Course overview

GTTR code - Q3X1

English is a core area of the secondary curriculum, which provides students with the means to communicate effectively in a complex twenty-first century. In addition, it encourages the potential for creative and personal responses to a range of fictional and real-life situations.

English is a dynamic and continually expanding area that provides students with opportunities to analyse and reflect upon the way media texts impact upon society, alongside the study of a diverse range of print-based texts, including drama and poetry.

The PGCE course will train you to be part of an exciting, rewarding and challenging profession that is responsible for developing key personal and social communication skills for tomorrow's citizen. You will study and learn about issues in English education ranging from the theoretical to the practical. Teaching, both at the University and in school, will feature discussion, collaborative work, individual work and experiential learning.

All trainees embarking on this programme will be registered on the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education pathway. During February trainees will have the opportunity to remain on the Professional Graduate pathway or choose to follow the Postgraduate Certificate in Education pathway (taking two modules at Master's level). Further guidance will be available at interview and at the start of the course.

Why complete a PGCE in English?

In this one-year course, your main concern will be with the development of your professional competence as a teacher of English. You will need to focus not only on the teaching of English itself, but also on developing an understanding of educational issues pertaining to teaching and learning, classroom interaction, the school curriculum and the school and society. As well as becoming a competent classroom practitioner, you will need to be able to make informed decisions and recognise the need for further development.

In addition to this, you will be expected to teach the three disciplines within English up to GCSE level and update your subject knowledge. This is a process that will start in the PGCE year, but will continue throughout your teaching career. You will be expected to enhance your subject knowledge through background reading, research, working in peer subject development groups, teaching and working on examination papers.

How do I find out more?

For further information, please contact us (details above) or the course coordinator, Jane Wood (jane.wood@port.ac.uk).

For more information about Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, please visit http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Startinganewjob/index.htm.

Applications

Applications should be made through the GTTR (Graduate Teacher Training Registry).

Please apply online at www.gttr.ac.uk

T: 0871 468 0 469

Course content

The course is essentially practical and two-thirds of your time will be spent in school where you will be working closely with mentors and other school staff.

Throughout the year you will be engaged in considering a range of subjects including:

• Subject knowledge enhancement
• Lesson planning
• Classroom management
• Special needs and inclusion
• Assessment
• Research into the pedagogy and psychology of learning English

There is no examination for the PGCE but you will have to pass the DfE Skills Tests in Literacy and Numeracy before entry.

Assessment of the course is by professional interview, completion of tasks, observation of teaching and written assignments.

The programme offers trainees a choice between the Professional and the Postgraduate route, with the latter allowing trainees to graduate with 60 M-level credits.

Career prospects

Successful completion of the PGCE in English will enable you to gain Qualified Teacher Status and will provide for a career in secondary teaching. Over 90% of our students each year gain employment with 60% of those getting jobs in our partnership schools.

Facilities and features

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for PGCE English are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: School of Education and Continuing Studies (SECS)
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 5204
Email: secs.enquiries@port.ac.uk