PGCE Post-compulsory Education and Training (PCET)
Course summary
This programme enables you to meet the Professional Standards for the lifelong learning sector. It equips you with the knowledge and practical skills you need to teach a diverse range of learners, including those in the 14-19 age bracket as well as more mature students. In addition to developing your professional skills, you will be able to demonstrate secure subject and/or vocational knowledge in teaching.
Theory and practice are interlinked throughout the course; you will have the opportunity to develop your skills through hands-on teaching practice, while completing written assignments to demonstrate your understanding of the principles of teaching. You will also engage in self-reflection and evaluate the teaching of others to develop and enhance your professional teaching skills and subject knowledge.
Why study post-16 Teacher Training at UEL?
- High levels of support - Personalised professional support for every trainee, “ensuring that they develop good practice as a result” (Ofsted, 2012)
- Further training and development - Continue your professional development by applying for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status.
- Diverse learning - You’ll be become part of a richly diverse group of trainee teachers, with “an unwavering commitment to raising standards and aspirations in the communities in which they work” (Ofsted, 2012)
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out moreProfessional qualification
This level 7 course provides you with a Professional Teaching Qualification (PGCE) that qualifies you to teach in the lifelong learning / post-compulsory sector.
Teach in a variety of settings
The PGCE: PCET enables you to teach in a wide range of contexts outside of the core primary and secondary school environment, including Further Education Colleges, Adult and Community Learning Centres, Sixth Form Colleges, and Youth/Offender Services.
QTLS
Upon finishing the course, you'll have the opportunity to gain QTLS (Qualified Teacher, Learning and Skills) status once you have become a member of the Society for Education and Training and undertaken professional formation. Please note, UEL does not confer this status, but we can support you with the application.
Joe Withey
Post-compulsory Education and Training (PCET), PGCE
The PGCE course allowed me to develop the skills required to perform practically in a further education workplace, and also to understand the theory behind it. Having the placement alongside my learning gave me the ability to contextualise my lessons on a daily basis, which benefited my practice. The focus on teacher practice was invaluable to my development, as was the feedback given by the tutors and my mentor. The inclusion of the portfolio gave me a clear understanding of how to progress my career and professionalism by gaining QTLS. I now have a management position within the access department at my workplace.
What you'll learn
- Pedagogy and Professional Practice
- Active Enquiry
- College Based Learning
What you'll study and when
We consistently review and develop our courses and modules to ensure they are up-to-date with sector and industry graduate skills demands. Course structure, modules and options are subject to change.
You will study the following 3 modules:
- Pedagogy and Professional Practice: this module relates to pedagogy, your subject specialism and how it is taught in colleges and in the PCET sector.
- Active Enquiry: this module relates to the ways in which learner progress can be supported. You will carry out an action research based project.
- College Based Learning: this module demonstrates evidence of your progress against the 2014 Professional Standards for FE teachers.
How you'll be assessed
Course work in 3 modules
- Pedagogy and Professional Practice (30 credits)
- Active Enquiry (30 credits)
- College Based Learning (60 credits)
Course specification
Your future career
This course gives you a practical qualification that ensures you meet the Professional Standard to teach lifelong and post-compulsory learners in a variety of contexts.
Many people continue to seek education after leaving school, whether they are adult learners looking for additional skills and qualifications, or younger students at a further education college - with this qualification you will be trained to teach across a variety of contexts, and will be equipped to find work in settings including:
- Colleges of Further Education
- Adult Learning Colleges/Centres
- Community Learning Colleges/Centres
- Prisons and Youth Offending Services
- Sixth Form Colleges
- Sixth Form Centres
- Libraries
Your career opportunities will be diverse thanks to the wide applicability of the training and it can also be a steeping stone into other youth work, coaching and mentoring roles in different sectors.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
