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School Direct - Secondary

Qualify as a secondary school teacher. Designed by teachers, for teachers.

89% student satisfaction (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, 2019)

(Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, 2019)

Entry requirements

A degree at 2:2 or above.

GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 or grade C or above (or an equivalent qualification).

Experience of working with young people.

UCAS code Click 'more info' below to see UCAS codes for specific partner schools

Duration One year full-time

How to apply for this course

Course Summary

This ourse trains you in one year to become a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) in a specialist subject in a secondary school. You will be based out of two different secondary schools across the year, immersed in school life and taking an active role. You will work mainly out of a lead school, with an additional placement for six to twelve weeks to give you breadth of experience.

Some training will be school based, led by teachers and working with other trainees from other schools, and you will also attend University. We have been training educators and teachers since the 1840s and have a huge alumni network and extensive school relationships to support your future career.

We offer School Direct for the following subjects: Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, Drama, Design & Technology, Design and Technology (Food), Computing, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Music, Physical Education, Physics and Religious Education.

You have two options for the School Direct programme:

Non-salaried - Open to all graduates and funded by tuition fees paid by the trainee. Trainees may receive a bursary of up to £30,000 from the Department of Education. This is the perfect route for graduates who want to be part of a school team from day one.

Salaried - Perfect for high-quality graduates (usually with a first class or upper second honours degree) who already have experience in a school. Trainees will earn a salary as an employee of the school, and will partake in a minimum of 60 days of training. You will also be invited to train at another school for variety of experience. During your training, you will have the support of school-based trainers and University trainers. There are limited places available on this route.

Why this course at Marjon?

Our trainees scored us 89% student satisfaction for postgraduate teacher training, this puts us in the top 25% quartile of all providers in England (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, 2019).

93.9 % of our graduates are in further study, sustained employment or both five years after graduating, compared to a sector average for England of 88.2%. We are 1st in the South West (LEO, 2019).

Marjon Teacher Education Partnership has well-established links with schools across the South West, London and Service Children’s Education, our connections span over 300 schools and settings.

Marjon education and teaching graduates are 3rd in all University providers for graduate earnings five years after leaving the university (Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2018).

Marjon Graduates are more socially mobile than other providers across the South West with more trainees gaining NQT employment in more diverse areas (DFE Supply, Retention and Mobility data, 2018).

This course is perfect if you're curious about

What does it feel like to be a part of a school team?

How do I make my subject relevant to pupils in school to get them to want to learn?

What sort of school do I enjoy working in most?

How do I help young adults get ready for life after school?

What different approaches to teaching can I use to make pupils understand my subject?

How do we create deep learning rather than surface learning?

“ It was clear that all trainees felt very satisfied with the delivery of the programme and praised Marjon’s full support, clear information and excellent communication ... there is a good assessment diet evident with journal entries, case studies and reflective assignments ... assessment is fair and consistent and tutors provide supportive and constructive feedback to develop students’ learning further ... processes are exemplary.”
External Examiner - 2020

What might you become?

You will become a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) in a secondary school. Most trainees start to apply for jobs from January ready for September start. School Direct is very attractive to potential employers because all training is undertaken in schools which gives graduates a wealth of practical classroom experience. The quality of our graduates is well recognised both locally and nationally and, as such, a very high proportion of graduates gain immediate employment in partnership schools, a few enroll on Masters programmes to further their studies. Marjon Trainees gain rapid career development because of the quality of the training experience.

With School Direct you apply directly to a partnership, and the assessment and interviews are run together by head teachers and Marjon. We will start to talk to you about your ambitions from the first moment we meet you. Our jobs fair in late winter is an opportunity for many School Direct trainees to meet potential employers, practice interviews and to finalise an offer for their first role in September.

After you graduate we keep in touch. During your first year you will be invited back to our NQT conference to catch up with classmates, share your experiences and take part in continuing professional development.

Modules for this course

Modules

1st Year

Teacher Education and Professional Learning (QTS)

Based in school you will track your progress against the Teachers’ Standards working with through 2 complementary school placements. You will develop a passion and dedication for teaching and learning to prepare you for your teaching career.

Current issues in education

Teaching and learning in schools is ever changing, this module enables you to explore and critique the relationship between research, policy and practice. You will be assessed through critical reflection or current education practices in a written coursework.

Subject knowledge pedagogy and learning

Effective teaching and learning in schools requires teachers to have high level of subject knowledge in Religious Education and an understanding of how to enable learners in school to understanding it and make it relevant.

Learning and cognition

Learning in schools is experienced differently by diverse groups of pupils and diverse educational settings. This module explores theoretical underpinnings that dictate how teachers choose to teach and how pupil engage in learning.

Reflecting on learning

The success of you as a teacher is measured by the impact you have on pupil learning, this module enable you to explore your impact on the pupils you teach over time and the impact of this on your own professional learning and development.

Fees and funding

Fees UK students: £9,250

Funding available for this course

You may be eligible for funding and bursaries.

Teaching and assessment

How will you be taught?

You will attend school-based taught sessions, run by the partnership for all of their School Direct trainees to help support your development as a trainee teacher. University teaching takes place on one day a week and includes lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical workshops. A School Direct programme is intensive and akin to being in a full time job.

How will you be assessed?

Assessment is based on the way you will be assessed when you are a qualified teacher and includes teaching portfolios, assignments, presentations, observed teaching and case studies.

Course leader

Gillian Golder

Gill is Director of the Marjon Teacher Education Partnership, she taught in schools for 13 years before joining the University. She works with schools, MATS and alliances to support whole school improve, develop evidence based practice and support teacher development. She spends some of her time in Westminster discussing latest ideas and initiatives with the Department for Education and other Education group.

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More information

Click to see our School Direct Partnerships 2021 (Secondary) to see where you could be teaching (with UCAS codes).

More about entry requirements

A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required.
We have a responsibility to ensure that trainees have the health and physical capacity to teach. Candidates must meet the Secretary of State’s requirements for physical and mental fitness to teach as detailed in ‘Fit to Teach’ by completing an on-line medical questionnaire.
The Skills tests no longer exist as an entry requirement however, all teachers are expected to be competent in fundamental English and Mathematics. We will be assuring that trainees have these skills either during the selection process, or later during the training programme.
It is not essential that candidates have school experience when they apply for a School Direct course, however, we recommend that candidates obtain observation experience to ensure teaching is the right career for them.
Candidates must take part in individual and a group interviews with representatives from schools as well as University tutors.

Marjon currently works with five school direct partners for secondary provision across the region and one SCITT in London. Links to the partners: