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PGCE Primary and Early Years
Course closed for 2010 entry!
The PGCE Primary and Early Years programmes have been planned and developed in partnership with schools and Early Years settings to provide excellent new teachers for this demanding, but rewarding, profession.
There are three routes to choose from:
- Primary and Early Years 5-11 age phase full-time;
- Primary and Early Years 3-7 age phase full-time;
- Primary and Early Years 3-7 age phase part-time.
The programmes have been designed to develop your professional attributes, knowledge, confidence and skills required for teaching across your chosen age-phase. You will be enabled to use and apply these in the professional context of a school community or other educational setting.
Master’s Level Option
Each route can be followed towards either a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (60 credits, of which 45 are at Master’s Level) or a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (60 credits Honours Level). The level at which you pass relevant assignments will determine your final award.
Highly Rated
In 2007 our PGCE Primary and Early Years programmes were awarded the highest grade of 1 (‘outstanding’) by Ofsted for quality in teacher education. The inspection report commented that Bath Spa University’s Primary and Early Years Initial Teacher Education team is “a very effective learning organisation, committed to achieving excellence in all that it does”. In 2008 the University was awarded quality category grade A from the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TD A) as a provider of Primary and Early Years ITE.
Course Structure and Content
- Full Time PGCE Primary and Early Years: The full-time programmes last for approximately 37 weeks, 18 of which are spent in a school or other educational setting. During the programmes you will look at a range of cross-curricular themes and ways of developing the five key outcomes of the government’s Every Child Matters (ECM) agenda.
- 5-11 age phase: Following this route you will become secure in the curriculum and teaching methods appropriate for Key Stage 1 (5-7 years) and Key Stage 2 (7-11 years). You will be assessed on school phases in each of these Key Stages.
- 3-7 age phase: This route will equip you to develop the specialist knowledge, skills, and understanding to become a confident teacher within the Early Years Foundation Stage (3-5 years) as well as Key Stage 1 (5-7 years). You will be assessed on school phases in each of these Key Stages. The programme will help you understand the particular needs and learning characteristics of very young children, as well as the role played by parents as partners in the education process.
- Part Time PGCE Primary and Early Years (3-7 age phase): The programme lasts for 20 months from September until April of the following academic year. It has been designed so that you can attend university-based education or serial school days for a maximum of two days a week except when on a school phase. The programme is aimed at those people who wish to continue working within Early Years settings or schools, those who have family or other commitments, and/or those who prefer to study over a longer period of time.
The part-time programme is taught mainly in a school-based venue, near to the university, enabling enhanced access to teachers and children in a learning context.
Focus Areas
Professional Reflection and Development
This aspect of the programme is supported particularly through Professional Studies, which introduces you to the many generic issues relating to your roles and responsibilities as a Primary or Early Years practitioner, and within which you will be encouraged to become a reflective practitioner and lifelong learner. As well as developing your understanding of the Every Child Matters (ECM) agenda it will also support you in areas such as how children learn and develop, different teaching approaches, assessment and monitoring, achievement and diversity and children’s health and well-being.
You will also become knowledgeable in the holistic nature of children’s lives as well as the changing nature of schools, reflected in partnership with parents and multi-agency working. The programme is designed to be developmental, so that you have the appropriate understanding and skills to undertake each school phase.
Knowledge and Understanding of the Curriculum
Through this aspect of study you will become equipped to teach the full Early Years and/or Primary curriculum, including the areas of learning for the Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum core subjects i.e. English, mathematics and science. You will also have the opportunity to study the foundation subjects of the Primary curriculum, such as information and communications technology, physical education, design and technology, art and design, geography, history, music and religious education. A performing and visual arts module will enable you to focus on drama, dance and storytelling, with further input on music and art and design. In response to national initiatives, the programme provides guidance on cross-curricular planning, personalised learning and assessment for learning. Those on the 3-7 age phase route will fully explore the principles and the six areas of learning of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
School and Setting Phase
We have well-established and innovative partnerships with schools and Early Years settings across a wide area in the South West. The strength of this relationship will be evident throughout the programme. You will be supported in your school phase by a trained school mentor as well as your university personal tutor. Your mentor and university tutor will work together to support and monitor your progress in the school or setting.
In allocating the school phase we try to take account of your personal circumstances, for example where you live and your access to transport.
Time Spent in Schools / Settings
You will spend 90 days in schools or other educational settings, including preparation days, research days, and two full-time school phases, one in each of the relevant age phases. The structure allows a developmental approach to professional practice across the year, as you gradually build up your level of responsibility, finally taking on the full role of the class teacher. There are opportunities for team teaching and for working in special schools. On the part-time programme both of the assessed school phases require a full-time commitment.
Teaching Methods and Resources
Throughout both programmes there is a dynamic relationship between your education in the university and your education in schools and it is essential that you recognise this connection. As you progress through the programme you will be supported in making a seamless integration of these two important aspects.
On the full-time programmes you will generally attend the university for three full days per week from 09:00h to 16:30h.
On the part-time programme you will generally attend university based sessions for one or two days per week from 09:30h to 15:15h, not including school holiday periods.
You will be taught in lectures, seminars and workshops. Your personal tutor will work with you regularly on the Professional Studies programme and visit you during your school phases. Your tutor will also support you in preparing and applying for teaching posts. There will be an emphasis on the appropriate use of information and communications technology to support your learning and professional development so you would be well advised to develop these skills prior to starting the programme.
Assessment Methods
In order to be recommended for one of the PGCE awards you will be required to undertake a range of assignments which assess your own subject knowledge and understanding as well as your teaching skills. If you take the Postgraduate (Master’s level) option these assignments will require additional study and a higher level of critical analysis. You will also need to complete the national skills tests in mathematics, English and ICT.
You will be supported through assessment throughout the programme. Much of the assessment will take place in schools and Early Years settings as you demonstrate your teaching skills. Throughout the programme you will work on a personal profile of strengths and areas for development, which you will prepare in negotiation with teachers in schools and with your university tutors. This will demonstrate that you have met National Standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Entry Requirements
In addition to the general entry requirements you will need a good honours degree (preferably 2:1 or above) which can be in any subject area, though your educational background should provide a good foundation for primary and early years teaching.