University College Plymouth St Mark & St John

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Teaching is a career that makes a difference. If you feel you have the skills and abilities to inspire the next generation to be inquisitive, rational and productive members of society, then teaching is for you.

Whatever your circumstances – if you are still studying, about to graduate, or looking for a career change – there is a route for you within teacher training. With 170 years of heritage, UCP Marjon is one of the most experienced teacher training institutions in the country.

Our PGCE courses are an ideal choice for those who respond to challenge and want to become the kind of teacher who makes a real difference to the pupils that they teach. Our PGCE programme culminates in the award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education with Qualified Teacher Status(QTS). Your Postgraduate certificate is equivalent to 60 credits at Masters level where you will develop a depth of knowledge and understanding of the National Curriculum, including what pupils are expected to learn and how they can make progress, particularly within the remit of National Curriculum Tests/assessments and other examination requirements.

Placements
Our courses take place at the University College and across a wide range of partnership schools in the South West.

The school based training element increases throughout the year in the form of 2 block placements in partnership schools. Our secondary PGCE programme offers some opportunities for placements in London and Germany.  Primary student teachers have an opportunity for placements in special schools and may have an opportunity for a placement in London.

During their PGCE,  students benefit from the strong partnership between  the University and schools, with a reputation for high quality initial teacher education, and students learn from experienced and knowledgeable tutors across this partnership.

Teaching
Student teachers will receive extensive support both in UCP Marjon and within school. Primary student teachers will work with the 5–11 age range. As part of your understanding of the learning and teaching process within the primary age phase, you will have opportunities to experience the Foundation Stage Curriculum and the Key Stage Three Curriculum during your time on the course.

The main focus for secondary teachers will be the 11–16 age range. However, there are plenty of opportunities to work in post 16 or other curriculum areas which will lead to a PGCE 11–16 with enhancement including opportunities to teach 14-19 Diploma courses.

Masters level work
Upon successful completion of the PGCE programme you will have achieved 60 credits at Masters level – 1/3 of the 180 credits required for a Masters degree. Those who do not achieve the Masters level requirements but who achieve honours level outcomes may be awarded the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (pGCE). Both routes lead to a recommendation for the award of Qualified Teacher Status.

QTS is assessed through an ongoing Evidence Portfolio related to subject knowledge, competence in information and communication technology, planning, teaching, learning, assessment and professional values. You will also need to successfully complete the Government’s numeracy, literacy and ICT skills tests. Student teachers are assessed against the TDA’s Professional Standards for Teachers.

Learning Space
As a student teacher you will have access to ‘LearningSpace’, our virtual learning environment. This is our method of delivering learning resources electronically and can be accessed from anywhere via the internet. This is particularly useful when you are away from University College on school placements.

Equality and Diversity
We welcome a wide range of applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. The TDA has produced a race equality scheme to signal its continued commitment to the promotion of equality in general and to race equality in particular. The University College also has a strong commitment to equal opportunities, believing that everyone has a right to fulfil their potential irrespective of ethnicity, gender or socio-cultural group

General Entry Requirements
In addition to the specific entry requirements detailed on each subject page, the following are also required:

General Teaching Council (GTC) Suitability Declaration
All applicants starting ITT programmes must complete a GTC Suitability Declaration form. This form will be used to assess your suitability to be provisionally registered with the General Teaching Council for England.

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) amd registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)
All student teachers have to be checked by the CRB and register with the ISA before beginning a programme of Initial Teacher Training. The CRB/ISA disclosure application form will be sent to applicants once they accept the offer from UCP Marjon via GTTR.

Fit to Teach
All student teachers must meet the Secretary of State’s requirements for physical and mental fitness to teach as detailed in ‘Fit to Teach’. Details of how to access this service will be sent to you as soon as you accept our offer.

Interview
Candidates must take part in a literacy test as well as an individual and/or group interview with representatives from schools as well as University College tutors. Candidates should have experience of observing in a primary or secondary school, perhaps working or even teaching and be able to have an informed conversation about this at interview. Areas of subject knowledge, professionalism, teaching and learning, and awareness of the relevant subject curriculum, will be discussed. Tutors will explore your academic ability, but also your potential to become a teacher, and to withstand the pressures and challenges of the course.

Last modified on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:33:24 GMT by schambers