Level 6 Further Education and Skills (PGCE)

The Course in Detail

Become a teacher in a college, sixth form or training centre on this Further Education and Skills (PGCE), and support and inspire students aged 16 and above as they prepare to take their first career steps.

You’ll learn the most effective teaching techniques by spending time on teaching placements in real education settings and exploring teaching theory in lectures and classes. You’ll also develop subject specific knowledge by working closely with course lecturers and work-based subject mentors.

Course modules:

• Learning and Teaching in Further Education (FE)

• Current Themes and Policy in Curriculum Design

• Preparing for Professional Practice

• Professional Practice in your Subject Area

• Educational Research in Practice

Year 1 – Planning, Assessing & Evaluating and Learning Programmes; Theories & Principles for Planning & Enabling Learning in a Specialist Subject Area.

You will understand your own role and responsibilities in relation to the teaching and learning process and learn how to plan and prepare lessons using the appropriate teaching and learning strategies. You will also be able to apply theories and principles of learning to enable inclusive learning.

Year 2 – Professional Practice, Curriculum Design in a Specialist Subject Area. You will investigate education policy in an area relevant to your own work.

You will also do a small piece of research to develop your understanding of your learners and of your own practice. You will reflect on your own development needs and create a teaching file of evidence linking theory to practice.

The course will be taught by a mixture of lectures, seminars, group work, individual tutorials and guided self study. It is assessed by written work, oral presentation, observation of teaching and a teaching practice file. You will develop the skills required to be a reflective teacher in post-16 education and training.

Awarding Body
This qualification is awarded by the University of Portsmouth.

Entry Requirements & Progression

What You'll Need

You should have a good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. Formal qualifications, experiental learning and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) are also considered.

GCSEs in English and maths at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent (recognised Level 2 qualification), are essential.

You are also required to have at least 100 teaching hours plus 75 non-teaching hours per year, and have an identified subject mentor.

A clear and current DBS certificate is also required.

You will need to apply for the course through the University of Portsmouth website – the below APPLY button link will take you directly there. Whilst you are based in Eastleigh College, you would also be a University of Portsmouth student and will therefore be able to access their facilities and support.

All shortlisted applicants are subject to interview at Eastleigh College.

This Could Lead to

This Level 6 Certificate in Education (PGCE) is a professional teaching qualification recognised by further education providers in the UK, enabling you to teach in colleges, sixth forms and private training providers.

When you graduate, you’ll also be eligible to apply to the Society for Education and Training (SET) to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, which is recognised as comparable to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

You will also have the option to progress to a full Master’s degree in the future.