The PGCE Curriculum
You will learn about pedagogy, including learning theories and child development, alongside the National Curriculum subjects and the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. This will equip you to understand how best to teach all curriculum subjects to children of different ages and stages of development. It will also help you develop confidence to teach children with diverse interests and experiences.
You will also explore professional issues, such as safeguarding and supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Course Modules
The course has three modules, with the academic modules 2 and 3 each bearing 30 Masters level credits. Assessment of Module 1 is through a portfolio of evidence based on your teaching in school. Assessment of Modules 2 and 3 is through the submission of relevant assignments.
Academic work is carefully supported and academic leads will provide study skills support to ensure the jump from Level 6 (undergraduate) to L7 (postgraduate) work is manageable.
Please view the breakdown of sessions here. This provides session descriptions and tutor names. Where tutors are working for partner schools or universities this is noted, however, centre-based training is all hosted at our training base (St Mary's RC Primary School) or at partner school locations. No sessions are hosted at Kingston University.
Module 1 (Level 6) Professional Practice (not credit bearing)
This module focuses on developing your ability to teach, assess and undertake the range of professional duties required of primary school teachers. It is based at the SCITT training rooms, where lectures, group discussions and online learning will provide you with research, theory and evidence-based insights into what makes effective learning and teaching in the classroom.
Subject leaders from our partner schools, local university lecturers and specialist consultants each model 'quality first' teaching strategies so you can transfer what you have experienced into your own practice.
This module prepares you for your practice in school, where you will receive further training, work alongside professionals, experience being the lead teacher in a classroom and engage in the wider aspects of being a teacher.
Module 2 (Level 7) The Reflective Teacher
This module introduces you to theories of reflective practice and the value and purpose of reflection for teachers. This will enable you to develop in-depth understanding of how you reflect in order to identify issues and develop solutions to common issues arising in your classroom.
You will critically explore factors that affect how children develop physically, socially and as learners. You will analyse issues relevant to your practice, considering your own position as an effective teacher.
Through completion of a reflective journal during the module, you will develop critical, reflective and reflexive skills to inform peer and colleague discussion within a learning community. You will be encouraged and supported to challenge and develop your professional practice.
Module 3 (Level 7) Perspectives on Policy, Practice and Professionalism
This module enables you to locate yourself as an emerging professional within wider discourses about teaching as a profession. It allows you to evaluate your own identity as a professional and reflect on the values that you and the wider profession hold. You will critically analyse discussions and debates which affect classroom practice. These debates will focus on specific areas to exemplify wider issues in education. The focus of these discussions will be on inclusive teaching and learning and the legislative frameworks which provide codes of practice.
A key focus of the module is to develop your ability to make sense of education research and to apply this in the context of your school or setting.
