About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: X121
- Applications: GTTR
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Education
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: One year full-time
- Delivery: Full-time
- Programme leader: Jo Barkham - Admissions Tutor
Introduction
In this one-year postgraduate course you study the Foundation Curriculum and the core National Curriculum at Key Stage 1 (English, mathematics and science), and are particularly equipped to teach the Foundation Curriculum to pre-school and reception children and Key Stage 1. You also study theory surrounding early childhood learning.
Early Years students have 'taster' courses in the foundation subjects.
This is a very popular course and competition for places is high, so an early application is essential (please note the GTTR dates for applications). We regret that fierce competition for a limited number of places means that we have to disappoint many candidates. You should ensure that you meet the entry requirements and have sufficient observation experience in relevant settings.
Find out more about what PGCE Primary Education at UWE has to offer in terms of teaching quality, staff expertise and your student experience.
Structure
Content
On this 38-week course, you spend 19 weeks in schools and 19 in the Department of Education at UWE. The course is designed so that your experiences in these two sites of learning are integrated. In school, you carry out directed tasks that support your learning in the Department of Education, and study in the Department of Education informs your practice in the classroom.
Seminars and lectures equip you to meet the standards to teach and assess the core subjects of Maths, English and Science and, with support, the foundation subjects of the National Curriculum. Trainees are also offered a subject specialism.
Hear what our students think about their time at UWE.
Teaching and learning
The course is conducted through lectures, seminars, tutorials and group tasks. The lecturing team has a wide range of recent teaching experience in schools.
The Department of Education has workshop areas where you practise many of the practical and school-focused aspects of primary education. The Department of Education has a contemporary approach to teaching and learning, making full use of up-to-date technology.
You are allocated a General Professional Studies Tutor who acts as an anchor person during the course and helps with preparation for a professional career in schools.
Find out more about our academic staff, their teaching expertise and research interests.
Assessment
Assessment is based on five professionally based assignments and the final block school experience.
Special Features
Placements
School experience 1: Autumn term
During the four-week block after the autumn half term, trainees, who may be placed individually or in pairs, work under the guidance of the class teacher. Much of the work is in small groups, although towards the end of the period, you are encouraged to take on responsibility for the whole class. You are formatively assessed during this block.
School experience 2: Spring term
This three-week block has a particular emphasis on collaboration and trainees work in groups of three to a class. There is also a curriculum focus on Information Communications Technology (ICT). Working closely with the class teacher, you deliver and evaluate a three-week programme.
School experience 3: Summer term
This long block (seven - nine weeks) is formally assessed on a pass/fail basis. You are expected to take overall responsibility for the class by the fourth week. You have to be able to teach in two key stages.
Careers/further study
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses 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 further information on your career in teaching, including salary scales and case studies of current trainee teachers, visit www.tda.gov.uk.
Hear from past UWE students about how studying here has enhanced their career prospects and opened up new opportunities.
Entry
Entry requirements
Applicants should have a good honours degree (normally 2:1) in early childhood studies, psychology and sociology or similar but competition for places, is considerable and therefore we will make our selection based on the whole application process.
All applicants should also have GCSE grade C or above in mathematics, English language and science (University tests in mathematics, English language and science may be available for some applicants).
It is expected that you will have a minimum of two weeks' recent experience of working in a state primary school prior to interview.
Additional requirements
Entry is subject to satisfactory interview to assess professional suitability, registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), a successful medical and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance. If you would like information regarding issues that could disqualify you from teacher training, please contact us on +44 (0)117 32 83333.
Due to the competition for places on this programme, you will only be offered one interview opportunity. If you do not attend this interview without prior agreement, we will not be able to give you an alternative date.
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