Why study with us?
Are you passionate about English? If your dream is to become a secondary school English teacher, then this is the course for you. It prepares you to become a specialist English teacher, trained to deliver the essential knowledge and skills that make English such a wide ranging and exciting subject.
We aim to provide a high quality personalised experience for each individual. We work closely with partnership schools in Lancashire, Cumbria and the North East (and occasionally further afield). Experienced tutors work with you to meet your learning needs and support you throughout the year as you learn how to plan, resource and deliver effective lessons to pupils across the age and ability range. We are enthusiastic about the English curriculum (language, literature, drama, media) and work with you to help you develop your own subject knowledge to promote outstanding teaching and learning in the secondary classroom.
What can this course lead to?
We have a strong tradition of producing trainees who take up full time teaching posts as fully qualified English teachers throughout the UK. Since the course comes with qualified teacher status built in, you will be qualified to work in secondary schools. Depending on prior experience and skills, you may even be in a position to apply for jobs contributing to drama and media courses.
Course Summary
The course blends university sessions with school placements and is founded on the principle of helping trainees to reflect and build upon the connections between university and school experiences.
We begin with three weeks in university during which we look at issues such as the development of subject knowledge (setting personal targets for this); the nature of the English curriculum; identities and philosophies of English teachers; lesson planning; effective teaching and learning strategies; good practice in teaching speaking and listening; reading; writing.
Trainees then begin a phased introduction to their first placement, working closely with a trained subject mentor who works in partnership with the university. Trainees return to days in university to reflect upon school experience and to develop further skills and expertise in specific areas of the English curriculum and in general areas such as behaviour management, English as an Additional Language, pastoral care.
Our clear aim is to produce outstanding teachers who use a variety of innovative teaching and learning activities to engage pupils, and who have confidence in their own subject knowledge and their ability to use this to plan highly effective lessons. There is a total of 120 days in school, and following the first placement which runs until February, we then concentrate on two Masters level modules focusing on assessment and on curriculum development in English. These modules allow trainees to carry out small-scale action research projects in school and to help them develop their practice in the light of recent thinking in key areas.
Following three or four weeks back in university, trainees begin their final block placement in a second school where they continue to develop teaching skills in the light of university experiences.
We make much use of group work and university sessions are interactive and promote independent learning. Trainees always comment on the supportive atmosphere within our groups and the benefits of working together with a group of peers are seen by trainees as a strong feature of the course.
Tutors support trainees in developing your professional skills, knowledge and practice in English teaching, making you into a confident, highly competent classroom practitioner.
Modules
We cover all aspects of the English curriculum. Specific modules allow for a focus on assessment, language, poetry and media. The Curriculum Development module is designed to raise your awareness of past and present contexts in English, as well as future possibilities.
We also cover general teaching modules, including:
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Meeting Young People’s Needs Within and Beyond the Curriculum
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Professional Skills, Knowledge and Practice
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Curriculum Development
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Classroom Research for Beginning Teachers
Case Studies
"It has been challenging but exciting and fulfilling. I knew I wanted to be a teacher and this has helped me to develop the skills I need to be a confident classroom practitioner."
"I have just got a full time teaching job for next year and this course has helped me feel I can really make a difference to young people’s lives."
"I wanted a career change, and although this has been a challenge, I know I made the right decision. My tutors at university and my mentors on my school placements have supported me throughout the year."
Resources and facilities
University tutors are have a wide range of experiences as secondary practitioners on which to draw and are also active researchers in education, with different areas of specialism. School mentors are experienced classroom practitioners, trained as mentors within our partnership.
Each campus is friendly and easy to navigate with good learning facilities, libraries and ICT access. We have a well-stocked library and a Learning Gateway, which offers an interactive, flexible space to study. You can also take advantage of The Learning, Information and Student Services (LISS), which provides learning resources, equipment, student advice, skills training and study space.
All students have access to our Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment which can provide easy online access to course information, course materials, relevant web links and an online discussion board.