Secondary PGCE with QTS: English, PGCert

Course Overview

Welcome to the Swansea University Schools’ Partnership (SUSP/PYPA), an innovative collaboration of school and university-based staff working together to ensure that ‘Tomorrow’s Teachers’ have the skills and experience to make a difference to pupils in Wales.

Well-qualified English teachers are in high demand across the UK. SUSP has developed an innovative Secondary English PGCE programme that is designed to provide new entrants to the teaching profession with confidence in their subject knowledge and in their understanding of how to teach it.

This programme will prepare you to make a positive contribution to the learning communities you will be joining. SUSP’s Secondary English PGCE programme is underpinned by regional, national and international research. You will learn how to make English meaningful, interesting and fun and also how to analyse your own and your pupils’ development.

SUSP’s integrated and rigorous PGCE programme will challenge you academically and professionally. The PGCE English programme aims to develop critical understanding of the nature of English and its position in the school curriculum.

You will be encouraged to research and test your own approaches to English pedagogy to find those techniques that work best for you and for the pupils you teach.

SUSP is committed to developing research-informed reflective practitioners who can demonstrate creativity and flexibility in their teaching so that learners develop their subject competence in an environment that cultivates enjoyment.

Why Postgraduate Certificate In Education At Swansea?

The Swansea University Schools’ Partnership will draw upon the University’s considerable academic expertise in English. SUSP will provide high-quality, practitioner and research-led ITE based on the principle of integrated learning.

All aspects of the course have been developed collaboratively and will be delivered, quality assured and reviewed as a partnership to consolidate that collaboration throughout the year.

Swansea University Schools’ Partnership (SUSP) will deliver a high-quality, research and practice integrated programme premised on its vision of developing research-informed reflective practitioners who can contribute significantly to the quality of Welsh education.

Your PGCE Experience

The SUSP ITE programme is structured to allow multiple opportunities to address all the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership through rich learning experiences that reinforce, evaluate and support professional proficiency.

PGCE Employement Opportunities

Successful completion of the SUSP PGCE will lead to recommendation to the Education Workforce Council for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and provides opportunities for employment as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) in schools.

Modules

The SUSP ITE programme comprises two modules:

Research-informed Reflective Practice (EDPM30) is largely university-based and will comprise the following:

• Core Studies: focusing on the overarching issues that drive policies within the Welsh cultural context

• Subject Studies: focusing on the specifics of pedagogy in your subject area, lesson planning, understanding your subject's place in the Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLE)

• Subject Knowledge Enhancement: Focusing on reviewing the curriculum requirements in your subject area and preparing you for the topics you may be teaching

• Professional and Pedagogical Studies: focusing on the implications for your subject area on whole school issues such as provision for children with additional learning needs, differentiation and assessment. 

• Research Methods in Education: focusing on research methodologies suitable for educational purposes and preparing you for your close-to-practice research project. 

• EDPM30 carries 60 level 7 credits. Student teachers who complete 60 Level 7 credits can carry over the credits to our MA Education

Professional Practice (EDP300) is designed to ensure that all student teachers develop a deep understanding of the how the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership link to the Four Purposes of the new Curriculum for Wales.

This module leads to the recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Student teachers will spend a minimum of 120 days on Professional Practice in two schools in the network within which they are placed, with additional opportunities in a range of complimentary settings. 

EDP300 integrates research with classroom practice through a Practice and Theory course delivered jointly by Subject Tutors and expert teachers in network schools.

 Subject Mentors and Subject Tutors will provide strong individualised support for student teachers working towards meeting the Professional Standard for Teaching and Leadership.