Entry Requirements

Admission to the Certificate in Education award will be open to both new applicants to teaching and in-service teachers, trainers and tutors in adult, community, work-based and further education and the wider Further Education and Training Sector, who, at the time of starting the scheme meet the following entry requirements:

1. A Level 3 (QCF) qualification in their teaching subject specialism. Under exceptional circumstances some entrants may hold a relevant vocational qualification of at least the level above that of their learners.

2. Five GCSEs at Grade C/4 and above, or equivalent, to include English. Applicants who do not have English as a GCSE will be required to successfully achieve the University’s diagnostic test prior to entry to the programme.

3. The ability to communicate fluently, accurately and effectively in professional spoken English (IELTS 7.5 or equivalent).

4. A teaching or training contract for a minimum of 75 hours of teaching per academic year for the part time programme. In some circumstances, a voluntary teaching placement may also be possible for part time trainees. It is a requirement that a DBS check has been undertaken before entry to the programme. Teaching Hours The scheme is extremely dependent upon trainee teachers being able to put into practice in their own classrooms the values, knowledge and professional skills they gain through their studies.

It is a requirement of the programme that applicants should be employed or in a placement as teachers, trainers or tutors for a minimum of 150 hours during the programme. Whilst this is a benchmark, in cases where the quality, quantity or breadth of the teaching is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the programme, it may be necessary to arrange for trainees to carry out some additional teaching. Teaching practice must be carried out predominantly with groups of learners, although some individual teaching can be undertaken.

Effective teaching practice experience should ideally include:

• different teaching practice locations/settings/contexts
• teaching across more than one level
• teaching a variety of learners
• experience of non-teaching role

Please note that applicants wanting to teach English and applicants wanting to teach maths (without a degree/’A’ Level in maths) will have to complete an additional entry assessment to demonstrate their content knowledge and skills.

Teaching Hours

The scheme is extremely dependent upon trainee teachers being able to put into practice in their own classrooms the values, knowledge and professional skills they gain through their studies. It is a requirement of the programme that applicants should be employed or in a placement as teachers, trainers or tutors for a minimum of 150 hours during the programme.  Whilst this is a benchmark, in cases where the quality, quantity or breadth of the teaching is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the programme, it may be necessary to arrange for trainees to carry out some additional teaching. Teaching practice must be carried out predominantly with groups of learners, although some individual teaching can be undertaken.  Effective teaching practice experience should ideally include:

•    different teaching practice locations/settings/contexts
•    teaching across more than one level
•    teaching a variety of learners
•    experience of non-teaching roles

Not currently excluded from teaching or working with children or young people, DBS check.

Please note that applicants wanting to teach English and applicants wanting to teach maths (without a degree/’A’ Level in maths) will have to complete an additional entry assessment to demonstrate their content knowledge and skills.

Admission to the PGCE award will be open to both new applicants to teaching and in-service teachers, trainers and tutors in adult, community, work-based and further education and the wider Further Education and Skills Sector, who, at the time of starting the scheme meet the following entry requirements:

1. An honours degree or equivalent (sufficient credits at appropriate levels 4,5,6)
2. A Level 3 (QCF) qualification in their teaching subject specialism. Under exceptional circumstances some entrants may hold a relevant vocational qualification of at least the level above that of their learners.
3. Five GCSEs at Grade C/4 and above, or equivalent, to include English.
4. The ability to communicate fluently, accurately and effectively in professional spoken English (IELTS 7.5 or equivalent).
5. A teaching or training contract for a minimum of 75 hours of teaching per academic year for the part time programme. In some circumstances, a voluntary teaching placement may also be possible for part time trainees.

It is a requirement that a DBS check has been undertaken before entry to the programme.

Teaching Hours

The scheme is extremely dependent upon trainee teachers being able to put into practice in their own classrooms the values, knowledge and professional skills they gain through their studies. It is a requirement of the programme that applicants should be employed or in a placement as teachers, trainers or tutors for a minimum of 150 hours during the programme.  Whilst this is a benchmark, in cases where the quality, quantity or breadth of the teaching is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the programme, it may be necessary to arrange for trainees to carry out some additional teaching. Teaching practice must be carried out predominantly with groups of learners, although some individual teaching can be undertaken.  Effective teaching practice experience should ideally include:

•    different teaching practice locations/settings/contexts
•    teaching across more than one level
•    teaching a variety of learners
•    experience of non-teaching roles

Not currently excluded from teaching or working with children or young people, DBS check.

Please note that applicants wanting to teach English and applicants wanting to teach maths (without a degree/’A’ Level in maths) will have to complete an additional entry assessment to demonstrate their content knowledge and skills.