About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: W9X1
- Applications: GTTR
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Education
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: One year full-time
- Delivery: Full-time
- Study Abroad: No
- Programme leader: Sally Bassett
Introduction
The Secondary Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one academic year (36 week) course that trains graduates to be secondary school teachers of Design and Technology in all four main specialist areas: Food Technology, Resistant Materials Technology, Electronics and Control Technology and Textiles Technology. You will also be trained in a second specialist area to teach at Key Stage 3 only.
The PGCE programme has been designed to train teachers for the full secondary age phase (11-18) in two of the Design and Technology specialist areas. You are assessed against the standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in two key stages, normally KS3 and KS4. Additionally you will be given the opportunity to engage in some observation and teaching at post-16 in AS/A2 Design and Technology programmes.
Design and Technology - the most exciting subject on the school curriculum! Where else do pupils get to design and make things they can wear or eat or use to improve their own lives and the lives of others? Where else can they prepare for life in the 21st century, become discriminating users of products and begin the development of their understanding of the new technologies that may just change our world for the better in the future?
The course offers an exciting and developmental model of training to teach Design and Technology with an emphasis on developing your professional competence alongside ensuring a high level of knowledge, skills and understanding in the chosen subject specialist areas. This is also underpinned by a clear understanding of the philosophy of teaching Design and Technology across the subject specialist areas and supported by work with young people in classrooms, workshops and other specialist rooms.
The course is just the beginning of what we hope will be a process of continual professional development throughout a challenging and rewarding career.
Our Secondary PGCE programme has recently been graded Outstanding by Ofsted (2011).
Find out more about what PGCE Secondary Education at UWE has to offer in terms of teaching quality, staff expertise and your student experience.
Structure
Content
The course is part of the Department of Education's programme for Initial Teacher Training. Units studied are:
- Enabling Learning
- Meeting Curriculum Challenges
- Becoming a Teacher
These units are studied in both the school and the University-based parts of the course, the work on each site being complementary.
The PGCE in Design and Technology can offer you the chance to use your skills and knowledge to help young people become effective citizens of the 21st century. This exciting area of the school curriculum offers opportunities for those with degrees in a wide range of related fields through the following specialisms: Materials Technology (working with wood, metal, plastic), Food Technology, Textile Technology, Graphic Products and Electronics and Communications Technology.
The course will train you to teach in two of the specialist areas. You will teach your main specialism to Key Stage 4 and beyond, and your second to pupils up to 14 years old. You will develop your understanding of the Design and Technology curriculum through practical workshops and activities. You will learn how to plan, prepare and teach effective and successful lessons with practical teaching experience in at least two secondary schools or colleges. You will become competent in CAD/CAM and other ICT applications and explore how technology is shaping the future of industry. You will be encouraged to work collaboratively and to share your knowledge, skills and understanding with other trainees through small group design and make projects exploring issues such as multicultural design sources and industry related practice.
You will be supported in the development of your subject specialisms through a programme of Elective Workshops and focused practical activity. If you need to boost your knowledge prior to the start of the PGCE there are Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) courses in Design and Technology.
Health and Safety is an important issue in schools and we offer a Health and Safety Training Course that leads to the Design and Technology Association certification now required by most schools. You will also have the opportunity to complete the Foundation Food Hygiene Certificate.
The Department of Education at UWE has purpose built workshop and teaching facilities and friendly approachable staff who are all very experienced in the specialist areas. Our partner schools also provide a range of experiences, for example some are specialist technology schools or colleges, and you will be supported in school by specially trained tutors and mentors.
So, if you are enthusiastic about your subject and have a degree in a suitable specialism or significant experience in an appropriate field in the world of work, for example as a trained chef, why not join a profession that offers a satisfying and exciting future. You could be teaching the next generation of chefs, fashion designers, engineers or designers - we need people like you on our PGCE course to inspire them.
Hear what our students think about their time at UWE.
Teaching and learning
Personal support
We recognise that embarking on a new course of study can sometimes be quite a challenging undertaking. Students have three main sources of support and information from the University during the course: firstly there is the Group Tutor in their subject area, secondly each student is allocated a Personal Tutor and thirdly any student can get support on a range of issues from the Department Student Adviser.
Find out more about our academic staff, their teaching expertise and research interests.
Assessment
In order to pass the course, you are required to pass each unit. You are assessed on a number of written assignments and also on classroom practice against the standards specified by the Secretary of State for the award of QTS. Before the end of the course it is recommended that you take the computer-based QTS skills tests in Numeracy, Literacy and ICT which are set by the Training and Development Agency (TDA).
Special Features
Placements
24 weeks are spent on placement: a total of eight weeks in one placement during the autumn term and 16 weeks in a second placement during the spring and summer.
As well as teaching, the programme includes contact time with a Senior Professional Tutor and a Subject Mentor, directed study time and personal study time.
There is an opportunity to spend time in a primary school and some students may also visit other institutions, such as special schools or colleges of further education.
Careers/further study
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programmes now include 40 credits of assessment at Master's Level (Level M). If you opt not to attempt the requisite credit at Level M, a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education will be available as an alternative award.
Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)
For general information about teaching as a career, including teachers' salaries and the professional standards set out by the TDA in 'Qualifying to Teach', contact the TDA by calling the teacher information line on +44 (0)845 6000 991 or visit the website www.tda.gov.uk.
For information about the national curriculum and subjects taught in secondary schools, visit the National Curriculum online www.nc.uk.net.
Hear from past UWE students about how studying here has enhanced their career prospects and opened up new opportunities.
Entry
Entry requirements
Applicants normally have:
- A good honours degree (normally 2:1 minimum) with at least 50 per cent in a related subject (relating to the subject you want to teach) such as Engineering, Food Science, Textile Design, Fashion and Textiles, Product Design, Graphic Design, Electronic Engineering.
- GCSE grade C or above in mathematics and English language. (University tests in mathematics and English language may be available for some applicants)
- To have spent a minimum of 1-2 weeks in a department of a secondary school or college observing Design and Technology being taught, within the previous two years.
If you need to boost your knowledge prior to the start of the PGCE there are Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) courses in Design and Technology.
Additional requirements
Applicants must pass an initial selection process and short-listed candidates will be interviewed at the Department of Education. Entry is subject to satisfactory interview to assess professional suitability and subject to successful medical and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance. If you would like information regarding issues that could disqualify you from teaching training, please contact us on +44 (0)117 32 83333.
TDA Standards and requirements
Following the review of Standards and Requirements for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) by the Secretary of State in 2007, the Department of Education has designed its full-time courses to be compliant with the latest standards and requirements. For information on the latest standards please visit the TDA website.
General Teaching Council Registration
Please also note that since 1 September 2008 anyone commencing a course of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) in England leading to the award of Qualified Teacher Status is required to be provisionally registered with the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE). You will need to complete a suitability declaration to enable the Council to identify any reason which may prevent registration. At the point of the offer of a place on an ITT course at UWE, you will be sent a GTCE Suitability Declaration form which will need to be completed and returned to the University. Providing that this declaration meets the requirements you will be recommended to be registered with the GTCE. The Government has announced a proposal to abolish the GTCE but until Parliamentary legislation is enacted registration is still required.
For further information on Provisional Registration and the suitability assessment please visit the GTCE website.
Fees
For details about fees and the UWE Bursary, please see our fees and funding web pages.
How to apply
Please apply online at: www.gttr.ac.uk.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011