Teacher Training: PGCE/CertEd

All applications will be looked at on an individual basis.

Entry requirements for PGCE

• UK degree (normally 2:2 or above) or equivalent related to your specialist area.
• Relevant work experience in some specialist subject areas may be required.
• Level 2 Maths and English.

In addition you must also:

• provide Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health clearances.
• provide two satisfactory references.
• complete a satisfactory interview.

Entry requirements for Cert Ed

• Level 3 qualification related to your specialist area.
• Relevant work experience/industry experience in you specialist subject area.
• Level 2 Maths and English.

In addition you must also:

• provide Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health clearances.
• provide two satisfactory references.
• complete a satisfactory interview.

Teaching requirements for pre-service Cert Ed and PGCE:

• 250 hours unpaid placement, with 150 hours teaching (minimum) across two placements.
• Second placement requirement is 20 hours.
• College will organise both teaching placements for successful applicants.

Teaching requirements for in-service Cert Ed and PGCE

• 250 hours paid (or voluntary) work across two placements, with minimum 150 hours of teaching.
• Second placement requirement is 20 hours and will be arranged around paid teaching post if trainee is already employed in teaching.

The pre-service course (full-time PGCE) is delivered over 1.25 days a week (with an additional three days on teaching placement)

The in-service course (part-time Cert Ed./PGCE) is delivered over one evening a week.

During the course you will undertake project work, such as developing new course materials. Academic work includes critical examination of creativity in teaching, subject specialist related studies, quality assurance and professional issues. Both full and part-time students will learn all the fundamental skills of teaching, facilitation of learning and curriculum development. You will be able to take part in tutorials, gain masses of real teaching experience, hear from visiting speakers and attend conferences.

Full-time applicants - we aim to get all full-time students into a York College placement, depending on subject and availability. You will need to complete 100 hours teaching experience to complete the qualification.

Part-time applicants – for the part-time in-service course, applicants need to already be employed in teaching or a training role to complete this qualification alongside their current employment. You will need to be able to log a minimum of 50 hours teaching or training in year one, and then an additional 50 in year two (100 hours in total).

No additional costs are expected for this course, although students should have access to an internet enabled laptop or PC.

Certificate in Education: Cert Ed (I)

This 120-credit award is the ‘standard’ university level award for teachers in the Lifelong Learning sector who do not have a first or undergraduate degree; following a period of professional post-qualification formation, it can lead to the status of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS). It contains 90 credits of study at intermediate level (HE Level 2). The Certificate is equivalent to the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training.

Professional Graduate Certificate in Education: PGCE (H)

This 120-credit award is the ‘standard’ university level award for graduate teachers in the Lifelong Learning sector; following professional post-qualification formation it may lead to the status of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS). It contains 60 credits of study at honours level (HE Level 3). It is at a higher academic level than the new Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training but contains equivalent practical content.

This award was introduced nationally to clarify the distinction between initial teacher training for graduates, which was normally postgraduate in time but not in level, and postgraduate study in education as an academic discipline (such as an MA in Education). Thus, the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education is the direct successor to the initial teacher training award commonly known as a ‘PGCE’ and has the same abbreviation. For more information, see the QAA website at http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/FHEQ/PGCEstatement.asp.

Postgraduate Certificate in Education: PGCE (M)

This 120-credit award is intended for graduate teachers in the lifelong learning sector who wish to undertake a programme at Master’s level, and may also lead (following professional formation) to the status of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS). Although it has the traditional title commonly associated with the abbreviation ‘PGCE’, it contains 60 credits of study at Masters (M) Level. Entry to this programme is offered at York College and is subject to a selection process.

To find out more about teacher training please visit: Teacher training application - information

To apply for the full-time pre-service PGCE course please apply via: Department of Education
To apply for the part-time pre-service Cert Ed/PGCE course please apply via our Apply page
To apply for the part-time in-service PGCE course please apply via our Apply page
To apply for the part-time in-service CertEd course, applicants should apply via our Apply page
To apply for the full-time pre-service CertEd course, please apply via UCAS

In-Service refers to teachers employed in the sector without a teaching qualification and to teachers in a voluntary capacity. Professional teaching and/or training experience (teaching practice) is provided by their job role. The course is part time over two academic years

Pre-Service refers to applicants without a recognised teaching qualification or employment in the sector who wish to train to teach. Professional teaching and/or training experience (teaching practice) is provided through a teaching practice placement at a placement institution. The course is full time over one academic year.

Formative assessment

Throughout the course, formative assessment takes place in a variety of forms and contexts. These include:

• The initial assessment process
• Group discussions, literature reviews and case studies
• Academic writing exercises
• Teaching observations
• Presentations and microteaching sessions by trainees, individually or in groups
• Regular PDP reviews
• Drafts of work for summative assessment

Teaching and Observations

Teaching Log

Number of hours
You will need to keep a record of all your teaching in this section to show that you have completed at least 100 hours of teaching by the end of the course.

Most people teach many more than 100 hours throughout the course. You should include the teaching hours for which you have had personal responsibility for the impact on learners (e.g. planning, teaching and learning, learner progress.) These may be drawn from, for example:

• Formal classroom-based lessons
• Lectures
• Seminar
• Tutorials
• Workshops
• Skills lessons
• Enrichment activities

The hours you log should not exclusively be one sort of teaching and could include:

• Whole class
• Small groups
• One to one teaching or tutorials
• Large groups e.g. lectures

Students will learn the following skills; organisational skills, time management, classroom management, presentation skills, academic writing, understanding behaviours, flexibility of delivery and interpersonal skills.

Successful completion of the PGCE will allow applications on to university Master’s courses.

Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) is
a professional status which can be gained by successfully completing a period of professional formation after completing a qualifying certificate at Level 5 or above (Initial Teacher Education qualification such as PGCE, Cert Ed, PGDipE (FE) or other Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) (120 credits) and whilst teaching in further education or other training settings. It is important to note that QTLS is currently awarded by the Society for Education and Training and not by the university

Career progression includes:

• FE Teacher/Lecturer
• Private Training Provider Tutor
• Manager
• Staff Trainer
• Training Manager