The most important quality that all student teachers on our course possess is a genuine interest in geography and the ability to share their passion and expertise with young people. Many graduates who consider teaching geography hold a second-class degree or higher in geography or a related subject, such as planning, development, GIS, environmental science and conservation.

If you have had a break from studying your specialist subject, have developed your subject knowledge within the workplace, or hold an A Level in geography but have an unrelated degree, then you may require a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course prior to starting the training programme. SKE courses require 25 hours per week of study, although part time options are also available. Several providers offer 100% online courses so that you can complete the course around other commitments. The amount of SKE required will be determined at interview, and it is important to apply as early as possible in the application cycle if you are hoping to enrol on an SKE course in the event that you are offered, and accept, a place on the course. Find out more about SKE courses on the Department for Education’s Get into Teaching website.

Experience working with young people is always particularly beneficial, particularly experience in a UK comprehensive school observing and participating in a range of lessons, including your own subject. Being able to reflect upon recent classroom observations often strengthens interview discussions. If you have been out of the classroom for a few years, having one or two days’ of school observation prior to interviews might help boost your confidence.

The course will explore the following issues from a subject-specific perspective:

• Lesson planning and sequences of lessons
• Meeting the needs of all pupils in the classroom
• Teaching and learning strategies and resources
• Techniques to support monitoring, assessing, recording and reporting pupil progress
• Promoting good behaviour and a positive climate for learning

You will gain a secure knowledge and understanding of the main concepts and skills in geography, sufficient to teach them confidently to students from the age of 11 to 16, with some experience of the post 16 route. This will involve the study of:

• Enquiry approaches to learning in geography
• Fieldwork
• Creativity in geography teaching
• Bespoke subject specific content
• The key concepts underpinning the subject.
• The use of ICT in the teaching and learning of geography including GIS