PGCE - General Primary (5-11 years) with QTS: Inclusion/SEND

How you will learn

Your programme will help you to build your theoretical understanding of the complexity of teaching and learning, whilst at the same time helping you to develop your practical professional skills in classroom settings. You will find a significant focus within the course that is devoted to the interplay between theory and practice. 

Assessed School Placement

To support your professional practice and provide you with the opportunity to be recommended for the award of QTS, you will have three placements in school. These will cover two age phases and will be in at least two different settings. You will benefit from the excellent school partnerships we have developed with schools over many years. While on placement, you will be supported by a mentor in school. Your mentor will have received initial mentor training from the university and will be supported by a member of staff from the university to support your professional development.

The programme is designed intentionally to weave together university-based learning, school-based learning and independent learning around a developmental learning framework. The combination of all these elements, structured in this way has proven to be a successful recipe for supporting students to gain the highest outcomes.

How you will be assessed

Your PGCE with QTS programme is assessed through a combination of placement assessment alongside formative and summative assessments.

You will complete three summative assignments over the duration of the course. The first two summative assessments will be based on topics of your choosing that will be set within a provided context. This will allow you to develop your understanding of teaching and learning and the professional application of your understanding in an area that is personally relevant to you. Formative activities are built into the assessment process. As you will be selecting a topic for each of your assessments, you will have the opportunity to share your intentions and to receive confirmation about the appropriateness of your topic before you progress further. You will also have formative assessment submissions where you will receive formative feedback but no grade. This will help you to develop your work prior to summative submission.

The third summative assignment involves bringing together learning from the cumulative work done during each of your ITAPs. The assignment will also provide a bridge to your Early Career Teacher (ECT) years.

Your three placements, take place at the end of each phase of the course: ‘Beginning’, ‘Developing’ and ‘Extending’. On your Beginning and Developing placements you are assessed against the curriculum you have been taught, split into Beginning and Developing staged expectations. These work towards your Extending placement where you will be assessed against the Teachers’ Standards. You can expect to be involved in this process with your mentor, who will help you to set developmental targets on a weekly basis during your placements. This will help you to build your ability to self-assess and be an active agent in your professional development.

Progression

The programme also recognises that gaining a PGCE and achieving QTS is not the end of your professional learning journey. It is with this in mind that the contributory modules have been planned to allow you to undertake a seamless transition to a University of Cumbria MA in Education Professional Practice. The learning outcomes of the modules have been mapped to the learning outcomes of the MA and the credits that you accrue on the PGCE are recognised as part of the MA.

Tuition Fees

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

Funding

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. You can find out more about Student Finance specifically for PGCE Students on the PGCE Finance webpages.

Additional Costs