PROFESSIONAL GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION PGCE/CertEd

These are professional qualifications for people teaching in further education colleges, sixth forms, adult education, higher education, and a wide range of other education and training settings.

The courses are available to graduates and to nongraduates with appropriate vocational qualifications and can be studied pre-service (one year full-time), which will benefit those who wish to obtain a teaching qualification before seeking employment or in-service (two years parttime), which will interest teachers and trainers who are already in full or part-time employment.

Students will develop a range of skills and the knowledge required of a professional teacher in a post 16 years of age environment. The course places a significant emphasis on participants developing the appropriate skills and knowledge they require to meet the needs of the learner. The fundamental principles of practice are underpinned by reference to theoretical perspectives, thus encouraging participants to effectively link theory to practice.

The course is designed to encourage students to engage in activities which are directly related to their own teaching context. Students are assessed through a mixture of essays, reports, assignments and practical tasks as appropriate for the learning outcomes of each individual module. It is a requirement that all students pass the practical teaching elements of the course. Participants will be observed teaching in their normal teaching context and formally assessed a number of times throughout the programme.