Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses
Subject knowledge enhancement courses may be available in particular subjects to applicants who have post-16 qualifications in the subject they want to teach but do not have sufficient degree content to move straight onto a PGCE course. The government makes decisions about funding for SKEs, and the relevant subjects to be offered each year. The current SKE directory is available here. We do not deliver our own SKEs; you would be applying to a different provider for this once a PGCE place has been secured.
Subject knowledge enhancement courses are perfect for you if you are applying for teacher training in Biology, Chemistry, English, French, German, Maths, Physics or Spanish and either your degree is not subject-specific or you lack confidence in your subject. Some courses are available to complete online, others through distance or face to face learning.
SKE courses are fully funded if required as a condition of your PGCE offer, so you won’t have to pay any tuition fees and you may be entitled to bursaries available to support you while you complete your SKE.
SKEs come in a variety of lengths:
8 or 12 weeks (short)
A short SKE is designed to refresh knowledge or boost confidence in your subject area.
20, 24 or 28 weeks (medium/long)
A longer SKE may be recommended if:
- your degree isn’t directly related to subject you are planning to teach,
- your degree was undertaken some time ago and your working life has not been related to subject knowledge needed to teach
- you would benefit from considerable confidence boosting in a facet of your PGCE subject knowledge e.g. for Modern Foreign Languages, French is fine but Spanish competence is limited.
An SKE course will either be stipulated as part of your PGCE course offer post-interview or you can request to complete an SKE once you are holding an offer.
It is important that you start any recommended SKE promptly when you receive your offer and in all but exceptional circumstances aim complete your enhancement course before your PGCE starts in September.
Ensure that you list Dr Claire Ball-Smith (claire.e.ball-smith@york.ac.uk) as your contact when registering with an SKE provider.
Useful information
Contact us
For admissions information in relation to secondary teacher training, please contact:
education-pgce-admissions@york.ac.uk