Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) (Lifelong Learning) - In-Service

The course is particularly suitable if you have work experience and/or qualifications in industry, including business and administration, hair and beauty, health and social care, public services or construction, engineering and many other vocational areas.

You will be required to have a placement at a recognised training or educational establishment for a minimum of 250 hours (at least 125 hours in any one year). Bishop Burton College will be your placement provider but this is subject to your subject specialism as Bishop Burton College may not be able to accommodate you. As pre service trainees you will be a voluntary teacher/trainer for the course duration.

You should have:

UK first degree (normally 2:2 or above) or equivalent related to your specialist area if studying the Postgraduate or Professional Graduate Certificate.

At least a Level 3 or equivalent qualification related to your specialist area if you are studying a Certificate in Education

Level 2 Maths and English. If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent.

Relevant work experience in some specialist subject areas

In addition you must also:

Provide confirmation of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

Provide one satisfactory reference

Complete a satisfactory interview

Identify a work-based mentor who can support you in your subject specialism

If you already hold a teaching qualification at level 4 or above or have substantial knowledge and experience of teaching you may be able to make a claim for accreditation of prior learning.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent will be considered acceptable.

This programme is delivered with a variety of learning and teaching approaches.

For all modules, theory lectures are delivered that aim to deliver the core content and provide the underpinning knowledge. To complement the theory lectures, you will have group seminars that are used to reinforce concepts delivered theoretically.

The teaching methods focus on facilitating a student-centred approach to enhance the independent learning that takes place outside of the classroom.

The programme is taught one evening per week. Attendance at a two-day conference at the University of Huddersfield is required in the second year of the programme.

The programme requires 250 placement hours to be satisfactorily completed. The teaching practice hours will be undertaken within your workplace, supported by your identified work-based mentor.

The programme will incorporate a variety of assessment methods across each academic year. The mix of assessments will seek to challenge and evaluate your knowledge, understanding and skills. Assessments for this programme may include written assignments, portfolios, practical assessments (observation of teaching) and a research project to present to conference in year two.

During the PGCE programme you will complete 60 credits at masters level, which creates an opportunity to continue your masters level study on a full MA course in Education. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, following a process of professional formation through the Society for Education and Training. Your QTLS is full professional status for teachers in the Lifelong Learning sector.

Upon successful completion of this programme you could gain employment in post-16 education in e.g. Further Education institutions, some institutions offering Higher Education provision, the prison service and voluntary sector community organisations.