English Secondary (11-16 years) PGCE - Postgraduate

Educational aims of the course

This programme is designed to provide trainee teachers with the opportunity to study the theory and practice of education from the perspective of learners, teachers, administrators, policymakers and other key stakeholders in the system of formal education. It combines work based at the University with school experience in order to equip trainee teachers with the knowledge, understanding and skills that they need to begin to develop as a professional educator. It also provides them with the skills to make effective use of theoretical and research-based evidence to extend their knowledge and understanding and to allow them to reflect critically upon their own personal and professional values.

Achievement of the Teachers’ Standards 2012 (DfE) are an essential part of the practical experience in school and the programme as a whole.

The aims of the programme are:

● To equip trainee teachers with a rigorous knowledge and understanding of the core areas of education – professional values and practice, knowledge and understanding and teaching (including planning, expectations and target setting, monitoring and assessment, teaching and class management).

● To enable trainee teachers to recognise the complex interrelationship between educational theory, policy and practice

● To enable trainee teachers to apply educational and research based analysis to issues of their personal practice

● To introduce trainee teachers to conceptual and analytic methods used in educational research and to provide opportunities for the development and application of these tools

● To enable trainee teachers to develop critical, evaluative and reflective thinking in the context of their personal practice

● To enable trainee teachers to develop a range of skills and abilities that will contribute to their effectiveness as a professional educator

● To support trainee teachers in becoming independent learners in their subsequent career development.

● To encourage trainees to progress to completion of a full masters level qualification and make a substantial contribution to the development of their subject pedagogy during the early years of their career in teaching.