Primary PGCE/MA Educational Innovation - one year (full-time)

Introduction

The Primary PGCE course is run from the Westwood campus at the University. It is a one year course that qualifies successful students to teach children aged 5 - 11 in primary, infant, junior and first schools.

We will help you to:

  • learn to teach the key skills of reading, writing and number to pupils across the ability range, teach effectively, and organise classrooms to promote sound and coherent learning
  • assess pupils effectively to assist in promoting pupils' progress across the curriculum
  • learn to manage pupils’ behaviour and maintain a purposeful learning environment
  • find ways of developing your own practice through a process of self-evaluation

   

Our PGCE Primary course offers the opportunity1 for a small number of trainees to do an additional specialism in teaching Modern Foreign Languages in the primary school. The programme will involve doing a four week placement in Brussels, in a French speaking school or in Shanghai, in a Mandarin/English international school. For 2012/13 we particularly welcome applications from candidates with a good level of French or Mandarin Chinese who wish to do the MFL specialist programme. We would normally expect high degree level qualifications but candidates with significant experience or who are native speakers will be welcomed. We recognise that enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to try something different are equally useful qualities in this context. For more information please contact pgce@warwick.ac.uk. Please note that applying for this route does not guarantee that you will be selected to go on a placement described above. This means that your future certificate may state PGCE Primary only.

1 Subject to TDA funding

The Course

The PGCE Primary course begins in mid-September and lasts for 38 weeks. The course prepares you to teach across both Key Stage 1 and 2, so you will undertake placements in both Key Stages. In addition to these placements, you will have a number of days in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 3 classrooms focusing on transition between the Key Stages, and a day in a school where you can observe the teaching of children for whom English is an Additional Language.

The PGCE Primary course includes programmes to address the teaching, planning and assessment of the core curriculum as well as the foundation subjects. All subjects are delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials.

There is also a professional studies programme that develops your understanding of how children learn, behaviour management and other important professional issues.

The academic component of the course is assessed at Masters level. On successful completion of the course you will gain 90 credits towards a Masters qualification in addition to QTS.

Entry Requirements

  1. Normally, we expect all of our applicants to have a 2:1 honours degree.
  2. To undertake the Primary PGCE you will need to demonstrate some subject knowledge of the core subjects and an awareness of the needs of the young child. You should demonstrate that you have the expertise and commitment to become a specialist in Primary education. This will usually be based on the content of your degree, professional experience or other qualifications. We do not recruit by degree title but we expect you to be able to establish the relevance of your studies and experience to your chosen course.
  3. We expect all candidates to PGCE Primnary to have had some experience in schools focusing on Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 classrooms and that you are familiar with the atmosphere and demands of primary school teaching. This will be a focus of discussion at interview.
  4. All applicants for the Primary PGCE should hold at least a Grade C at GCSE in English, Mathematics and Science. Other qualifications may be approved as equivalents. You must show that you meet these requirements before the start of the course.

We are keen to recruit high quality candidates who have enquired into the realities of school life by visiting or spending time in schools in their chosen age phase. We want to recruit students who will be lively, energetic teachers, committed to developing the abilities of all pupils and to making a difference in educational practice.

The PGCE Primary course is very popular and we emphasise the need for early application.

Course leader: Viv Cooke

Email: pgce@warwick.ac.uk

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