School of Education and Continuing Studies (SECS)

Mathematics Subject Knowledge Extension courses

Depending on the strength of your subject knowledge, there are two different mathematics enhancement courses available to you.  The six month course is suitable for those who possess a degree with less than 50% mathemematical content. There is also a two week course to refresh and enhance GCSE subject knowledge.


2 week subject knowledge enhancement course

Course Aims

The aim of the course is to enhance your subject knowledge to the highest GCSE level and you will have the opportunity to experience some AS level Mathematics as well. The course is not intended to teach you how to teach, although obviously some elements of this will inevitably be covered during taught sessions.

Course Outline

The course is full time and runs for two weeks during August. Most sessions comprise 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon and will be led by an experienced tutor.

Assessment

There is no formal assessment but you will audit your mathematics skills on day 1 and be required to keep a record of your progress for your PGCE course.

Entry Requirements

You will have secured a place on a PGCE programme which will identify the completion of this course as a condition of entry.

Finance Details

Trainees on the Mathematics Enhancement Course will not be required to pay course fees.  Participants in 2010 received a bursary of £200 per week.


6 Month Mathematics Enhancement Course

In partnership with University of Chichester

Course Introduction

The Mathematics Enhancement Course is a 6-month course designed to open up fresh opportunities in Mathematics teaching to a large number of graduates of all ages who previously have been ineligible because of their degree choices. You must have secured a place on a secondary mathematics PGCE course  before you can apply.

Course Aims

The course is designed to enable you to have a secure and in-depth understanding of maths subject knowledge that is required to teach children from 11 to 18. It also provides two weeks experience in secondary schools which will be used to contextualise subject development work.

Course Outline

This is a full time course and runs between January and June based at University of Chichester. The course will normally run Monday - Thursday with an Independent Study Day on Fridays. Half terms and two weeks over Easter will also be assigned to independent study. Two designated weeks will be in school observing and undertaking assigned tasks, but not teaching. Most sessions comprise 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon and will be led by an experienced tutor.

Assessment

A model of assessment meeting the aims and characteristics of the course will require participants to provide a portfolio of evidence of achievement in a variety of learning outcomes, and will lead to the identification of areas of mathematics needing further development during an ITT course and beyond. There will be no written examination.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should hold, or expect to attain a degree with less than 20% mathematics, but have some maths in their background, such as an A-level in a mathematics subject.

As applicants must hold an offer of a PGCE place by the beginning of the course they will need to have GCSE Grade A-C (or O Level) in Mathematics and English (or equivalent).

Finance Details

Trainees on the Mathematics Enhancement Course will not be required to pay course fees. All course fees will be paid directly by the Teacher Training Agency. The institutions delivering the enhancement course will not charge additional 'top-up' fees.

All participants in 2010 received a bursary of £200 per week.


Admission/Application

Applications are welcome from all sectors of our society and the Partnership is particularly keen to support groups from the ethnic minorities.

For an application form please contact:

Graduate Teacher Training Registry
Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 3LZ

Tel: +44 (0)870 1122205
Website: www.gttr.ac.uk

For further information please contact:

Neil Angus
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 5220
Email: neil.angus@port.ac.uk