Courses and Prospectus - PGCE Primary

PGCE School Placement Information
 

Please read the following information carefully and then return the Placement form to the Primary Partnership Office, Faculty of Education, Old Sessions House Canterbury Christ Church University, CT1 1QU, by 1 August  2012 at the latest.

Partnership Office:
Faculty of Education, Old Sessions House Canterbury Christ Church University, CT1 1QU

The PGCE Primary (Full-time) course has two placements. The dates for these are subject to change, but the first placement is likely to be November-December and the second placement is likely to be from April to the end of June.  

We will do our best to place you according to the information you provide on the above placement form. Please therefore complete the placement form incredibly carefully. All placements are determined by which age phase you choose. You gave this information at interview, but you are able to change this through writing formally to the Programme Director.

Teaching Agency rules dictate that students must have at least two placements within your chosen age phase. These placements should also be in consecutive age periods – these age periods are: 3-5, 5-7, 7-9 and 9-11.

  • So for students choosing the 3-7 phase you will have one placement with children in the 3-5 age period (Foundation Stage), and one with children in the 5-7 age period (Key Stage 1).

  • For students choosing the 5-11 phase the following options are possible: one placement in the 5-7 period (KS1) and one in the 7-9 period (KS2), or one placement in the 5-7 period (KS1) and one in the 9-11 period or one placement in the 7-9 period (KS2), and one in the 9-11 period (KS2) plus inclusive experience in the 5-7 period.  

For all students – although you choose the age phase, the Faculty of Education through the Partnership Office will choose the order (e.g. which age periods you do first and second) and exact age periods of your placements.

The University works in partnership with many schools in Kent, Medway, Essex, Sussex and South East London. We will strive to find a suitable placement for each student teacher. However, please note that all places are dependent on the offers of placements made by schools on an annual basis. These offers take into account school staffing considerations and other factors, and thus the University cannot guarantee the location of school placements. Consequently students might need to undertake significant travel to their school placement. The University also does not provide transport to geographically close placements, although students placed in more outlying areas may qualify for University transport. Public transport being what it is, students may wish to consider their own personal transport arrangements. Choice of geographical location re. accommodation is also something you may wish to think carefully about. Most students choose to live in Canterbury, which of course means they often have to travel longer distances to get to schools because schools in the Canterbury district cannot provide anywhere near enough offers of placements for all.

School placements are dealt with through the Education Partnership Office, who are based in the Old Sessions House here at the University, and any queries or questions surrounding your school placement/s should be directed to that office 01227 782405 or e-mail partnership.ed@canterbury.ac.uk