PGCE Further Education - Level 7 (Canterbury Christ Church University)

This is a two-year part-time PGCE FE programme.

This course is accredited by Canterbury Christ Church University.

You must apply to the college and Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) using the links above.

Our PGCE Further Education course prepares you for a career in the lifelong learning sector, equipping you with the appropriate skills and knowledge, as well as making you eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status (QTLS).

Enter an exciting and rewarding profession that enables you to positively impact the lives of all learners in the further education and skills sector. Train to be a teacher in the 14+ age range on the PGCE, which is offered in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), on a course where successful completion will enable you to gain 120 credits, 60 of which are at level 7, equivalent to master's credits.

The course is designed for those seeking employment in the post-compulsory sector. The course is endorsed by the Education and Training Foundation, and those obtaining the PGCE Further Education will be eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status through membership of The Society for Education and Training.

Our evidence-based and research-informed approach to Initial Teacher Education (ITE) will equip you with the knowledge, understanding, and skills you need to improve the lives of young people and adults. With an emphasis on social justice and inclusion, we will support and challenge you to fulfil your full potential as an education professional.

Our partnership means you will benefit from the opportunity to learn in a diverse range of placement settings from highly experienced and knowledgeable education professionals, ensuring the development of your specialist subject and pedagogical knowledge.

You will also benefit from the opportunity to learn from highly experienced and knowledgeable education professionals in a diverse range of placement settings, ensuring the development of your specialist subject and pedagogical knowledge.

Once qualified, you could find work in many settings - from further education and Sixth Form Colleges to adult and community learning, work-based learning or prison education. In fact, anywhere where teaching and training happen after school education.

Modules (Year 1):

1. Investigating Subject Pedagogy (semester 1 and 2)
2. Professional Practice 1: The Collaborating and Developing Teacher (semester 1 and 2)

Modules 1 and 2 run concurrently over the first year, with module 1 focusing on theories of contemporary learning to ensure effective learning practices, focusing specifically on your subject specialism.

Module 2 is the first of the professional practice modules, which will centre around your placement activities and completing a series of observations of your teaching, each with a different focus.

Modules (Year 2):

3. Undertaking Professional Enquiry (semester 1 and 2)
4. Professional Practice 2: The Independent Teacher (semester 1 and 2)

Modules 3 and 4 run concurrently over the second year, with module 3 focusing on an Action Research Project, including emphasis on working with others, developing resources, expertise, organisational and wider support. The second professional practice module 4 consists of a further series of observations focusing on more developed areas.

Placement:

Following a successful interview, you will secure a placement at Capital City College in your subject specialist area. This will follow an informal interview with the appropriate Head of School in your subject area and the Course Coordinator. You will also be supported by two mentors throughout the course. One of whom will be a subject specialist. You will be expected to commit to attending the placement and the Tottenham Centre for the taught sessions.

You will be required to record a minimum of 150 hours of teaching over your course and a total of 250 hours within your placement setting (20 hours will be within a second placement setting, where you will not be teaching but observing lessons and attending CPD). 100 of your teaching hours must be in your subject specialism. You will also be required to successfully complete 10 formal observations over the duration of your course.

You will need:

• A good honours degree (2:2 and above) in your chosen subject
• Entry requirements are GCSE English and maths or Level 2 Functional Skills.
• Successful completion of the Occupational Health Clearance and a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

You should demonstrate competence regarding communication. In your application and at the interview, you will need to indicate sound reasons for wanting to teach in post-compulsory education and have a clear awareness and experience of the sector. Academic, industrial, and/or commercial experience demonstrating involvement with young people or adults in the community would be advantageous.

You will need to demonstrate your ability to write academically in English through a reading/writing task during the interview.

For more information on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requirements for this course, go to https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/pgce-further-education

For more information on English language requirements for this course, go to https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/pgce-further-education

We're interested in your potential as a teacher, so each application is considered on a case-by-case basis. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to becoming outstanding teachers. Your application must be supported by one professional reference. (References from personal email accounts cannot be accepted.)

For information on our Higher Education policies, including admissions, fees, and student contracts, please see the links below:

• Complaints Policy
• Fees Policy
• HE Admissions Policy
• HE Student Contract
• HE Student Protection Plan

For our full list of policies, governance and fees, please see our website’s policy page.

You will be assessed in two main ways: via academic assessments and the assessment of your teaching practice during the Professional Practice module (modules 2 and 4).

You will submit assignments for each academic module, gaining Level 7 credits as you progress through the course. A range of assessment methods will be used to help you to evidence your knowledge, understanding and skills.

Your learning and development will be facilitated by a range of colleagues from the university and the college. In addition to extensive classroom experience as qualified teachers, our university-based lecturers are all specialists in their fields of study. Our college-based colleagues are also expert education professionals with a strong track record of providing trainees with highly effective mentoring.

Through each level of study, you will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, college placements and self-study. All of these are supported through Blackboard, the University's virtual learning environment.

The use of a range of learning and teaching strategies is central to the design and planning of this course. This is because the learning you experience in the University and college placement needs to model explicitly and implicitly key aspects of subject pedagogy. Therefore, there is an emphasis on:

• Individual and collaborative learning
• Critical debate and discussion
• Micro-teaching; multi-sensory learning
• Active learning
• Use of inclusive and diverse resources and content
• Use of information and communication technologies
• Technology-enhanced learning and blended learning
• Independent learning and personal reflection
• Critical reviews
• Connections between research, theory and practical application.

Adults - Higher Education

You will need to pay fees to study a Higher Education (HE) course.

If you have not studied a higher education course before, you may be eligible to apply for a Higher Education tuition fee loan. Other financial support such as maintenance loans and disability support are also available.

To enrol, you need to show you have permission to live, work and study in the UK without conditions for 3 years before the start of your course.

Please see here for the documents you will need to show us.

Some courses have additional costs, such as for specialist materials and trips.

Many of our students are eligible for financial support, see here for details.

Tuition Fees: £4655 per year. You must apply to the college and Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) using the links above.

For further fee information, go to https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/pgce-further-education

The successful completion of this course equips you for employment as a teacher in the further education sector and to then undertake professional formation leading to QTLS. From there, your teaching career can take you on a very rewarding and exciting professional journey involving learning and teaching, leadership and management, research and advisory roles. There is also potential for you to engage in further study in the form of a master’s and a doctorate.