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 Post-compulsory Education PGCE 


What Makes This Course So Special?

This course offers participants the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to helping future generations of students to improve their life chances. The teaching team at Newport have a huge range of experience in a variety of post-compulsory settings in the UK and overseas.

Course Intro

This course is for you if you are a graduate from a relevant subject looking to gain a nationally recognised qualification to work in further education and the broader post-compulsory sector.

On the course you will develop your skills, knowledge and understanding of successful practice in Post-compulsory Education and your confidence as a professional practitioner. You will be encouraged to take responsibility for planning and managing your professional experiences and development as the course progresses, with the guidance of your personal tutor and your subject specialist workplace mentor. You will also experience a supported placement in one of our partner colleges enabling you to develop professionally with the support of an experienced subject specialist mentor.

This course has recently been revised to ensure that they meet new Lifelong Learning UK National Standards. You are also able to achieve a PGCE specialising in teaching one of Adult Literacy, Numeracy or ESOL.

Information about the national picture can be found at http://www.lluk.org

What you study

The course content provides a basis for you to achieve the full professional status of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills [QTLS] after the required period of professional formation working in the sector.

The structure of the course corresponds to the learning and teaching cycle, and includes identifying needs, planning for learning, managing learning, assessment and evaluation of learning. Other themes include diversity, equal opportunities, inclusive learning, curriculum and policies in Post-compulsory Education. You will be encouraged and supported in developing your skills and understanding in language, literacy, numeracy and ICT, to the professionally required level, by addressing the minimum core requirements in these areas.

This course, like all teacher education courses, develops a very wide range of skills and aptitudes that can be applied in many different settings, though the focus is on your own personal, professional development as a subject teacher in this sector.

Our trainee teachers are drawn from a wide range of subjects which reflect those currently offered in our partner further education colleges.

A programme specification is available for this course.

Where Next?

The qualification is recognised nationally as the requirement for teachers entering the post-compulsory sector, a very wide field that includes further education, adult and community education, work-based learning, the work of many voluntary organisations and community development.


Interview Required

Yes. Candidates will be expected to do a five minute presentation in which they outline how their skills and experience are relevant to working in the PcE sector.   


Assessment

Assessment is very closely connected to your own work activity and learning. Assessments include reports, group tasks, small scale research projects and practical teaching observation. There are no formal written exams. Your professional practice will be assessed by a series of observations, and a professional development portfolio.


Student Soundbite

“The emphasis is on helping to gain confidence and competence by acquiring the essential skills, knowledge and understanding of good practice in teaching in the post-compulsory education sector.”


Student Successes
Teaching Team
Course Costs

Tony Gallagher - PGCE Post Compulsory Education (Full-time)

“Drama is my passion and I have always wanted to teach but it has taken me 27 years as a Civil Servant to realise my ambitions!

Deciding on a career break and leaving Ireland in 2002 I went on to graduate with first class honours in drama, Theatre and Media.  During this time I worked as a support actor in Casualty, Pobol y Cwm, Torchwood, Belonging and got the part of the Evil Alien Santa who blew up the Christmas tree in the Dr. Who Christmas special, 2005, David Tennant’s first appearance.

Knowing that actors are more time out of work than in, I decided to study for the PGCE Post-compulsory Education which would help me realise my teaching ambition. While the course was at times very intensive the teaching staff were always at hand and very helpful.

From the perspective of being a drama practitioner the course has developed me into being a more professional facilitator. Once armed with my lesson plan and knowing my aims and objectives, I can walk confidently into any classroom. The challenge for me in supply teaching, covering any subject, arises when no work details are left and I must think quickly. Yes, many of these classes will turn into drama classes which students love.

Apart from agency supply teaching, I work as a freelance drama practitioner and have contracts with the Arts Department of Caerphilly County Borough Council directing the County Youth Theatre and also teaching children’s classes.  Having a PGCE has increased my bargaining power in relation to negotiating fees for services rendered! Outside of teaching and as a labour of love, I am directing a pantomime for Cancercareline in Blackwood. My PGCE has helped me immensely with my role as director to appreciate the individual and how issues may affect them.

The PGCE has empowered me and given me control to teach when I want and free me up for maybe when the BIG OSCAR WINNING ROLE comes my way!”



Course Leader: Richard Lander-Clarke
E-mail: Richard.clarke@newport.ac.uk


Course Tutor: Dr Jan Oti
E-mail: Janet.oti@newport.ac.uk

Course Tutor: Mark Joyce
E-mail: mailto:mark.joyce@newport.ac.uk


Mandatory Items Costs
Registrations / memberships / awards / CRB checks

CRB Check (if not current).

Where there is a requirement for students to undergo a CRB check, this will cost £ £36.
Relevant up-to-date instructions will be sent out as part of the admissions process.

Other Students will be expected to cover the costs of travelling to University as well as to the placement college.
Optional Costs

Approx £100 (for Specialist materials and learning resources including books, journals and other resources – optional)


Key Facts
Year of Entry

September 2012

Course Code
X341
Duration
1 year full-time

Entry Requirements
• A 2:1 degree or above is desirable, or a recognised equivalent, in a relevant subject area. If you are offering a vocational subject you are normally expected also to demonstrate that you have some relevant vocational experience.
• Mathematics and English language GCSE Grade C or above (or equivalent) are desirable
• Health declaration, CRB check required as appropriate

Campus
Caerleon

Full-time
Yes

Part-time
No

Home/EU Fees

£9,000


Find out more
All Enquiries 
University Information Centre
University of Wales, Newport
Caerleon Campus
Lodge Road
Caerleon
Newport
South Wales
NP18 3QT

Tel: (01633) 432432
Fax: (01633) 432046

Email:uic@newport.ac.uk 

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