for example moved directly into Head of Department positions and others have, in due course, become teacher educators themselves.

Art and design education at Cambridge is rapidly acquiring an international reputation for its work, particularly in relation to the quality of teaching and learning in the subject.


Student studying

How does this fit in with the MEd?

PGCE Art & Design students have in the past opted to follow the researching practice MEd or the Arts, Culture and Creativity course; some have opted to continue their studies into PhD.

The PGCE course is tailored to individuals' requirements, with emphasis being on their ability to articulate their own philosophy of art and design education and to be rigorous educational researchers.

For more information, visit the Master of Education (MEd) page.