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Should I get some school experience? | What should I look for in pre-training geography school experience? | Choosing the right geography training for you | Key questions to consider before you choose your course | Completing the application
Should I get some school experience?
Gaining experience in a classroom before you apply for training will help you decide whether teaching in primary, secondary, or further education is right for you. It also gives you a realistic understanding of what teaching is like in schools today, strengthens your application, and helps you prepare for interviews.
Strong candidates demonstrate a clear understanding of the teacher’s role. They can discuss geography lessons they have observed and show awareness of the National Curriculum. Find out about getting school experience at Get school experience.
What should I look for in pre-training geography school experience?
Aim to spend up to two weeks in a school. During this time, try to:
- Observe a range of geography lessons across different age groups and discuss them with the teacher
- Experience a variety of teaching methods, such as discussion, questioning, explanation, enquiry-based learning, decision-making activities, and role play
- Observe both whole-class teaching and group work
- Explore how resources support learning (e.g. maps, videos, photographs, IT, fieldwork, GIS)
- Interact with students, for example by supporting individuals or small groups
- Talk to students about their experiences of geography and what interests them
- Speak with geography teachers about their role and what makes effective teaching
- Learn about the National Curriculum, GCSE, and A-level specifications
- Shadow a pupil for a day to understand their wider school experience
You could also:
- Shadow the head of geography to see what their role involves day-to-day
- Attend a department meeting
- Try marking sample student work (using photocopies)
- Ask the school’s teacher training lead about Initial Teacher Education (ITE)
- Meet current geography trainees to learn about their experiences
- Discuss different routes into teaching with staff
Read What makes a good geography lesson?
Bear this article in mind if you are asked to prepare some ‘teaching’ to students as part of the interview process for a training place.
Choosing the right geography training for you.
When selecting a course, consider:
- the training route (school-led or university-led). See Training options.
- which age range you want to teach
- Primary: typically EYFS/KS1 or KS1/KS2
- Secondary: KS3 and KS4, with some providers offering KS5 (post-16)
- the qualifications offered (e.g. QTS, PGCE, PGDE)
- which training provider and the quality of their geography provision.
Schemes vary in how much time is spent on subject-specific training versus general teaching skills (e.g. behaviour management, SEND). If you want to teach A level, ensure the course includes Post-16 experience.
Teacher training leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), but it can also offer academic qualifications such as a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCE) or Diploma in Education (PGDE); often with Master’s credits.
QTS makes you a ‘qualified’ teacher in England, but often schools prefer to appoint teachers with a PGCE/PGDE qualification. These courses enable you to increase your professional knowledge, understanding and judgement through wider reading and through written assignments. Some countries and most international schools require a university-validated PGCE qualification.
Some courses require you to apply directly to a school, while for others you apply for a place at the provider (e.g. university, SCITT, company/charity) and they allocate you a school placement. Be sure to understand how placements are organised before applying.
Use the information on the Get into teaching website wisely before you apply to choose a course that will give you the geography training best suited to your needs. Also check the provider’s own website and be prepared to ask further questions at interview.
Key questions to consider before you choose your course
Seek answers to the following questions as you browse the information about the course, or when you visit (e.g. at an open day or interview).
1. Will the training give me a good grounding in geography pedagogy i.e. How to teach the subject?
- How much geography-specific training is provided compared to general training?
- What does the provider see as the main strengths of this training?
- Is the training focused solely on geography or shared with other humanities subjects?
- Who leads the training, and what is their experience? How often will I meet with them?
- Will I receive fieldwork training?
- How are theory and classroom practice integrated?
- Will external geography experts contribute?
2. How is school experience organised?
- Will I get a broad experience of geography teaching in more than one school or department?
- Are there opportunities teach GCSE and A level classes?
- How will the provider assure placements are good geography departments with high quality mentoring?
- How much geography mentoring will I receive each week?
- Are mentors experienced in teacher training?
3. Other aspects of geography training:
- Will I have opportunities to use my degree specialism or other specific geography expertise in teaching?
- Will the course help address gaps in my subject knowledge?
- Will I train alongside other geography trainees? How often will we meet and work together?
- Can I contact past trainees?
- What reading and preparation are required? Will I have access to academic texts and journals?
- Does the course include a PGCE/PGDE and Master’s credits? Who awards this?
- How am I assessed on the course?
- Who is the accredited body for this training provision?
Completing the application
All routes require a formal application to be completed. You can apply for courses through the UK government’s Find Teacher Training Courses service. You may apply to up to four courses.
Your personal statement should demonstrate both a clear commitment to, and genuine enjoyment of, working with children and young people. This may be shown through voluntary work with young people and/or some experience in schools. You should also convey your enthusiasm for teaching geography.
Aim to make your application original and engaging. However, avoid exaggerated claims because interviewers are likely to explore your statements in greater depth.
Do not ask AI to write your personal statement for you. Providers will be looking for applicants who have clearly written their own personal statement.
Remember that high standards of written communication are essential in teaching. Ensure your application is free from errors in spelling and grammar.
In your personal statement, you could include:
- Who or what has influenced your decision to become a geography teacher.
- The experience, qualities, and skills that make you well-suited to teaching.
- Why you enjoy working with young people.
- Your geography background and strengths and why you want to teach the subject.
- Your experience in schools or other educational settings, and what you have learned from these experiences.
- Any additional interests or skills you can offer schools beyond geography (e.g. sport, IT, music).
- If you are changing career, the transferable skills and experience you have gained from previous employment.
