Certificate in Education (Lifelong Learning) pre-service part time

Core Modules:

Year 1

•  Research Informed Teaching, Learning and Assessment
• Becoming a Subject Specialist Teacher (Practice Based)

Year 2 

• Being a Subject Specialist Teacher (Practice Based)
• Curriculum and Context

Placement 

As well as studying at the University, you’ll learn the practical skills of teaching through a placement in an appropriate educational institution. Previous trainees have been placed in a range of institutions including colleges, work-based learning providers and in offender and community learning settings.  The placement hours for each practice-based module should be at least 125 hours in duration, of which at least 75 hours should be teaching practice (totalling 250 hours). The balance constitutes your professional practice hours and can include a range of activities, including team meetings, planning, interviews, assessment meetings, observations and/or provider wide CPD sessions. These activities should be supported by reflection and self-evaluation. A minimum of 10 hours of remote synchronous delivery should be included per practice-based module, (totalling 20 hours) alongside a minimum of 40 hours face to face delivery.

To improve your range of experience in the sector, your placement practice across the year must include experience in another teaching location. Cumulatively, this must come to 20 hours across the year. The 20 hours experience can include observation of practice, CPD activities, etc rather than teaching practice. If it is not possible to source a second placement, the placement could include observation of a different subject area and/or venue (e.g. alternative provision, 6th form) in the same provider. The 20 hours of experience in another placement will be logged in the teaching portfolio that you will submit as part of the assessment requirements for the module titled ‘Being a Subject Specialist Teacher’.

Your placements could be based in areas some distance from your point of study, so please be aware of potential associated travelling costs.

The primary way of delivering this programme is on Campus.

On this course you’ll have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and understanding needed to teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, and the ability to identify your ongoing needs for professional development. The course helps to prepare you for playing a full part in the teaching, administrative, and curriculum development activities in colleges and in other education and training organisations.

As part of the course, you’ll complete a subject specialist module. This requires attendance at the University. You’ll be informed of the exact dates during the first year of the course.

The focus of this course is on practical teaching. You’ll have the opportunity to gain experience of learning and teaching alongside other professionals with support from tutors and work-based mentors. You’ll be supported to gain competence in planning, teaching and learning; and in working with students; with assessment of your progress taking place in formal classrooms and in student-centred learning situations.

In addition, you’ll be taught through a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and interactive workshops and you’ll have a personal tutor who’ll be assigned to you throughout your studies to support your ongoing wellbeing and ensure that you have a positive learning experience.

Assessments vary and include essays, the creation of resources to support learning, seminars, and presentations.

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

• No prior teaching experience is needed. The course is particularly suitable if you have work experience in industry, business and administration, hair and beauty, social work, health service, uniformed services, or armed forces.
• In addition to the University’s general minimum entry requirements, you must also:
• have either a HNC, CGLI Advanced, NVQ level 3/4 or recognised professional qualification
• be able to demonstrate appropriate work experience in the area you wish to teach
• GCSE English grade C/4 or Level 2
• GCSE maths grade C/4 or level 2
• be able to confidently communicate in standard spoken and written English.
• If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent
• In addition, you must also:
• provide a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health clearances
• provide two satisfactory references
• complete a satisfactory professional discussion

We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent.

We are committed to creating educational opportunities for people from a variety of backgrounds and situations. If you have been out of formal education for some time, and/or you do not have the qualifications stated, we might still be able to consider your application and offer you a range of support. We are here to help. Please get in touch to find out more.

Upon successful completion of your undergraduate studies, progression onto the following programmes may be of interest:

BA (Hons) Education Studies

Upon successful completion of this course, you’ll be eligible to proceed, following a process of professional formation through the Society for Education and Training to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status. This is the full professional status for teachers in the Lifelong Learning Sector.