PGCESED - Secondary Education

Objectives:

The aims of the Professional Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) Secondary course are:

1. To enable trainees to understand the roles, expectations and responsibilities of a teacher and to work with high standards of professionalism with colleagues, pupils and parents.
2. To enable trainees to foster the personal, social, moral and spiritual development of pupils; and to equip those intending to work in Catholic schools with the knowledge, understanding and skills particular to the Catholic education mission.
3. To enable all trainees to become independent, self-motivated teachers who are disposed and equipped to critically reflect on their own practice, take responsibility for their own professional development and update their own subject and professional knowledge.
4. To enable trainees to become effective teachers who ensure that pupils make progress and meet their potential; and who foster their pupils’ love of learning by teaching engaging, creative and challenging lessons.
5. To enable trainees to comply with the Teachers’ Standards and Initial Teacher Training Criteria (DFE, 2011/12) and so be eligible for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
By the end of the programme, trainees will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of and performance with reference to the Teachers’ Standards (DFE, 2012):
A. Teaching. In particular, by the end of the programme trainees will be able to :
1. Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils
2. Promote good progress and outcomes by pupils
3. Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge
4. Plan and teach well structured lessons
5. Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils
6. Make accurate and productive use of assessment
7. Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment
8. Fulfil wider professional responsibilities

B. Personal and Professional Conduct. In particular, by the end of the programme trainees will:
• be able to uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school
• have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they teach, and maintain high standards in their own attendance and punctuality
• have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities.

Trainees in all subjects will be trained in Centre-Based Training for the 11-18 or 14-19 age range. Trainees will qualify at one of 11-16, 11-18 or 14-19.

Content:

There are 3 course units: two that are compulsory (Professional Studies and Subject Application) and one that is optional (Catholic Education). All units are followed by all trainees in all 3 course stages.

Professional Studies covers the roles and responsibilities of teachers within the current education framework including statutory and contractual responsibilities, working with colleagues within and outside the school, the current agenda for the welfare of children, use of research and statistical information for evaluation and improvement of professional practice, and diversity and inclusive provision for pupils of differing needs, background and attainment.

Subject Application covers generic and subject-specific aspects of learning, teaching and assessment as they relate to the secondary classroom. More generic aspects include:
• Short-and medium-term planning;
• assessment and public examination requirements;
• communication skills;
• behaviour management strategies;
• teaching methods and resources;
• marking pupils’ work;
• monitoring and Assessment for Learning strategies;
• recording and reporting on pupil attainment.

More subject-specific aspects include:
• subject knowledge for teaching;
• subject curriculum knowledge;
• subject assessment and public examination requirements;
• short-and medium-term planning as they relate to subject progression; • differentiation;
• exposition, explanation and questioning skills.

Catholic Education is designed to develop trainees’ knowledge and understanding of the concept of Catholic education; roles and responsibilities of staff in Catholic schools; the school in the community, the curriculum in Catholic schools including mission statements, school ethos, collective worship, the liturgy, teaching in a Catholic school including opportunities to contribute to pupils’ spiritual, moral and social development; moral and ethical issues; and citizenship.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Stage 1: Knowledge & Understanding
Tuition and assessment against all the national standards in centre-based training
Weeks 1-12 (12 weeks)
• Induction.
• Diagnostic assessments of subject knowledge.
• Training against all Teachers’ Standards – planning, assessment, teaching and learning.
• Personal review and target-setting against all Teachers’ Standards following summative assessment.
• 10 days of Serial Visits to Stage 2 school to support centre-based training and to prepare for Stage 2.

Professional Studies: 48 hours
Subject Application: 120 hours
Catholic Education: 24 hours

Assessment: