Delivered by our partners at NITE (National Institute of Teaching and Education).
About this course
A teacher training course tailored specifically for trainee teachers in independent schools (junior, preparatory and senior) in the UK.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education teacher training course is tailored specifically for trainee teachers employed in independent schools (junior, preparatory and senior) in the UK. It has been designed to sit alongside the national Teachers’ Standards in England and upon successful completion could significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) at a later stage. Qualified Teacher Status is the recognised award to teach in state-maintained schools in England.
If you are interested in the opportunity to gain Qualified Teacher Status, see our PGCE with QTS course
If you instead want to study your PGCE in a school abroad, head to our PGCE for International Schools.
The PGCE course is school-based, which means that you will study while in employment in a school as a trainee teacher, teaching assistant or learning assistant, under the supervision of an in-school mentor and university tutor. It combines the flexibility of online learning with practical in-school experience, which aims to provide you with relevant study to complement your work in-school. You can choose to study solely online but also have the opportunity to attend up to six days of face-to-face sessions at the university.
The course is designed to be highly practical in nature because we believe that learning the craft of the classroom is best done on the job. It is also grounded in applicable pedagogical research and aims to provide successful teaching practice that is geared to enable you to become a first-class teacher upon successful completion.
We offer multiple start dates throughout the year, so you can start at the right time for you. The course is usually studied over an academic year, but is also flexible and can take longer to allow for individual circumstances –for example, if you work part-time or simply wish to take more time to complete the course. Whenever and wherever you choose to study, our aim is to help you become not just a teacher but a great teacher.
What are the entry requirements?
Prior experience in teaching or in schools is not a pre-requisite of acceptance onto the course. Trainees can include recent graduates who have secured a teaching or teaching assistant job in a school, career changers and teachers/assistants who have worked in a school for a time but have no formal teaching qualification.
To gain entry to the course, all trainees must:
- Hold an undergraduate degree or equivalent as assessed by NARIC
- Be employed in a school for the duration of your study
Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS of 6.5 overall.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is a teacher training course tailored for trainee teachers, teaching assistants and learning support assistants, who are employed in independent schools (junior, preparatory and senior) in the UK, and wish to have the opportunity to train on the job.
The course aims to develop teachers who are confident, inspiring and highly effective in transferring knowledge and skills to their pupils. In doing so, the course aims to:
- Enable you to explore wider perspectives in education and have the opportunity to deepen your understanding of codes of practice and contemporary issues affecting schools.
- Equip you with the skills to reflect on your personal and professional development and respond positively to feedback through critical analysis of your practice.
- Support you to develop an inquiry-led approach to research of your own practice and reflect on strategies for effective teaching and learning.
- Foster a culture of independent learning and self-awareness so you can take responsibility for your own professional development while understanding your strengths, weaknesses and how to progress your own teaching.
Behaviour and Classroom Management
This module aims to develop your understanding of principles of educational psychology, neuroscience and contemporary educational theory on behaviour. You will explore how children learn, what influences behaviour and what strategies and interventions are effective for promoting good teaching and learning.
Curriculum Delivery and Assessment Management
This module aims to develop your knowledge of subject pedagogy, effective lesson planning and application of statutory codes for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as well as principles of assessment and feedback practices.
Development of the Teachers’ Standards
This module aims to develop a reflective and self-critical approach to teaching. As such, you will be required to demonstrate effective practice via critical evaluation and systematic analysis of your own teaching practice in line with The National Teachers’ Standards in England (Department for Education 2012).
Practical Teaching Practice
The Practical Teaching Practice module is practice-based and runs throughout the course. You will be encouraged to set, review and show that you can meet targets related to your professional practice and demonstrate your competency in all of the Teachers’ Standards.
We offer a range of financing packages and our qualification fees are competitively priced. Please register your interest to find out more.
