Post-Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) PGCE

You will require a 2:2 (or above) honours degree from a UK Higher Education institution or an equivalent qualification, and be deemed suitable to train to teach by the School of Education at the University of Sunderland.

You should also hold a GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent qualifications) in Mathematics and English. If you have studied for a GCSE that has a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above.

You must also have:

- An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- A completed medical pro forma (based on DFEE Circular 8/92)

If you are invited for an interview, you will be asked to complete a pre-interview written task, participate in a group activity and complete a short in-house literacy assessment.

If English is not your first language, you will also require International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of 6.5. This should includea score of at least 6.5 in writing, and no section scored below 6.0. If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Applicants with a foundation degree will need to supplement this qualification with at Least 60 credits at level 6 (HE Level 3) in order to attain an equivalent single qualification.

The Department for Education (DfE) has developed a new GOV.UK application service for those applying for a postgraduate teacher training course, named 'Apply for Teacher Training'. This new service will eventually replace the current UCAS Teacher Training portal for postgraduate teacher training.

'Apply for Teacher Training' is user friendly, simple to use and flexible. It will allow candidates from a wider and more diverse pool of talent to showcase their skills, experience and potential to be excellent teachers.

Contact time for this course is eight hours per week in an encouraging and productive learning environment that provides student teachers with the opportunities, time and space to develop their knowledge of theory. You will receive support to help you refine yourteaching practice alongside highly experienced and research-active teachers and educators.

We use a wide variety of teaching and learning methods, including interactive teaching, lectures, seminars, practical teaching workshops, tutorials, directed learning and group work.

You will also be expected to successfully complete a minimum of 100 hours of teaching practice placement during the course.

Assessment methods include assignments, seminars, presentations, and formative and summative observations of teaching practice.

Teaching placements are an essential part of the PGCE PCET degree. We will help to arrange a minimum of 100 hours teaching practice placement in the Learning and Skills sector over the course of your one year of study.

Your teaching practice placement will provide you with valuable opportunities to work alongside experienced teachers and to learn how to design, deliver, assess, and evaluate teaching and learning in the sector. You will be supported and guided by a subject specialist mentor who will be allocated to you through the University of Sunderland’s Placement office.

Please note that you will be expected to pay for your own travel to and from placement. When you’re ready to start searching for a teaching job, you will already have a wide network of professional contacts who can help you find the right opportunities.

Full-time

This course is designed for graduates with degrees from a wide range of subjects, including those not widely taught in secondary schools (such as sports science, health and social care, and dance). It will equip you with the necessary tools to teach adults and young people, and give you the opportunity to share your knowledge in a way that helps others to fulfil their potential.

You will be assessed on your potential to learn and not your experience.

Core modules:

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (20 credits) -
Explore the roles and responsibilities of being a practitioner in the Further Education sector. Identify appropriate teaching and learning approaches in your subject specialist area and learn the basics of delivering inclusive and motivating sessions. Focus on reflection, planning, curriculum intent, curriculum sequencing and assessment theory.

Practical Teaching and Professional Development (20 credits) -
Develop your ability to reflect upon and evaluate your own teaching and gain an introduction to the key principles that impact on how we teach and assess learners. Demonstrate effective planning and management of learning through a series of professional observations and work with experienced subject specialist mentors to refine your craft. Learn to justify and demonstrate your ability to develop, improve and sequence the lessons you deliver in practice.

Developing Curriculum and Implementing Policy in Post-Compulsory Education and Training (30 credits) -
Explore the wider context of curriculum design, including intent, implementation, and impact. Evaluate models of inclusive curriculum development, as well as the policy initiatives and key theories that have significantly influenced post compulsory education and training. Investigate strategies for developing and promoting an inclusive curriculum and design materials that will support you in applying models of inclusive and innovative practice in your subject specialist area.

Advancing Subject Specialist Teaching through Critical Reflection and Professional Development (30 credits) -
Critically evaluate and justify your approaches to teaching, learning and assessment in your subject specialist area. Reflect on your journey as a student teacher and set targets that will prepare you for your professional formation year. Demonstrate your ability to develop, improve and sequence your lessons and refine your knowledge and awareness of the wider curriculum as it applies to your subject specialism and professional practice.

Optional modules:

Developing Theories of Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Post Compulsory Education and Training (20 credits) (generic pathway only)-
Continue to develop your knowledge of teaching, learning and assessment. Gain a sound understanding of the principles related to Assessment for Learning and explore a range of strategies that you can use to support your learners’ progress. Explore classroom and behaviour management strategies in depth and refine your ability to creative inclusive learning environments. Critically interrogate key texts to enhance your subject knowledge, pedagogy, and awareness of your subject curriculum.

Subject Specialist Knowledge and Pedagogy - English Literacy (20 credits) (English pathway only) -
Explore classroom and behaviour management strategies in depth and refine your ability to create inclusive learning environments. Critically interrogate key texts to enhance your subject knowledge, pedagogy, and awareness of your subject curriculum. Discuss different levels of literacy and how these relate to the speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills of your own learners. Explore the theories and principles that relate to language acquisition and learning, as well as the ways in which we can examine written and spoken language.

Subject Specialist Knowledge and Pedagogy -Special Educational Needs and Disability (20 credits) (SEND pathway only) -
Develop an understanding of key issues relating to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). Investigate relevant legislation and inclusive policies, and how these impact practice. Explore the meaning of terms such as ‘inclusion’ and ‘participation’ and examine key policy documents such as the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and the Equality Act (2010). Gain a robust comprehension of the theories, concepts, and frameworks around SEND, including different perceptions and how these can be described, analysed and accurately referenced. Examine critical elements of the teaching and learning cycle and demonstrate how you can apply these within your SEND specialism.

Subject Specialist Knowledge and Pedagogy - Maths: Numeracy (20 credits) (Maths pathway only) -
Explore the factors that influence the development and progression of numeracy learners. Examine the use of assessment approaches to meet the needs of numeracy-based learners and use maths teaching approaches and resources to meet the needs of individuals. Promote learning and learner support within numeracy related teaching and learning. Understand how to liaise with others to promote the inclusion of numeracy and wider maths related skills in learning programmes. Explore the fundamental attributes of maths/numeracy and examine how learning theories and the origins of maths impact on numeracy teaching.

Subject Specialist Knowledge and Pedagogy - Computing (20 credits) (Computing pathway only) -
Gain an understanding of key issues relating to teaching computing and technology related subjects. Explore the key factors that influence delivery and learning through technology. Develop or consolidate the use of technology within your teaching and learning practice. Improve your general and specialist digital skills which are vital for learning, life, and work in an increasingly digitalised world. Learn to effectively use technology in your teaching, learning and assessment activities.

The Enhanced Mentoring pathway is a bespoke Initial Teacher Training option accredited by the University of Sunderland. Training as part of this pathway gives you the opportunity to learn on the job from the very beginning. You will benefit from working and learning every day in a further education environment, gaining immediate insight into what teaching involves. The Enhanced Mentoring option as part of the PGCE PCET is a fee-paying route into teaching, delivered in-house at Hartlepool Sixth Form and accredited by/in collaboration with the PCET team at the University of Sunderland.

This pathway option is delivered by qualified in-house staff who possess a high level of expertise. It allows you as a trainee teacher to experience a bespoke course in which you can immerse yourself in post-16 education. You will benefit from this vast knowledge and experience, demonstrated through the academic programme that has been devised to cover a broad range of training areas.

These areas include an introduction to teaching and learning, embedding effective assessment, enrichment, and developing action research skills. Teaching will be supported by contemporary academic writing and educational research to ensure you are provided with a thorough knowledge of current educational policy and practice.

In addition, you will spend two days in department areas, teaching, mentoring, and supporting teachers. The programme has been designed in line with other PCET courses with an additional dual specialism element and will be accredited by the University of Sunderland.