The Secondary School Centred Initial Teacher Education (SCITE) course is designed to reflect our belief in the importance of ‘hands-on’ practical training.
As a result the majority of your training will take place in secondary schools and colleges which belong to our strong local partnership across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Powys, Gwent, Worcestershire and the West Midlands.
This means that we are able to provide one of the most distinctly ‘school-based’ teacher education courses currently available.
Training also consists of an extensive programme of subject sessions in your chosen subject pathway and central sessions in General Professional Studies (GPS).
It is a course in which partner schools have been given considerable responsibility for the training programme; it is a course in which school based Training Managers (Professional Mentors) and Subject Mentors personally guide, monitor and continually assess the progress of individual Trainee Teachers.
This one-year full-time course aims to help Trainee Teachers to become capable, confident and well instructed professionals within their chosen subject.
The course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and either Postgraduate Certificate of Education or Professional Graduate Certificate in Education depending on the level taken. The PGCE is validated by Birmingham City University.
Teacher Education with a Difference
What makes the programme so successful is the unique combination of practical hands on experience within the classroom together with structured support, advice and guidance at every stage. You will be supported throughout the course by your Cluster Tutor, and within your school/college by your Training Manager (Professional Mentor), Subject Mentor and Subject Tutor.
This emphasis on collaboration will help to ensure your enjoyment and successful completion of the course.
You will, of course, take a full part in all assessment procedures as you move towards becoming a professional, reflective practitioner in your own subject.
Course Structure
The Secondary PGCE Course has been designed to give Trainee Teachers the necessary learning opportunities and support to enable them to demonstrate that they are meeting the Standards for Qualified Teacher Status. There are in-built assessment structures which help individual Trainees to audit their knowledge and accompanying support to help remedy individual weaknesses.
The Trainee Teacher has three school experience placements totalling a minimum of 120 days across the autumn, spring and summer terms. When placed in school, the Trainee Teacher is the responsibility of the school’s Training Manager (Professional Mentor) who co-ordinates the Trainee Teacher’s activities in school, provides tutorial support for the professional preparation modules and assesses the school placement modules. The Trainee Teacher will also receive support and guidance from the Subject Mentor who will be a teacher of the trainee’s main subject in the school.
School/College Experience
In the autumn term, the Trainee Teacher initially begins an induction programme of central sessions and then starts a school placement. This will be the day-to-day base for much of the year. The Trainee will gradually be introduced to classes and will then have between 30%–50% contact time in their main subject. There will be a weekly tutorial with the Training Manager and time with the Subject Mentor. Time will also be set aside for research and preparation for assignments and teaching.
The second placement School or College in the spring term provides another context and teaching experience. In the spring term, contact time is increased to between 50%–60%.
Finally, in the Summer Term the teaching timetable increases to 70% with the majority of time spent on main subject teaching.
The Trainee Teacher is welcomed into the school as a professional colleague, with full support of the Headteacher and staff. Schools and Trainee Teachers work actively in partnership, with recognition of the change in expectations from postgraduate student through to professional teacher.
Involvement in the varied aspects of the school life, participation in activities and attendance at relevant meetings are considered an integral part of professional development.
Subject Pathways
Trainees ordinarily undertake a subject relating to their degree. However, a breakdown of your degree and specific degree modules will be looked at in the application process. Other factors illustrating your subject knowledge will also be considered.
Each subject pathway has a Subject Tutor who is a specialist in the respective subject area. Our Subject Tutors are experienced practitioners, the majority of them are teaching their subject in local schools.
Trainees will have weekly subject sessions and tutorials with their Subject Tutors.
The subject pathways offered on the School Centred Secondary Initial Teacher Education course are as follows:
• Citizenship
• Design & Technology
• Geography
• History
• Information & Communications Technology
• Mathematics
• Modern Foreign Languages
• Music
• Physical Education
• Religious Education
• Science
Entry requirements
Find out about the entry requirements for the School Centred Initial Teacher Education course... >> more
How to apply
Want to apply? Find out how... >> more