PGCE (Lifelong Learning) Pre-service FT

Core Modules

• Research Informed Teaching, Learning and Assessment
• Becoming a Subject Specialist Teacher
• Being a Subject Specialist Teacher
• Policy and Professional Issues.

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. You’ll complete at least 100 hours of teaching in total on placement. Your placements could be based in areas some distance from your point of study, so please be aware of potential associated travelling costs.

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.

No prior teaching experience is needed. The course is particularly suitable if you have relevant qualifications and some experience in your industry and/or subject specialism.

• UK degree (normally 2:2 or above) or equivalent related to your specialist area
• Where the subject for which the degree was awarded is not in (or academically related to) the subject that is being taught, then the applicant will normally need to prove that they possess other qualifications (at NVQ Level 3 or above) that indicate that they may be a credible person to teach that subject.
• GCSE maths grade C/4
• GCSE English grade C/4
• Relevant work experience in some specialist subject areas

In addition, you must also:

• provide Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health clearances
• provide two satisfactory references
• complete a satisfactory interview

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. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

As part of this programme of study you will be required to have a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You will be required to pay the cost of this. A DBS must be in place before you start your placement. You may be able to supply an existing DBS but this must be within 3 years of issue.

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

Masters 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.