About this course
Introduction
Who is the course aimed at?
If you are an unqualified teacher in Further Education, Adult and Community Education or a trainer in the public or private sectors - this course will be relevant to you.
Why do the course?
This course aims to provide teachers, lecturers and trainers working with a range of students the necessary skills, knowledge and competence to undertake their professional role with confidence and to the mutual benefit of both teacher and learner. These are part time, in-service courses for educators in further education, work-based training and the public services, who want the professional effectiveness, personal satisfaction and career enhancement that comes from gaining an advanced and nationally respected University teaching qualification.
All new lecturers in the Learning and Skills sector now require advanced teacher training accreditation. The government has put in place a compulsory qualifications framework based upon the LLUK standards for teaching and supporting learning in the Learning and Skills sector in England and Wales effective since September 2007. The part-time in-service courses at UWE meet these standards. Attainment of the standards is a prerequisite for membership of the Institute for Learning, and to gain QTLS status. In work-based training and in the public services, an increasing number of trainers are encouraged to seek qualifications that will be comparable with those of their colleagues in the sector.
Skills for Life
Our partner college, City of Bristol, offers a specialism in Skills for Life for those who work, or want to work, as specialist teachers of ESOL, Literacy or Numeracy in the Lifelong Learning Sector.
This is an in-service qualification and students will need to confirm at interview that they already have 150 teaching hours over the two year course. You will also need a mentor at your place of work.
At the end of the course you will be qualified to teach ESOL, or Adult Literacy or Adult Numeracy in colleges, the workplace, private training providers, community setting, prisons and other centrally-funded organisations.
For more details about this specialism please contact City of Bristol College directly via www.cityofbristol.ac.uk or e-mail enquiries@cityofbristol.ac.uk
Structure
Content
What does the course cover?
The course is designed for teachers and trainers in all subjects and all situations. We certificate your practical teaching skills, as well as extending your knowledge of the world of post-compulsory education. Currently, we have over 300 students taking Learning and Skills part-time courses that aim to meet the specific needs of graduate and non-graduate teachers.
The modules in the course range from 10 to 40 credits. For every 10 credits a notional student study time of 100 hours is assumed, which includes taught hours, guided reading, directed study tasks and assessment. The full course consists of the following taught modules and normally runs over two years at Gloucestershire College, Stroud College, Yeovil College and City of Bristol College:
- Preparing for Teaching in the Learning and Skills Sector
- Practical Teaching and Professional Development (1)
- Practical Teaching and Professional Development (2)
- Planning and Enabling Learning and Assessment
- Preparing for Advanced Study: Reflective Professional Practice
- Context and Curriculum in Lifelong Learning
Flexible and bespoke variations may be available by special arrangement, for work-based groups of at least 15 students.
Please note not every course includes every module, nor will every student take every module belonging to their course as they may be allowed credit. The order in which modules are taken may vary from student to student.
Assessment
Modes of assessment vary. You will for example be asked to make presentations and produce written assignments. In the Context and Curriculum module you carry out a small scale enquiry into your practice. All assignments take a practical focus and encourage you to evaluate your work and plan improvements. In the Practical Teaching modules you are observed teaching by university tutors as well as by your mentor and peers. You also carry out observations of other teachers.
Careers/further study
The courses are part of a flexible modular scheme, with progression to higher awards. These other awards are not initial teaching qualifications, but will be of interest to staff in post-compulsory education who are already qualified and seek an advanced qualification recognising further advanced study in post-compulsory education.
There are opportunities to take forward the credit from this course into other awards. Many students, having achieved their teaching qualification award, take advantage of the major credits they have earned to fast track into a degree or diploma up to MA level; for instance, the new MA Lifelong Learning. The content is prescribed only to the extent of requiring students to take certain research modules but otherwise there is considerable flexibility.
Entry
Entry requirements
All students are supervised and helped to develop their practical teaching, so you will need to be doing a minimum number of hours teaching during the course. For entry you need to have or find:
- part-time or full-time employment as a practising teacher/trainer with a minimum of 150 teaching hours over two years in an approved context. NB teaching hours may drop to 100, subject to LLUK confirmation in summer 2011
- for the CertEd a relevant L3 or higher qualification in your subject
- for the PGCert a relevant qualification in your subject and a degree
- a suitable qualified mentor at your place of work
Applicants will have to demonstrate basic skills in literacy and numeracy, usually GCSE Grade C or above in English and mathematics. You will need to submit copies of all certificates as proof of qualifications obtained.
Accredited Learning
Accredited Learning (AL) is a significant feature of our course as we encourage you to seek credit exemption from part of your award for prior professional learning. For example, if you have gained CTLLS, DTTLS or the older Level 4 CFET awards, or equivalent, these could count towards your award through Accredited Learning. Other accreditation may be available - we can discuss this with you at interview.
Fees
Some employers, such as FE colleges, may partially or fully sponsor your fees. You may be eligible for other financial support from Student Finance England. It is your responsibility to ensure that fees payment has been arranged, to be able to register for the programme.
How to apply
Please contact one of the following colleges:
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011