Course overview

This professional development course is for lecturers, trainers, instructors and others who work in the post-compulsory education sector. Course members are able to study whilst working in professional roles as the emphasis is on self-directed learning combined with a reflective practitioner approach.

Acceptance on to the course is conditional on you having a full-time or part-time teaching post that meets the full teaching role in one of the following areas at the start of the course:

• institute of further or adult education
• sixth form college
• other training institution (e.g. police force, armed forces, industry)

Teaching contact must offer opportunities to develop and refine professional practice over the period of the course and involve both group and individual teaching, tutoring and training of not less than 75 hours per year.

Further Education Teacher Training (FETT) is validated by the University of Portsmouth Collaborative Programme Partnership and offered at three further education colleges: Chichester College, Eastleigh College and Isle of Wight College. Each college offers FETT as a two-year, part-time professional teacher training course that leads to one of three awards, including the Certificate in Education (Post-Compulsory Education). You need to apply directly to the college you wish to study at and they will arrange an interview and provide you with dates and times of when their courses are offered. Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is available if you have a minimum of two years teaching experience and a relevant Level 4 teacher training qualification.

The professional standards for teachers, tutors and trainers in this sector, covering the Domains A–F, are underpinned by professional values, knowledge and understanding and practice. These six domains of the professional standards have been incorporated into our unit aims, learning outcomes and assessment criteria:

A Professional values and practice
B Learning and teaching
C Specialist learning and teaching
D Planning for learning
E Assessment for learning
F Access and progression

Also included within the course is coverage and assessment of the LLUK Minimum Core Curriculum of language, literacy, numeracy and ICT.

The course encourages the development of the ‘professional teacher’ with a particular emphasis on reflective learning combined with skills-based practical teaching. There is a balance between work-based practical skills and related theory over four units of study, with a continuous assessment approach. The taught units are all interrelated and enable you to link learning theories and educational research to professional practice. You are encouraged to develop subject-specific knowledge by working closely with your college teachers and college subject mentors at your designated teaching institution.

Find out more

For further information and an application form, please contact the Course Admissions Secretary.

Course content

Teaching and learning theories together with current educational research form the basis of this course. Our course team will help you progress through the units, which have been carefully structured to ensure sequential progression.

The course aims to:

• promote an excellent learning experience for all students including educational and personal success and independence in an inclusive accessible, relevant, supportive environment
• develop standards of good professional practice, skills and attitudes required by the post-compulsory sector in managing the teaching and learning process
• provide a practice-based programme that creates effective opportunities for you to reflect on your professional practice and enhance your teaching competence
• apply learning theories to practice when planning, implementing and evaluating teaching and learning programmes in the post-compulsory education sector
• generate personal and professional self-confidence from which to create a sound base for further professional and career development
• enable the development of professional practice to a recognised national standard
• encourage the professional sharing of subject-specific experiences and knowledge relating to teaching and learning between student teachers and tutors

Units

There are two units of study per year and each unit is assessed through coursework and portfolio. The observation of your teaching competence is carried out by college tutors and subject-specialist mentors.

Planning, Assessing and Evaluating Teaching and Learning Programmes: this unit encourages you to understand how to organise and plan your teaching and learning sessions and use different assessment methods, as well as start developing your own personal and professional skills.

Theories and Principles for Planning and Enabling Learning in a Specialist Subject Area: in this unit you will examine a range of teaching and learning theories, learn how to plan and develop inclusive learning into your lessons and understand how to use a range of communication and classroom management skills.

Professional Practice: this unit encourages you to review the development of your personal and professional skills, develop a career management file and research into a specific area of your teaching.

Curriculum Design in a Specialist Subject Area: in this unit you will learn about the range of contexts in which education and training are offered, analyse theories and models of curriculum design and understand how to promote equality within practice.

Teaching and assessment

Enrolment for these courses is in the last week of September and they last for a minimum of 32 weeks, beginning the first week in October and finishing at the end of June.

Teaching approaches include a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops, guided preparatory reading and active group participation. Workshops and self-directed learning link to and encourage the development of the minimum core curriculum of language, literacy, numeracy and ICT in supporting your own skill base. Subject-specialist tutorials involve both group and individual support and develop subject-specific knowledge and skills as well as linking the Qualifications Curriculum Authorities (QCA) framework of personal learning and thinking skills to action planning processes.

The emphasis throughout is on inclusive teaching and learning combined with reflective practice within a teacher’s own specialist area of work.

Career prospects

On completion of the Certificate in Education there is the opportunity to progress onto the part-time BA (Hons) Education and Training at the University of Portsmouth.

Facilities and features

The University of Portsmouth and partner colleges have a reputation for providing a supportive and friendly atmosphere in which students can quickly settle and enjoy their studies. You will have access to a full range of support services for personal issues and academic study. Personal tutors will assist in accessing the support you may find helpful, while you will also have access to appropriate University resources, including our main library and computing facilities, which are open seven days a week.

All staff have a range of expertise in relevant subject specialisms and their enthusiasm and motivation means you will be encouraged to gain the most out of your time with us.

Entry requirements

View all the entry requirements for CertEd Post Compulsory Education for the academic year 2013/14 (opens in new window).