-The confidence and practical skills necessary to manage a range of learning situations.
-The knowledge and understanding to appreciate the place of your skills in the general context of Further or Adult Education.
-The ability to identify your present and future needs for professional development.
-The ability to play a full part in the administrative and curriculum development activities of colleges and training organisations.
Entry requirementsEntry Requirements
-UK degree or equivalent related to the specialist subject area.
-Relevant work experience.
-Health check and Criminal Records Bureau clearance.
Academic titlePost-Compulsory Education and Training PGCE
Course descriptionIntroduction
The subject areas we cater for are:
-Art and Design
-Business Studies/Law/Management
-Catering and Hospitality
-Construction and Civil Engineering
-Early Years
-Engineering (all branches)
-English and Expressive Arts
-Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy
-Health and Social Care
-Information Technology/Mathematics
-Media
-Science
-Skills for Life
-Social Sciences/Humanities
-Sports and Leisure
-Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities
Places may be available at
-Darlington College
-Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education
-University Centre Barnsley
-University Cente Oldham
Contact the School for details.
If you are interested in teaching young people and adults this course enables you to develop teaching skills, reflect on current ideas about education and training and explore professional educational and training opportunities.
The PGCE is the professional qualification for people wishing to teach in Further Education colleges, Adult Education, Higher Education and a wide range of other education and training settings outside the school sector. We have been training people to work in these areas since 1947.
The course is designed for graduates intending to teach in the post-compulsory or training sector. It assumes no previous teaching experience. It does not confer Qualified Teacher Status, required to teach in a school. If you wish to teach in a school, please consider our BA Early Primary Education or
PGCE in certain secondary school subjects. You study the different aspects of teachers' work such as designing learning materials, assessing
students and evaluating learning and teaching. We encourage you to take responsibility for your own learning. You can explore topics that are of interest, relevant to your working environment and to your career development.
More generally it aims to produce innovative and flexible teachers with a deep interest in the academic
and pastoral well-being of their students who can work as members of inter-disciplinary teams.
Course Structure
We will find you a suitable work experience placement.
Much of the course is focused on the experience of practical teaching. Participants gain experience of learning and teaching alongside other professionals, with support from tutors at the University, as a vehicle for their professional development. Practical experience allows participants to gain competence in planning teaching and learning, and in working with students both in formal classrooms and in student-centred learning situations, such as drop-in study centres.
You also undertake project work, such as developing new course materials. Academic work includes analysing colleges and training institutions as organisations, and critically examining marketing, enterprise and quality issues. Option modules allow you to explore particular areas of interest.
The course is accredited by the Higher Education Academy and endorsed by FENTO (now Lifelong Learning UK). Students with appropriate experience may gain the standards associated with these two agencies whilst completing the PGCE.
A Certificate in Education (CertEd) qualification is also available for those without a degree. CertEd trainees are taught alongside PGCE students and the course content is the same. A part-time, in-service, two-year course is available for those already teaching. We also offer Level 4 part time qualifications in literacy, numeracy and ESOL.
Teaching and Assessment
During the course, you will undertake project work, such as developing new course materials. Academic work includes analysing colleges and training institutions as organisations, and critically examining marketing, enterprise and quality issues. Academic credit is gained by undertaking assignments and collecting evidence of achievement.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities are varied and employment rates excellent. Many trainees become full or part-time lecturers in Further Education colleges, teaching students on programmes such as NVQs, HNDs, City and Guilds, GCSEs, AS Levels, A Levels and Vocational A Levels, access courses, basic education and working with students with learning difficulties. Other trainees become full-time or part-time lecturers in the post-compulsory education and training sector, including Higher Education, adult education, training organisations and community education