Teaching Professional Graduate Certificate (PGCE) Further Education and Skills level 6

Course Overview

Our two-year, part-time course is validated and certificated by De Montfort University. The course will introduce you to aspects of teaching, learning, and assessment to enable you to develop your work as a teacher, trainer, or tutor.

This course is for those working or wanting to work with students who are aged 16 or over, including areas such as sixth form, further education, offender learning, and adult and community education. After successfully completing the course, you will be eligible to apply for QTLS (Qualified Teacher in Learning and Skills status).

The Level 6 Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is available to candidates who have already achieved an undergraduate degree. This doesn’t have to be in the subject you want to teach so long as you have significant industrial experience or a minimum level 3 qualification in your specialist teaching area.

Over the two years, you will study five core modules which include two teaching practice components and a further 2 optional modules.
The course aims to establish knowledge whilst developing your practical skills associated with teaching, learning, and assessment within the further education and skills sector.

Applicants who intend to teach in high priority subject areas may be eligible for a Department for Education bursary.

What You'll Learn

Year 1

First-year modules include:
1. Teaching my subject – this core unit will develop your understanding of the curriculum as well as ensuring and maintaining subject expertise.

2. Learners and Learning – this unit will encompass pedagogical theories and give you the opportunity to understand how your learners learn and how you can support them in their own learning development.

3. Teachers and Teaching – what makes a good teacher? In this unit, you will explore how working with and learning from other teachers will develop your own practice.

You will learn about the importance of planning and delivering lessons effectively. This unit will also cover the development of resources to meet learners’ needs, especially those with special educational needs.

4. Professional Practice e-portfolio Part One – the purpose of this module is to provide you with the pedagogical experience to develop knowledge, understanding, and skills relating to the planning and delivery of effective teaching, learning, and assessment within the education and training sector. You will undertake microteaches to your peers and be observed teaching in your own organisation.

An e-portfolio will be created for you and you will be expected to upload a range of documentary evidence that support your teaching development. A checklist of the contents of your e-portfolio will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Year 2

The second year of the programme encourages you to build on the knowledge gained during year one and explore a wider range of concepts in greater detail. In particular, an emphasis is placed on independent learning and professional enquiry with regards to teaching, learning and assessment within your own specialist area.
Modules include:
1. Effective digital and online pedagogies – you will learn how to build up your personal digital skills in order to manage digital delivery of your teaching. As part of this module, you will be expected to undertake several hours of teaching online with your current cohorts. As in Year 1, an e-portfolio will be created for you and you will be expected to upload a range of documentary evidence that support your teaching development. A checklist of the contents of your e-portfolio will be provided at the beginning of Year 2.

2. Professional Practice e-portfolio Part Two – progressing from the understanding and knowledge gained in part one, you are expected to demonstrate further competence in creating and maintaining an inclusive learning environment.

3. EITHER Managing behaviours in a learning environment OR Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (options offered to be decided by the course team at start of year 2).

How you will be assessed

Assignments vary from essays, written assignments and presentations to practical teaching observations and professional discussions. A strong focus is placed on the practical development of you and your classroom performance.