What Makes This Course So Special?
Come and join a community of practitioners teaching your specialist subject in the post-16 sector, all working towards a teaching qualification. You will share ideas about learning and teaching, and form new professional networks and friendships. We support you in developing your own confidence in, and understanding of, your subject. We also guarantee you a stimulating year’s study!
Course Intro
This course is for you if you are currently teaching literacy/communication, numeracy/maths or English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) to adults or young people over 16 and are looking to continue your professional development with a full teaching qualification.
This nationally recognised specialist teaching qualification will qualify you to work in the post-compulsory sector (e.g. further education, adult and community education, prisons or work-based learning). On the course you will have the opportunity to to review and extend your teaching practice and subject knowledge, and develop professionally. You will benefit from the guidance and support of our team of specialist teacher educators, all of whom are experienced teachers in their field. You will also learn from others in the group, and will be encouraged to share good practice and develop links with teachers from other organisations.
In addition, these courses all meet the Lifelong Learning UK National Standards and subject specifications. On completion, you will gain a PGCE and non-graduates a Certificate of Education.
What you study
In the first year you will study with a subject-specific group of developing teachers. You will deepen your understanding of English language, literacy or numeracy/maths (as appropriate) as a subject area. This will include knowledge of key questions, theories and concepts in your subject, as well as the development of your own personal skills in the subject area. You will extend your repertoire of learning and teaching methods and strategies in your subject, and develop understanding of the diverse needs of learners. You will consider how the theories of learning and assessment can be applied to the teaching of your subject. You will be encouraged to analyse and critique policies and practices relating to the teaching of your subject, and to develop your own considered approach to teaching language, literacy or numeracy.
In the second year of the course, you will study alongside those planning to teach other subjects at post-16 (from leisure and tourism to music technology and beyond). You will look at broader issues in post-compulsory education, learning and teaching from your perspective as a subject specialist, and you will work on projects with course participants from your own and other subject areas.
A programme specification for this course is available.
Where Next?
Evidence from past years shows that completion of the course enhances the career and employment potential of course members.
Progression routes include MA Post-compulsory Education & Training programmes for those who wish to continue with postgraduate studies. The School’s MA programme offers specialist routes for further, advanced study including the MA TESOL.
Interview Required
Yes. There is also a subject-specific (i.e. numeracy skills or language/literacy skills) assessment at interview, which must be completed satisfactorily.
Assessment
Assessment is very closely connected to your own teaching and professional development. Assessment includes presentations, microteaching, case studies, seminars, teaching practice observations and critical evaluations of your own practice. There are no formal written exams.
Student Soundbite
“The course has provided me with sound working practices, confidence to develop my own expertise with the learners and efficient and effective methods of communication.”