Programme overview

The one year PGCE is the most popular route for graduates into teaching. We offer the following programmes of study:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Masters Level)
• Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (Honours Level)

You will be given information and guidance about the two awards during your first week of the programme and will be required to specify which level you would like to study at.

Programme structure

The programme is structured into three phases and is based around;

• serial placements (with part of your week spent in school and part spent at the University), and
• block placements (all week in school).

The programme structure can vary a little each year depending on school term dates.

Induction Phase (weeks 1 - 15)

During weeks 1-8 your time will be split between University sessions and time at your Home School. For the majority of these weeks at least three days are spent in school, allowing you to link topics covered in University sessions to practice directly.

You will familiarise yourself fully with the practices of the Home School and begin to:

• build positive working relationships with colleagues and students,
• observe experienced teachers in the classroom,
• become involved with lesson planning and teaching under close supervision from your mentor.

Weeks 9-14 involve six consecutive weeks in school for Block One Teaching Practice. You are involved with all aspects of teaching and learning for classes, supported by your school-based mentor and other experienced colleagues.

Consolidation Phase (weeks 16 - 26)

You will attend further training sessions at the University and reflect upon your Block One experiences. Part of the week is again spent in the Home School.

During weeks 20-26 you will study teaching practice in the Complementary School, which will broaden your teaching experience and allow you to consolidate the skills learnt in Block One in a different school environment.

Extension Phase (weeks 27 - 36)

You will again be based in your Home School for the final teaching practice period.

You will also normally spend a week on a community-focussed or curriculum-based activity, chosen in negotiation with school and tutors to meet your development interests and priorities.

School Placements

We work closely with partner schools to provide a sound foundation for your development as a teacher. The programme offers a theoretical structure of teaching, coupled with a variety of practical teaching experiences. Over the course of the year, you will be encouraged to discuss, reflect on and develop your teaching style.

We work with partnership schools located in a wide geographical area, including Somerset, Dorset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. Due to the limited number of schools in the city it is unlikely that your school placement will be in Bath itself.

You will work in schools for two-thirds of the 36 week course and normally spend at least two days in school each week. It is for this reason that we recommend that you live close to your allocated Home School. You will primarily be based in your Home School, but spend a six week period in a different Complementary school. You will have a mentor in each of your home and complementary schools who, together with your university tutor, will be responsible for co-ordinating your course programme. Placements are announced one month before the start of the course.

You will build up a portfolio of written material which represents your work in school and at the University. Some of the specific issues you will look at will be:

• Setting objectives and planning lessons;
• Behaviour management;
• Variety of teaching and learning styles;
• The contribution of ICT to teaching;
• The use of audio/visual aids and other resources.

Programme assessment

Your assessment will be based on three components:

1. Subject Didactics (SD) focuses on the learning and teaching of your subject(s)
2. Education and Professional Studies (EPS) addresses wider school and educational issues
3. Practice of Teaching (PoT) concerns your performance in planning, preparing and working in schools with teachers and students

Units are assessed through assignments and a portfolio of evidence prepared from your work in schools and University sessions.

You will be assessed according to your level of study (either Masters or Honours level).

You must pass all components to receive the PGCE award and be recommended to the Teaching Agency for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Practice of Teaching

Formal assessments of your competence in relation to practice of teaching will take place during the year. You will be expected to maintain a Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) which will represent your evidence for meeting the Standards for QTS.

You will be assessed at the end of Block One in Semester 1 and again in Blocks Two and Three during Semester 2. The Practice of Teaching report form used at these three points to report your progress as a developing teacher is designed to reflect the TA Standards for QTS.

The reports will be completed by your Professional Tutor and subject mentor.

Fees and funding

View the Tuition Fees for 2012/13.

The Teaching Agency (TA) provides details on training bursaries and funding for the PGCE.

If you are a Home or EU student, then you may be eligible for a Tuition Fee loan available through Student Finance England.