Course description
This secondary teacher training course leads to qualified teacher status (QTS). It equips you to teach citizenship in secondary schools.
This is a relatively new subject in the school curriculum. It aims to teach pupils to be informed, critical and active citizens.
On the course you
• enhance your subject knowledge, understanding and skills
• learn how to teach citizenship
• learn about the wider role of teachers in school
• gain knowledge about schools and the education system
• apply your skills and knowledge on school placements
You can complete the course full-time in ten months. Or you can study part-time and distance learning, with the option to attend ten University-based study days.
Your learning is supported by an e-learning environment giving you access to a range of resources.
The course is flexible which allows you to
• study from anywhere in the country if you can arrange school placements in your region
• enrol, and then delay the start if you need
• move through the course at your own rate on a part-time basis, taking up to three years
• apply for exemption from some of the course requirements, if you have significant experience of working with young people in an educational setting
We help you develop the skills you need to be a successful teacher of pupils of all abilities. By studying with us, you build your enthusiasm, confidence, knowledge and ability to teach citizenship.
You also gain self-evaluation skills by completing a career preparation profile. This provides evidence that you meet the QTS standards for self-evaluation and personal development.
School placements are central to the course. You complete teaching placements in two 11–16 or 11–18 secondary schools, or in a post-16 college. This allows you to experience the progression from Key Stage 3 to 4 or 5.
A University-trained mentor supports you when on placement. Your course tutor also visits you to discuss your progress.
We have strong partnerships with secondary schools and colleges in the area and many of our students are offered teaching jobs in their placement schools.
During the course you can choose to complete either the PGCE or the professional graduate certificate in education (ProfGCE). Both qualifications achieve QTS but the PGCE also gives you 60 Masters level credits, which you can use towards a masters degree.
Associated careers
We have an excellent graduate employment record. Over 85 per cent of our PGCE graduates are teaching or in further study within six months of graduating.
Newly qualified citizenship teachers are in demand as schools are developing this new subject and there is a lack of expertise in the area. It is not unusual for newly-qualified citizenship teachers to get subject leader or curriculum co-ordination responsibilities quickly.
Course content
Modules
• the organisation and management of the teaching and learning of citizenship • developing the citizenship curriculum • researching the citizenship curriculum • general professional studies • teaching placements in schools
Your placements include teaching citizenship
• as a subject in its own right
• in personal health and social education
• in combination with another subject from your academic background
