Secondary Education English

Secondary education in English prepares you to teach one of the most important subjects in the school curriculum, a subject that develops not just literacy but the capacity to engage with ideas, to express thoughts with clarity and force, and to encounter the full range of human experience through literature. English teachers work with young people from eleven to sixteen, introducing them to the richness of the language, to a range of literary texts from different periods and traditions, and to the skills of reading critically, writing in different forms and for different purposes, and communicating with confidence both in writing and in speech.

At Birmingham Newman University, this three-year full-time programme leads to a degree with a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status, preparing you to work as an English teacher in secondary schools. You will develop a thorough subject knowledge in English language and literature alongside the pedagogical skills needed to teach it effectively to young people across the eleven to sixteen age range. Your training will include substantial school-based experience, giving you the practical preparation that working in a secondary classroom demands.

The programme is designed around the genuine requirements of the teaching profession, ensuring that graduates are ready to teach from the outset of their careers.

Graduates who gain QTS are qualified to teach English in secondary schools in England and Wales. English teachers are consistently in demand, and qualified graduates have strong employment prospects across state and independent schools. The skills developed through an English education degree are also valuable in related roles in education support, literacy development, and the cultural and creative sectors.

Some graduates go on to further study or professional development in education, including leadership qualifications and Master's-level programmes in education.