Primary/Early Years (3-7) PGCE with QTS
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Course Overview
Teaching is an extremely rewarding and challenging career. Our course is designed to provide you with the knowledge, understanding and skills that you need to be an outstanding teacher. We aim to nurture teachers who are passionate about the development of their own and their pupils' learning.
The University of Chester Partnership has a rich history of developing highly skilled, knowledgeable teachers, and has a high employability rate. Our Partnership has learning at its heart, combined with passion and enthusiasm for teaching and learning. We will provide you with the support you need to become a critically reflective evidence-based practitioner through a combination of academic challenge and school learning.
We will provide you with the support you need to become a critically reflective evidence-based practitioner through a combination of academic challenge and school-based learning. During the course, alongside placements and taught sessions, there will be specific weeks that focus on fundamental and pivotal aspects related to teaching and learning. You can also have one placement in a school in Wales and/ or in a Special Educational Needs/ Disability school – all valuable experiences which will enrich your knowledge of teaching and show your flexibility to work in different settings.
Accreditations
High Quality Support on Placement and at University
Welcoming Learning Community
Gaining New Experiences
PGCE Courses at the University of Chester
How we teach at the University of Chester
You will be expected to undertake ten independent preparation and consolidation study hours (minimum) per week for the University course, in addition to full teaching days when on placement.
Professional and academic learning takes place within University and partnership settings in lectures, seminars, practical workshops and tutorials. It is assessed through assignments and directed activities.
School-based learning will enable you to apply what you have learned in University to placement. You will progress from observation of teaching and learning, to team planning, teaching and observation; and finally, to independently planning and teaching the whole class. Critical reflection on your practice is a key component of the course which is assessed holistically against the Teachers’ Standards.
Your Future Career
Becoming a Teacher
On successfully completing your PGCE, you will attain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). This will mean that you can then go on to become a teacher in your chosen area when you graduate.
To support you in securing your first teaching post, we host a careers event for each course to support you as you prepare for the teaching market.
Your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) will be able to advise on your personal statement and can also provide a reference for you.
Once you graduate, whatever you’re PGCE route, you’ll be able to teach across the entire 3-11 age range, and in secondary schools.
The placements included in your course are designed to equip you with the practical skills and experience to support you in pursuing a career in teaching. Whilst some graduates do achieve job offers from placement schools, this is not guaranteed, and you will need to find a teaching post at the end of the course.
A qualification in teaching has the possibility of leading to:
- Senior Leadership Team roles in Schools (Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher etc.)
- Specialist roles such as a Special Educational Needs & Disability Coordinator (SENDCo)
- Further study
- Support Roles in Education Institutions
- Higher Education roles
Careers service
The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.
Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.
We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs .
Placements
While studying here at Chester, you will have a placement in one of our partner schools, with 120 days of school-based learning.
School-based learning will enable you to apply what you’ve learned at university to your placement. You will progress from observing teaching and learning to team planning, teaching and observation; and finally, to independently planning and teaching the whole class. Critical reflection on your practice is a key component of the course, which is assessed holistically against the Teachers’ Standards.
Securing quality placements is a complex process of matching school expertise to Associate Teacher needs. Because of this, we cannot guarantee that we will place you ‘close to home’. Travel time can be up to 90 minutes per journey – this cannot be a guaranteed maximum, particularly if you are based outside our traditional partnership area.
You will be supported throughout your degree before, during and after your placement, to ensure you get the most out of your school-based learning.
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Kathryn Clarke
Senior Lecturer
Jo Williams
Senior Lecturer