What you’ll study

This course is offered at two levels (leading to one of three awards). You apply for either the PGCE or CertEd depending on your qualifications and will be assessed for the ProfGCE whilst on the course:

PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate in Education

You will join this level if you have a good honours degree. You will also be able to study for Masters-level credits, giving you a head start on gaining a postgraduate qualification. You may be able to join this level from the CertEd.

ProfGCE - Professional Graduate Certificate in Education

You will need a good honours degree for entry to this level. You may be able to join this level fom the CertEd.

Cert Ed - Certificate in Education

If you have the equivalent to A-levels or have significant experience in your intended subject specialism, you will join the CertEd.

The aims of the course are to prepare students to plan, implement and evaluate teaching and learning activities in the post-compulsory education sector and to help students to develop appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes. It equips students with an ability to reflect upon and learn from their professional practice and build students' confidence in their ability to perform their professional roles whilst creating a sound foundation for further professional and career development.

Placements

The teaching experience in partner colleges / centres is central to the course. You will be supported throughout the experience by a mentor who specialises in your subject area, giving you the confidence to take your industry experience into the classroom.

What will I teach?

This course equips you with the skills required to teach, but not subject-specific knowledge. Schools and colleges have a wide curriculum and as long as we can find you an appropriate placement, we can accept you to train for any subject you have the relevant experience to teach.

Assessments

Students are assessed on both coursework and their teaching practice. The focus of assessments is determined by the student's own practice and subject specialism.

On the part-time programme, two assessments are completed in Year One and two in Year Two.

Structure

This course has been designed to specifically enable you to develop your academic and teaching skills in a structured and coherent way. The teaching placement underpins the whole course and is linked to all assessments; practical teaching is linked specifically to assessments one, two, and three.

The assessments are linear to enable you to build on and develop your knowledge and experience, with later assessments consolidating and extending earlier learning and skills, particularly in relation to professional practice. This development is both focused and aspirational, taking you from being a ‘Beginning Teacher’ at the start (assessment one), through being a ‘Developing and Professional Teacher’ (assessment two) to becoming an ‘Independent and Innovative Teacher’ with a clear subject-specific focus (assessment three).

Assessment One: Learning and Teaching: in PCET (40 credit points)

There are two parts to this assessment. The first focuses on developing a basic range of learning, teaching and assessment strategies to prepare you for your placement. The second focuses on the sector as a whole and investigates the roles and responsibilities of a teacher in post-compulsory education and training. It includes learning about the different types of students and their needs, and the policies and practices that underpin the teaching role.

This assessment is generic so if you are undertaking the Mathematics and Numeracy Pathway, the English and Literacy Pathway, or the Special and Inclusive Pathway, you will study with others in your full-time or part-time group.

Assessment Two: Learning and Teaching: the Professional Teacher (20 credit points)

This assessment enables you to develop an understanding of how theory and practice are linked. It helps you to identify what good practice in teaching, learning and assessment looks like in practice and supports you to evidence your good practice from placement. It focuses on behaviour, awarding bodies and other areas such as assessment, planning, and professionalism.

If you are undertaking the Mathematics and Numeracy Pathway, the English and Literacy Pathway, or the Special and Inclusive Pathway, some sessions will be subject specialist in order to explore subject knowledge and pedagogy and strengthen your own Mathematics, English or Special and Inclusive skills and knowledge.

Assessment Three: PCET: Independent Study (40 credit points)

You’ll carry out a professional enquiry into your own practice in order to support your development. You will conduct a literature search around your chosen topic in order to inform your understanding. The theory researched will be used to develop / change your practice. You will describe the changes you have made and analyse their impact on your learners, making recommendations for further development to your practice

This assessment is generic so if you are undertaking the Mathematics and Numeracy Pathway, the English and Literacy Pathway, or the Special and Inclusive Pathway, you will study with others in your full-time or part-time group.

Assessment Four: Learning and Teaching: the Subject Specialist and Wider Context (20 credit points)

You’ll explore your subject in depth through the preparation, delivery and reflection of your teaching, learning, and assessment within placement. You will evidence your practice from placement in your ePortfolio, and will include eight formal observations and three pieces of evidence that demonstrate your ability to meet each of the twenty Professional Standards for the sector. You’ll also carry out a mini case study to support your understanding of curriculum design and development.

If you are undertaking the Mathematics and Numeracy Pathway, the English and Literacy Pathway, or the Special and Inclusive Pathway, some sessions will be subject specialist in order to explore subject knowledge and pedagogy and strengthen your own Mathematics, English or Special and Inclusive skills and knowledge.

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How you’re taught

Teaching experience

We will only accept students if we believe we can provide a relevant placement opportunity, or if you have an appropriate agreed placement arranged prior to applying.

Part-time study

Teaching practice is undertaken one day a week (a minimum of 150 hours teaching) over the duration of the programme. During their time in the host college / centre students are supported by a mentor - a member of staff who is a specialist in the student’s subject area. University sessions are held one day a week, with some directed study days within the year. This pathway is ideal for those who wish to work or have other commitments whilst on the course.

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Careers and employability

The post-compulsory education sector covers a multitude of different educational environments including:

colleges of further education

community learning and development centres

places of work

adult education centres

libraries, archives and information services

private training organisations

sixth form colleges

prisons and young offender institutions

voluntary and charity organisations

universities.

On gaining the award, students typically pursue a career in one of these areas teaching as lecturers or tutors within their specialist field. QTLS is completed post-qualification and within your employing institution through professional formation, which involves you demonstrating your skills and knowledge in your professional practice. Applications are made by you through NTU in the academic year immediately following qualification, free of charge.

The CertEd offers a foundation for professional development. For those who wish to progress to graduate status they can undertake the BA (Hons) Education award. Graduates who successfully complete the PGCE or ProfGCE course can progress to the MA Education.

Post-Compulsory Education and Training Cert Ed / PGCE; ProfGCE drafted drafted

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