What Makes This Course So Special?
The course offers an excellent opportunity to share good practice, creative and innovative teaching and learning strategies and resource materials with others from a wide range of subject areas as well as your own. This part time, in-service programme promotes a high level of student participation and engagement through discussion and a varied range of learner centred activities. You will be required to attend one day a week – either Tuesday (morning and afternoon) or Thursday (afternoon and evening) and the attendance patterns provides flexibility if you are unable to attend on the same day throughout the year.
Course Intro
This course is for you if you are looking to gain a nationally recognised qualification to work in further education and the broader post-compulsory sector. The certificate is for non-graduates and the PGCE route is for graduates.
On the course you will develop your skills, knowledge and understanding of successful practice in PcET and your confidence as a professional practitioner. Your personal tutor will support you throughout the year as you develop as a professional.
These courses have been revised to ensure that they meet new professional standards. You can achieve a PGCE/Certificate in Education that is either a generic qualification for teaching most subjects or a PGCE/Cert Ed, specialising in teaching Literacy, Numeracy or ESOL.
What you study
The first year of the programme is designed to develop a range of essential teaching skills, increase knowledge of the learning process and introduce a range of innovative teaching and learning strategies. Four modules will be completed during the first year:
• Preparing to Teach (10 credits)
• Foundations of Learning and Teaching (10 credits)
• Planning and Assessment (20 credits)
• Professional Development and Practice 1 (20 credits)*
* 75 hours of practical teaching experience will be completed as part of this module.
The second year of the programme will engage you in curriculum planning and research activities designed to enhance professional skills. Three modules will be completed during the second year:
• Widening Professional Practice (20 credits)
• Curriculum Planning for Inclusive Learning (20 credits)
• Professional Development and Practice 2* (20 credits)
*A further 75 hours of teaching experience will be completed in the second year.
During the second year of the programme, there will be an opportunity for Health Professionals to complete the M level module, Mentoring and Reflective Practice, which is endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Those undertaking the Health Professionals’ module will be required to complete the equivalent of 360 hours of teaching experience.
A programme specification for this course is available.
Where Next?
It is expected that soon all teachers in the sector in Wales will possess or be working towards the required professional qualifications for teachers. In addition to this formal requirement, evidence from past years shows that completion of the course enhances the career and employment potential of course members.
Progression routes include study at degree level for non graduates and study at Masters’ level for those who wish to continue with postgraduate studies.
Interview Required
Informal interviews take place for all participants. Decisions are based on teaching or training experience, degree of motivation to undertake the course, appropriate knowledge and skills and opportunities for teaching throughout the two years of the programme.
Assessment
Assessment includes assignments based on lesson planning, teaching, assessment and evaluation, course design and small scale research. No formal examinations. Assessment of professional practice by a series of observations and assessments and via a professional development portfolio.
Student Soundbite
“I have incorporated many of the strategies into my own teaching.”