This page may contain additional navigation below.
Enhancement Courses
Pre-Initial Teacher Education subject knowledge enhancement courses are designed for graduates who need to develop a greater depth of subject understanding prior to commencing a PGCE programme.
These courses are ideal for graduates who are interested in teaching a secondary priority subject but who may not necessarily have a degree in that subject. They vary in length depending on the subject and run prior to the initial teacher education programme. The subjects available are:
- Design and Technology;
- Mathematics;
- Modern Languages;
- Physics;
- Science.
These enhancement courses are jointly planned and managed by The South West One Consortium of Providers including Bath Spa University as the lead institution working with the University of Bath, the University of Bristol, the University of Gloucestershire and the University of the West of England. However applicants referred from any Initial Teacher Education Provider in England will be eligible to undertake an enhancement course at Bath Spa University.
Course Structure and Content
The subject knowledge enhancement courses will aim to achieve the following objectives:
- Prepare you for the PGCE programme through highlighting issues of relevance to teaching and learning in your chosen subject;
- Inspire passion for the subject including all aspects of local, national and global developments within it;
- Develop a deep understanding of the knowledge, concepts and skills associated with your chosen subject;
- Model imaginative and creative approaches to teaching and learning, and excellent practice in assessment;
- Prepare you to teach your chosen subject up to Key Stage 4 (11 -16 year olds). The intention for the majority of subjects is that you would have the potential to teach up to A-level.
Teaching and learning will include a range of methods to enhance your knowledge and understanding including tutorials, practical tasks, essays, investigations, collaborative projects and presentations. In addition, there may be opportunities for school visits, fieldwork, trips and visits to help place your subject in a wider context.
Design and Technology
- Part-time course taught for one day per week, commencing in March 2010 until June 2010.
- Course modules are intended to give you a thorough understanding of design and technology in order that you can proceed confidently onto your chosen ITE route.
Mathematics
- Full-time course commencing in January 2010 and 2011 for 28 weeks.
- Taught four days a week from 9am – 4pm with one day dedicated to independent study.
- Modules include Algebra, Calculus, Discrete Maths, Geometry and Trigonometry, Mathematical Thinking, Mechanics and Statistics.
Modern Languages
- Full-time course commencing in August 2010 and 2011 for 2 weeks.
- Course modules are intended to enable you to enhance your second teaching language and refresh your first teaching language in order for you to proceed confidently onto your chosen ITE route.
Physics
- Full-time course commencing in January 2010 and 2011 for 28 weeks.
- Taught five days a week from 9am – 4pm.
- Modules include Material Properties, Mechanics, Waves, Fields and Forces, Electricity & Electromagnetism, Particle & Nuclear Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology, Thermal Physics, Quantum Phenomena, Special Relativity and Communications.
Science
- Full-time course commencing in February 2010 and 2011 for 24 weeks.
- Course modules in Biology, Physics and Chemistry as well as ‘How Science Works’ are intended to give you a thorough understanding of the Sciences in order that you can proceed confidently onto your chosen ITE route.
- The course is ideally suited for graduates with degrees such as Psychology, Archaeology, Oceanology, Sports Science or Animal/Equine Sciences.
Entry Requirements
- You should demonstrate a passion for your chosen subject and a real desire to teach it at secondary level.
- You must have been offered a conditional place on an ITE programme, and therefore met the standard PGCE entry requirements for your intended route.
- Desirable to have experience of the subject to at least A-level standard, and this could be through holding an A-level in the subject, having an element of it in your degree course and/or occupational experience of the subject.
- GCSE English and Maths (and Science for Key Stage 2/3 programmes) at grade C or above (or recognised equivalents) by the September of the year you start the ITE programme.
An ITE provider may refer an applicant to an enhancement course where either the applicant does not have a degree that contains more than 50% in the subject or where they consider the student’s subject knowledge is weak and offers no specialism.