PGCE 7-14 Structure and Subject
Courses (7-14)
All the following courses are held at the Canterbury Campus:
| Course Title (7-14 Years) |
Course code | Mode of Study |
| Art and Design (7-14 Years) | XWW9 | Full time |
| Design and Technology (7-14 Years) | XWC9 | Full time |
| English with Drama and Media (7-14 Years) | XQD3 | Full time |
| Geography (7-14 Years) | XFC8 | Full time |
| History (7-14 Years) | XVC1 | Full time |
| Information and Communication Technology (7-14 Years) | XGC5 | Full time |
| Mathematics (7-14 Years) | XGC1 | Full time |
| Modern Foreign Languages: French (7-14 Years) | XRC1 | Full time |
| Modern Foreign Languages: German (7-14 Years) | XRC2 | Full time |
| Modern Foreign Languages: Spanish (7-14 Years) | XRC4 | Full time |
| Modern Foreign Languages: French with German (7-14 Years) | XRDC | Full time |
| Modern Foreign Languages: French with Spanish (7-14 Years) | XRDD | Full time |
| Modern Foreign Languages: German with French (7-14 Years) | XRDF | Full time |
| Modern Foreign Languages: Spanish with French (7-14 Years) | XRDK | Full time |
| Music (7-14 Years) | XWC3 | Full time |
| Physical Education (7-14 Years) | XCC6 | Full time |
| Religious Education (7-14 Years) | XVC6 | Full time |
| Science (7-14 Years) | XFCA | Full time |
Introduction
This is a one-year, full-time programme that aims to enable student teachers to become confident, competent classroom practitioners. The 7-14 PGCE is ideal for those students who are particularly interested in this particular age group which spans the older years of primary education i.e. 7-11 and the younger years of secondary education i.e. 11-14. It is ideal for those who:
- Have a strong interest in their specialist subject, but also like the idea of working with primary children;
- Are concerned about the smoothing the transition of pupils from primary to secondary education;
- Are interested in working across this age group such as in innovative state models of schooling; continental or independent schools;
- Want to train as a teacher, but do not want to specialise in a particular phase of education at this stage.
The programme has been designed for all students to meet the TDA Standards for Qualified Teacher Status.
The programme runs in partnership with local primary and secondary schools Students spend 120 days in school as part of this programme and 60 days at the University.
Awards
The completion of the course can lead to two possible awards. Those who gain 120 credits at HE level 6, or 100 at Level 6 and 20 at Level 7, are awarded a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education, and recommendation for QTS. Those who gain 40 credits at Level 7 as well as 80 credits at Level 6, or 60 credits at Level 7 as well as 60 credits at Level 6 are awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and a recommendation for QTS.
Teaching and Learning Methods
University time is spent in lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. Tutors model methods that they would expect students to adopt in school. School placements demand full attendance in school during each day, Monday to Friday, with additional time devoted to assessment and preparation. Students need to make arrangements to ensure they can be in school by 8.15am at the latest.
The programme has been planned to meet the criteria set out by the current TDA standards and requirements and has three main areas:
Content
Module 1 - Professional Placement
Placements take place mostly in schools in Kent, Medway, Sussex, Surrey, Essex and the London area. In the first half of the year, this will be in secondary schools; in the second half of the year in primary schools. Students will be placed as close as possible to their home area but some travelling may be involved.
During placements, students work towards achieving the standards required for the recommendation of the award of Qualified Teachers Status (QTS). These apply to both primary and secondary phases of education.
Module 2 - Professional Studies
This introduces students to core professional skills and wider issues which concern primary and secondary schools. Areas studied include classroom management, promoting behaviour for learning, children’s well-being, planning for children with varying individual education needs, target setting, planning teaching and assessing learning. Part of the assessment of this module is taken at masters level.
Module 3 - Curriculum Studies
Curriculum Studies ensures that students acquire a secure mastery of their specialist subjects and how to teach them in secondary and primary schools. There are a range of subject pathways i.e.: Design and technology; English; Geography; History; ICT; Mathematics;
Modern Foreign Languages; Music; Religious Education and Science. The assessment of this part of the module is taken at masters level.
Students also learn how to plan for, teach and assess the core subjects and ICT effectively to children within a primary school setting. Taster courses are provided in all foundation subjects of the National Curriculum, Primary Languages, and RE.
Assessment
The programme is assessed through a combination of professional placement and course work. Each professional placement is assessed against the standards by a combination of university and school staff, through formal observations of teaching. In order to be awarded the PGCE you will be required to reach a satisfactory standard in each assessed element of the course and reach the standards required for the recommendation of the award of QTS.
Entry Requirements
In addition to the entry requirements you will need the following:
- A good honours degree of at least lower second class (2:2) standard with at least 50% of degree modules related to the PGCE subject, the exception to this is Art and Design for which a minimum of an upper second class honours (2:1) is required with a minimum of 50% in visual arts or design specialism.
