Program Overview

Overview

Teaching in the Further Education and Skills Sector is rewarding and unique. You will work in a vibrant environment whereby you will inspire and make a difference in the lives of students from diverse backgrounds in a wide range of contexts. You will pass the knowledge and skills you have developed during your degree and/ or industrial experience to the next generation to prepare them for the world of work or higher education.

Why study Education at LSBU?

• You will gain the necessary knowledge, skills and values to meet the Occupational Standards.
• You will engage with effective evidence-informed pedagogies and will have the opportunity to apply those into your own teaching practice.
• You will gain experience of face-to-face and remote synchronous teaching and of shadowing more experienced teachers.
• You will develop your digital skills and your understanding of sustainable development.
• The course will be offered on a blended learning basis to create a flexible physical and digital environment.
• You'll be allocated a university-based mentor to support you during your course.

Mode | Duration | Start date | Application code | Application method

Mode | Duration | Start date | Application code | Application method ---|---|---|---|--- Mode Full-time | Duration 1 | Start date September | Application code 5992 | Application method Apply via GOV.UK

Location

• Southwark Campus

London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.

Entry Level Requirements

To enrol on the course participants must meet the following criteria:

• Hold an undergraduate degree with is considered comparable to a UK honours degree.
• Have GCSE in Maths and English at Grade 4 (C) or above*. Applicants who have not yet met this requirement are welcome to apply but will not be able to start the course until they have met this requirement.
• 2 Satisfactory references.

We accept only the following as GCSE equivalent:

English

• O Level English (Language or Literature) any pass grade (grades A-C)
• A/AS Level English Language at grade C or above
• CSE grade 1 English (Language or Literature)
• Functional Skills in English Level 2 and above (OFQUAL approved)
• Northern Ireland Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills – Communication
• Equivalency Testing for Career Development (GCSE equivalent) L2 English - Grades 9 – 4
• A2/AS-level in English Language (but not an O-level pass achieved at A-level sitting)
• Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA)
• Irish Republic awards
• International Baccalaureate (Higher or subsidiary level in English language at grade 4 or above)
• European Baccalaureate (A score of 60% (6/10) or higher with English indicated)
• IGCSEs Cambridge in English (First Language grade C, 4 or above)

Maths

• Level Mathematics any pass grade (grades A-C)
• CSE grade 1 Mathematics
• Equivalency Testing for Career Development (GCSE equivalent) L2 Maths - Grades 9 – 4
• A2/AS-level in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics (but not an O-level pass achieved at A-level sitting)
• AEB O/A-level in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics
• A-level in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics
• A2/AS-level in Statistics (Passed at grade C or above)
• Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA)
• Irish Republic awards
• International baccalaureate (Higher or subsidiary level in Mathematics at grade 4 or above)
• European baccalaureate (A score of 60% (6/10) or higher with Mathematics indicated)
• IGCSEs Cambridge in Mathematics grade C, 4 or above

We do not accept the following as GCSE equivalent:

English

• Level 2 Key skills/Functional Skills in communication
• Access to Higher Education qualifications
• Certificates in adult literacy
• Modules in Foundation Degrees (or any other degree course except those outlined below)
• City and Guilds
• University of Cambridge English for speakers of other languages Certificate of English language skills
• OCNW/OCN Level 2 GCSE equivalent in English
• Key Skills Communication Level 2 and above
• Professional Skills Test in Literacy (DfE)
• ESOL Skills for Life examinations at Level 2 (full qualification)
• Certificates in Essential Skills (3800)

Maths

• Level 2 Key skills/Functional Skills in application of number
• Access to Higher Education qualifications
• Certificates in adult numeracy
• Modules in Foundation Degrees (or any other degree course except those outlined below)
• City and Guilds
• OCNW/OCN Level 2 GCSE equivalent in English
• Key Skills Application of Number – Level 2 and above
• Professional Skills Test in Numeracy (DfE)
• Associated Examining Board (AEB) Proficiency Test in Arithmetic
• City & Guilds Certificate in Mathematics Skills (14 credits)
• City & Guilds Certificate in Mathematical Techniques (13 credits)
• Essential Skills Wales in Application of Number Level 2
• NCFE Certificate in Basic Maths Level 2

Fees

United Kingdom

£9535

Tuition fees for home students

International

£15500

Tuition fees for international students

Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. Find out more about tuition fees for Undergraduate or Postgraduate courses.

Course Content

There are four core modules, three of which are at Masters level; totalling 120 credits. You will develop a deep understanding of lesson planning and how to deliver inclusive and interactive sessions adopting evidence-informed teaching practices related to your subject area. You will become familiar with the different aspects of the Occupational Standards as well as the educational policies and practices of Further Education. You will also look at topics such as anti-racist education practices, inclusive practice, assessment and feedback. You will also develop your reflective and active research skills required to improve your teaching practice.

Year 1

• Principles for Teaching, Learning and Assessment in subject specialist areas (20 credits)
• Creating an inclusive environment in further education and skills sector (20 credits)
• Action Research (40 credits)
• Professional Practice (40 credits)

Careers

Placements

Placement experience will be integral to the PGCE, and your progress on placement will be assessed as part of the course. You are required to spend at least 250 hours on placement, of which 150 hours would be direct teaching. Of the 150 teaching hours, at least 120 hours must be in your subject area. The placement requirements include a minimum of two placements (the second placement will be at least 20 hours), so that you can gain experience from different settings.

You will be supported by a subject-specialist mentor and a university-based mentor when you are on placement. You will gradually build up your teaching responsibility. Initially, you will shadow experienced teachers from different subject areas and then move on to small group before whole class teaching. This will be decided in collaboration with your mentors. Your mentors will meet with you weekly to encourage you to reflect upon your practice and provide professional advice. Your university-based mentor will support you throughout your placement and monitor your portfolio of practice.

Employability

This practical qualification supports you with the development of Occupational Standards required to teach and work in Further Education and Skills Sector. The sector is made up of a variety of contexts, such as Further Education colleges, sixth-form colleges, adult learning colleges/ centres, community learning colleges/ centres, prison education, and youth offending services.

You will be able to progress onto MA in Education and EdD Professional Doctorate in Education.

Professional Link

The Level 7 PGCE meets the specifications outlined by the ‘Qualification framework for the full teaching qualification for the further education and skills sector’ (2022) and follows the Occupational Standards. This means that you will develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to work in the FE sector and apply for the QTLS offered by the Society for Education and Training.

The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. The PGCE is delivered in collaboration with South Bank colleges, South Bank University Sixth Form and Academies.

Teaching and Assessment

Student-centred strategies are adopted throughout the taught face-to-face and remote sessions to enable you to critically engage with current research and theory and to discuss how theories can be applied to practice. Such activities are:

• Group discussion/ seminar group activities
• Tutorials
• Self-reflection
• Individual and group presentations
• Guided reading activities
• Independent study and self-directed research
• Micro teaching sessions
• E-learning
• Practical workshops

Formative assessment is embedded throughout the course. You will discuss and critique the assessment criteria in order to establish a clear and shared model of ‘what makes good practice’.

You will be formally assessed through a range of summative assessments. These will require you to reflect on their teaching practice and to think critically about institutional or practice-based challenges. Summative assessments include a portfolio of practice, reflective online journal, a case study of individual learners, action research proposal and project, individual presentation, reflective accounts.

University-based mentor Support

You will be assigned a university-based mentor during your first three weeks of classes at LSBU. The role of your university-based mentor is to be your primary contact for academic guidance and professional development support.

They will help you get the most out of your time at LSBU, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University.

Your mentor should be the first person at the university that you speak to if you are having any difficulties that are impacting on your course. These could be academic, financial, health-related or any other type of problem.