
Secondary Physical Education with QTS - BA (Hons) *
Currently viewing course to start in 2026/27 Entry. Switch to 2025/26 Entry
If you have a passion for Physical Education and Sport, inspiring and educating young learners, and want the best possible career opportunities after graduating, then this is the course for you.
- Level Undergraduate
- Study mode Full Time
- Award BA (Hons)
- Start date September 2026
- Fees View course fees
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
If you have a passion for Physical Education and Sport, inspiring and educating young learners, and want the best possible career opportunities after graduating, then this is the course for you.
What's covered in this course?
Our roots in delivering Physical Education training go back as far as 1897 and we are now the largest provider of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in the West Midlands. Our strong partnerships across a diverse range of secondary schools will enable you to gain practical experience that reflects the rich variety of cultural and linguistic influences, religious beliefs, and social diversity of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. This course gives you the opportunity to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and teach PE to secondary school pupils aged 11–16, as well as providing some post-16 enhancement.
The course aims to develop your PE subject and pedagogical knowledge at degree level, alongside gaining QTS. The combination of professional teaching practice and subject expertise means you get the best of both worlds – benefitting from the strong partnership between our PE teacher educators and our subject specialists who are at the forefront of practice in their fields. To do this, you will be taught across our City Centre Campus and at our Doug Ellis Sport Centre in Perry Barr.
Studying this course will enable you to discover the contemporary place and role of Physical Education, School Sport, and Physical Activity within the education setting. You will explore the current national curriculum for PE and have opportunities to develop your subject knowledge across a range of physical activities alongside effective teaching pedagogy to deliver high-quality PE in the secondary school phase.
You will develop a deeper understanding of the PE teaching environment and learn how to meet the needs of learners from a range of socio-cultural settings, as well as pupils with learning barriers and specific education needs, all the while ensuring PE is meaningful and engaging for all. We will look at alternative PE curriculum designs, exploring a combination of traditional and alternative activity pathways, including off-site, outdoor activity experiences, which will widen your skillset as a trainee PE teacher. This means that, in addition to covering more traditional team sports, such as football and netball, and other invasion game activities, you will gain practical experience of gymnastics and dance, net and wall activities and athletics, and emerging and alternative physical activities, such as parkour, kinball and adventurous outdoor activities.
Across your three years, you take some modules of school-based training. You will spend at least 120 days on placement across the course, with the majority taking place in years two and three of your degree. Your placement experiences are designed to equip you with a wealth of practical experience to develop you as a PE teacher, working in partnership with experienced school subject mentors. You will develop your professional behaviors as a trainee teacher and immerse yourself into the day-to-day responsibilities of a secondary school PE teacher.
In addition to your school placement, you will also have three separate enrichment weeks, which provide you with the opportunity to deepen your understanding of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), both in mainstream and specialist school provision, primary education, and post-16 provision. In your final year, you will also study an additional subject module and undertake some teaching experience. This will enhance your employability by showing employers you can bring some additional flexibility because you are able to design and deliver the curriculum in another area other than PE.
Why Choose Us?
- Develop in-depth subject knowledge and train to teach all in three years, saving a year of study (and fees) compared to the usual three-year degree plus one year of postgraduate teacher training.
- You will spend time in a range of local secondary schools on professional placements, equipping you with a wealth of practical experience to develop you as a physical education teacher, working in partnership with experienced school subject mentors.
- Practical hands-on experience in schools right from the start of your programme.
- For the subject-specific modules, you will be taught with our BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching and Physical Education students using our specialist facilities at the Alexander Stadium and Doug Ellis Sports Centre in Perry Barr.
- We meet the Department for Education's (DfE) Criteria for Initial Teacher Training and successful candidates on our Initial Teacher Training courses will be recommended to the DfE for Qualified Teacher Status.
- You will have 15 days across the course duration allocated for enrichment blocks to allow you gain Key Stage Two, special educational needs (SEN), and post-16 experience.
Open Days
Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Open Day: 28 June 2025
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
112 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about UCAS Tariff points.
Applicants will also need to complete an interview for this course; see interview arrangements below.
If your level 3 qualifications do not meet the UCAS Tariff for this course, you may be offered a place on an alternative course or Foundation Year. You do not need to submit a separate application but will automatically be considered for this if your predicted grades fall below the UCAS Tariff.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
Successful candidates must meet Department for Education requirements for Initial Teacher Training prior to enrolling on this course. This includes obtaining a satisfactory occupational health check and an enhanced DBS check, as well as prohibition and children’s barred list checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance.
You will receive details of what is required if you are offered a place on the course. If you have any queries please refer to DBS Frequently Asked Questions or contact admissions@bcu.ac.uk.
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £9,535 in 2026/27 ✱ Important note for this price
- Apply via UCAS
(↩Back to price) * The Government is proposing to increase the cap on full-time regulated tuition fees to £9,535 from 2025/26 onwards and the University is planning on increasing fees to that maximum level once legislation is enacted. Part-time fees are charged pro-rata, where applicable.
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2026
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £18,570 in 2026/27
- Register interest
Guidance for UK students
UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
Register with UCAS
Login to UCAS
Complete your details
Select your course
Write a personal statement
Get a reference
Pay your application fee
Send UCAS your application
Our advice for applying to a health care course
Applying for a course and preparing for an interview can be a daunting process, so we have created a series of films to help you through the process, including what to put in your personal statement.
Guidance for International students
There are three ways to apply:
1) Direct to the University
You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.
2) Through a country representative
Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.
3) Through UCAS
If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS. Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.
Personal statement
From 2026, personal statements have changed from one longer peice of text, to three separate questions. This is to help you understand what universities want to know, so you have more direction in your application.
The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the three areas you’ll need to address:
- Why do you want to study this course or subject?
- How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
- What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
Course in Depth
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
The role of this module is to encourage you to consider in-depth your first experiences of your subject in your placement school. It will enable you to understand the complexity of the teacher’s role and the importance of adopting a professional stance at all times. You will understand the importance of an effective learning environment where all pupils feel safe and can develop to their full potential. It will provide you with practical strategies to support you in managing pupils’ behaviour within the context of your subject specialism.
This module introduces secondary physical education to you as you prepare to be a teacher. It looks in detail at what is included from a Department for Education stand point, exploring the purpose, aims and expected content of the 11-16 age phase PE curriculum. The module will discuss where PE fits in to a school’s curriculum and what differentiates it from physical activity and school sport.
*Practical sessions for this module will take place at the Doug Ellis Sports Centre in Perry Barr.
This module explores the journey a pupil has made on entering secondary physical education, looking back at the Early Years statutory framework and the national curriculum at the 5 – 11 age phase. Issues surrounding primary physical education will be discussed. You will learn about motor development and how pupils mature through their PE journey at primary and secondary school and into adulthood. This will involve different milestones and consider the theme of being physically active for life. Developing from this area, you will explore the importance of physical literacy, what it is and how you, as a PE teacher can support your pupils in becoming physically literate.
*Practical sessions for this module will take place at the Doug Ellis Sports Centre in Perry Barr.
This module considers the application of the fundamentals of anatomy and physiology of the human body, to real-world sport and exercise settings. There will be a strong focus on musculoskeletal anatomy, The delivery is contemporary in design, whereby the lectures are pre-recorded in the form of online videos. These lectures are supported by practical sessions where the student can apply their knowledge with a life size skeleton, whilst sessions in physiology enable the measurement of physiological parameters and the examination of the physiological responses to exercise.
This module provides opportunities for you to explore the nature of your subject in the context of learning and teaching in the secondary school. The module provides a substantial foundation for your professional practice in school, applied through the later professional practice modules.
This module will introduce you to the academic skills required for the Secondary Education in Higher Education, and to the resources needed to support your academic and personal development. You will use the skills and resources introduced in this module throughout the course and after successful completion of your studies, to enable lifelong learning as a competent and autonomous practitioner.
Year Two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
This module refers to the wider inclusion agenda, rather than just pupils with special education needs or disabilities. It considers the barriers to learning that pupils may have within the subject specialism, and specific classroom approaches or interventions that can be used to address these barriers.
This module is a progression from the Level 4 “Introduction to Secondary PE” module. The module explores the use of different pedagogies used in physical education and builds on your understanding of how to teach effectively. The module looks at different models based practice and allows an opportunity for you to participate in “modelled lessons” in order for you to see how these pedagogical models work in practice, but also to see the viewpoint of the pupil.
*Practical sessions for this module will take place at the Doug Ellis Sports Centre in Perry Barr.
This module looks to build upon subject knowledge learnt around anatomy, physiology, learning and socio-cultural factors, applying these within a classroom setting. This module develops the Physical Education teacher away from the practical space and towards the classroom.
This module will support subject knowledge development of alternative and outdoor activities through onsite and off-site experiences. Through theoretical and practical sessions, you will develop a deeper understanding of the effective teaching and learning approaches when delivering alternative and outdoor activities and how they are implemented in the Secondary PE environment.
Over the course of the module, you will participate in a range of activities, considered non-traditional within the PE context, which are growing in popularity and are effective in promoting lifelong physical activity of secondary school pupils. In addition to this, we will look at activities that are of relevance to pupils from differing cultures and backgrounds, to further promote a meaningful PE curriculum to all and to reflect present day society.
We will consider the planning and delivery of alternative and outdoor activities from within the school context and through off-site visits. You will develop an essential understanding of the health and safety considerations when delivering such activities and identify how to overcome these to ensure safe practice is at the forefront of your teaching.
This module will allow prospective Secondary PE teachers to develop their subject knowledge and pedagogical practice across a wide range of activities which students are typically less confident or experienced within. It will allow you to broaden your skills and teaching of outdoor and alternative activities and in turn, help to develop the quality of your teaching in this area.
*Practical sessions for this module will take place at the Doug Ellis Sports Centre in Perry Barr.
Through completion of this module, students will be equipped and up to date with a range of socio-cultural factors within sport. They will explore society and the many different elements which make up society and how this impact sports participation. Sports Governance, Legislation Globalisation and human rights will be explored. Students will also explore Discrimination, Stereotypes and Prejudice as underlying principles within Sports.
Working in partnership with schools over a sustained period of time, this module, Professional Practice A, provides opportunities for you as a trainee teacher to meet the professional standards and expectations of teaching through observation and practical experience. You will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced teachers and other education professionals to develop your knowledge, understanding and skill in lessons and the wider school environment.
Year Three
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
This module, The Professional Teacher, provides opportunities for you as a trainee teacher to explore and understand in practical terms the meaning of professionalism in the context of your subject specialism. You will understand the holistic and positive role of a teacher and the practices and policies of the education framework in which you operate. Implicit in this will be the development of your understanding of how children learn in your subject (pedagogy) and how this is organised, delivered and measured in the current range of school systems.
You will view this module through the eyes of being a curriculum leader, exploring and discussing curriculum and pedagogical choices in order to offer an effective curriculum in your subject, suitable for effective teaching and learning.
This module explores the role of your subject plays in the secondary school. It explores different aspects of your subject, where you will investigate the history and evolution of your subject’s curriculum, plus the differences that exist between schools.
You will also be investigating the KS4 theory aspect of your subject and what choices schools have in offering the subject at the 14-16 age range, including, but not limited by, vocational options or more traditional options, including the range of examination bodies that offer your subject.
This module will also tie in with key pedagogy and subject knowledge from previous modules.
The Additional Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) Portfolio module looks to develop subject knowledge, additional to that of physical education, and is aimed at the year three BA hons Secondary physical education students in a subject area additional to that of physical education. The subject knowledge being developed will align to the student’s prior knowledge and understanding, building upon this to apply the requirements and expectations of the secondary school curriculum including, where appropriate, examination specifications.
In this double semester module, you will be supported to enhance your subject knowledge, in an additional subject, to enable you to teach pupils confidently and competently across the secondary age-phase, with an emphasis on the curriculum required to meet the demands of public examinations. This module provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate and reflect on your additional subject knowledge and how it should be applied to the secondary school curriculum.
Structured support will enable you to proactively engage with a critical analysis of your own subject knowledge to meet the needs of the current curriculum in your specialist subject. The understanding you gain about your own learning processes will give insight into the learning dynamics that are likely to occur in a school classroom. Through interactive teaching and learning methods, you will share your journey in the enhancement of your subject knowledge by considering how you could lead learning in an area of development indicated in your subject audit.
This will be valuable preparation for you joining the teaching profession, with you holding specialist subject and pedagogical knowledge, alongside this additional subject knowledge enhancement. This process will be supported with guided independent study and may also be supported by your work in a school placement.
This module will allow you to actively examine your professional practice in the workplace and to develop a reflective approach to personal development. Through studying it, you will further develop your practice-based enquiry skills. Increasing importance is placed on evidence-based enquiry to inform professional development in education.
Working in partnership with schools over a sustained period of time in school, this module, Professional Practice B, enables you to build on and demonstrate your mastery and achievement of the professional standards and expectations of teaching through practical, school-based experience. You will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced teachers and other education professionals to develop your knowledge, understanding and skill in the classroom and the wider school environment.
Download course specification
Download nowCourse Structure
This course encompasses the contemporary place and role of school-based Physical Education, Health and Sport. Physical Education continues to be an important part of Government agendas, so with this in mind, you'll learn relevant and up-to-date techniques, subject and pedagogical knowledge and other PE-related information.
Linked and mapped to the national curriculum for PE, you'll be taught the physical activities and up-to-date information that you will need to be an effective PE teacher in a secondary school sector. Alongside the practical nature of this degree, participating in a mixture of activities and sports, you'll also be looking at different aspects of health and people at opposite ends of the health spectrum. It's a chance for you to gain the knowledge and skills needed to negotiate different challenges.
- Sport and Exercise modules are taught at our specialist Sports facilities at the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.
- We have a long and successful track record in the training of secondary school teachers.
- The course is delivered in collaboration between PE specialist tutors in Education and Social Work, and academic PE and Sports and Exercise tutors.
- The course aims to develop your PE subject and pedagogical knowledge and understanding at degree level, alongside gaining a professional qualification (QTS).
- You will spend time in a range of local secondary schools on a professional placement, equipping you with a wealth of practical experience to develop you as a PE teacher, working in partnership with experienced school subject mentors.
Placement locations
Our students are asked to complete some forms for placements around whether they will be living, access to private transport etc., however, you must be prepared to travel around 90 minutes. Where you have one placement that is around this 90-minute mark, we will always try to make your other placement much closer for you, depending on availability.
For undergraduate Secondary courses, we have over 40 placement providers across 14 local authorities including:
- Birmingham
- City of Wolverhampton
- Coventry
- Derby City
- Derbyshire
- Dudley
- Leicester City
- Sandwell
- Solihull
- Staffordshire
- Telford and Wrekin
- Walsall
- Warwickshire
- Worcestershire
Additional support
If you have a specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia or ADHD), a disability, a long-term health condition or mental health difficulties, our support teams provide advice, information and practical support (such as reasonable adjustments). Engaging with our support teams early on in the application process means that the University is more likely to be able to implement support before your arrival at University. If you require reasonable adjustments in your placement setting, early disclosure will assist the University in securing suitable placements wherever it reasonably can.
Employability
Enhancing your employability skills
We will support you in the transition to university through a careful induction process, confidence building activities, group work and a carefully planned programme with a range of formative and summative assessments.
Your programme will be interactive, practical, engaging, thought provoking and challenging and is designed to promote independence so that you become a confident, committed and creative teacher ready to join the teaching profession.
On the programme you will experience a variety of learning and teaching approaches that focus on modelling good practice and these will include: workshops, conferences, lectures, seminars, a range of guest speakers, visits to schools/settings and other sites as well as a range of practical teaching experiences.
The content of the programme is research led, innovative and responsive to the educational climate to enable you to develop your subject and pedagogical knowledge and apply it in the classroom.
Placements
We have developed a shared vision for educational excellence with the schools in our partnership. You will benefit from working with and learning from outstanding classroom teachers in schools and at University. Working in schools with teachers and pupils is key to you becoming a committed, creative and confident teacher.
School placements increase in length over the three years of your course to ensure you complete the minimum of 120 days required to build your teaching experience and gather evidence that you meet the requirements for QTS. The placement aspect of this course is non-credit bearing.
The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) Professional Standards for Teachers which lead to recommendation for the award of QTS will be assessed through the school based training modules.
Facilities & Staff

Teaching for this course is split between City Centre Campus and our specialist home for sport at the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr. Some practical sessions will take place at the Doug Ellis Sports Centre, also in Perry Barr.
The Benjamin Zephaniah Building (formerly University House), provides a dedicated teaching and learning space for our Education and Communities students and staff.
Spaces in the building include:
- Primary and secondary science labs
- Innovation and Lego teaching room
- Flexible space for Design and Technology
- Art room
You will also take part in practical activities at the Alexander Stadium.
Our staff
Gemma Taylor
Course Leader for Secondary Education with QTS and Senior Lecturer in Physical Education
Gemma joined BCU in September 2021 as a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education (PE) after teaching PE in Secondary Schools in the Worcestershire area. Gemma has recently been appointed Course Leader for the Secondary Physical Education with QTS course, with responsibility for both University- and School-Based Teaching for all students. Gemma is...
More about GemmaGrant Huddleston
CoESW Project Lead for Professional Development, Senior Lecturer in Physical Education
Grant commenced employment at Birmingham City University in 2017 as the Senior Lecturer for Physical Education (PE), working across both primary and secondary education within the College of Education and Social Work. During that time, Grant wrote, taught, and lead the PE curriculum for the BA (QTS) Primary Education, PGCE Primary Education (QTS),...
More about GrantDr Peter Thain
Associate Professor and Course Leader for BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy
As a Chartered Physiotherapist and Sports Therapist, Peter has over a decade of experience working in basketball, football and netball. Peter successfully designed and validated the initial BSc (Hons) in Sports Therapy, and after three consecutive 100% student satisfaction scores in the National Student Survey, continues to lead the sports...
More about Peter