PGCE Post-compulsory Education and Training (PCET)
Course overview
Start date
September 2020
Subject area
Teaching and Education
Attendance
Full-time
Learning
On campus
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)
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact our Applicant Enquiries team on +44 (0) 20 8223 3333 or email study@uel.ac.uk
Get in touchProfessional qualification
This level 6 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.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Maintenance Loan
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation. How much you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and whether you are currently on welfare benefits. The maximum loan you can apply for is £12,729.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Supplementary Grants
The government also offer the following additional support:
- Parents' Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
- All nursing and many allied health students on courses from September 2020 will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year from the government.
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance or contact Student Finance England.
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will automatically be cancelled.
For information visit gov.uk/student-finance
Please note EU students can only apply for their funding using a paper application form.
To download a form visit www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
At UEL, we understand that studying in another country is a big financial commitment. If you apply early for an undergraduate, you may be entitled to a scholarship of up to £3,000.You can find out more about the international scholarships here.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) also run an Emergency International Fund to assist international students in hardship.
You can contact our SMART team on 02082233333 or study@uel.ac.uk
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money. Please make sure you also factor in the fees for the visa application and immigration health surcharge when budgeting.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA pages for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.
Deposits and paying by instalments
International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
All applicants must have GCSE English and Maths grade A*-C or equivalent.
INTERNATIONAL
(Including European Union)
We accept a range of qualifications from across the world. Please see our country pages for information on specific entry requirements for your country.
If you don’t quite meet the academic requirements for this course, you can apply with an additional foundation year. Read more about the International Foundation Programme. SEE YOUR COUNTRYApplicants are required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for Regulated Activity.
As you will have close contact with children and/or vulnerable adults on the this course, you will be required to have a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure certificate.
You need to complete this process prior to starting the course. Failure to complete this process will impact you going on placement as part of the course.
Further information is available here
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more here.
The entire
interview process lasts for up to 3 hours. During the interview, you will
be asked to complete some literacy tasks, which include summarising an article
and producing a piece of free writing, and an error correction exercise. You will do a short 5-minute microteach on a
subject of your choice and have a one-to-one interview with a member of the
academic team. Please note you will teach the 5-minute session to a small group of people. You will need to bring along a lesson plan.
Our aim is to find out as much as we can about your attributes, skills,
knowledge and understanding in order to shape training opportunities for you,
should you be offered a place on the programme.
Your responses to these tasks and activities will be considered alongside all
the other evidence to assess your suitability for the PGCE PCET programme.
During the individual interview, you will be given the chance to talk with a
tutor about the programme and any other issues that are relevant.
Please note: Interviews will take place at the Cass School of Education and Communities, Water Lane, Stratford, London, E15 4LZ. Applicants must bring along original qualification certificates and their passport (or other photo ID).
There is no requirement to complete Professional Skills tests.
Maitland Medical will notify UEL when an assessment has been made so that we can update our records. These records will be checked prior to your placements to ensure that you are fully cleared to attend.
Trainee teachers with special needs and/or disabilities are very successful on our programmes particularly when they disclose their needs before registration. If you do have a particular need or disability, we strongly encourage you to disclose this as soon as possible so that we can assess the level of support you may need and to which you are entitled.
What you'll learn
The programme is structured around six theory modules that provide you with a comprehensive understanding of key topics in teacher training. You'll learn about fundamental skills such as lesson preparation, learner support and assessment, as well engaging in the wider socio/economic context of education, and understanding how to critically reflect on your practice.
- Preparing
to teach in the lifelong learning sector (Reflective practice, classroom craft
and planning)
This module provides an introduction to teaching, learning and assessment to equip you with the skills, knowledge and ability to plan, prepare and deliver lessons. There will also be an opportunity to explore resources, including using ICT in your specialist area. The taught sessions are designed to provide you with a toolkit of skills and underpinning knowledge to encourage and enhance your self confidence at an early stage.
- Learner support in the lifelong learning
sector: professional values and sector context
In the lifelong learning sector student retention, achievement and progression are crucial issues for funding and quality assurance. The monitoring, tracking and recording of individual learner’s progress is essential. The successful support of individual learners through recruitment, selection and induction, onto the programme of study and progression to the next, is a core concern of institutions and individual teachers. In this module you will learn about these important institutional processes and develop the skills to support individual learners.
- Learning
from policy context and practice
PCET (or the learning and skills sector as it is often called) is undergoing an unprecedented period of change. An essential part of your professional knowledge as a new teacher is about the current debates, issues and policies which impact on the sector and your own practice. These debates encompass the values and interests of many diverse stakeholders. You will be encouraged to identify and critically review these debates. Issues related to social, linguistic and cultural diversity and the socio/economic factors which impact on learning will also be explored. - Assessment and feedback in learning and teaching The post 16 curriculum and qualifications framework has significantly changed in the last few years, both for 16-19 year olds and for adult learners returning to study in Colleges or in the workplace. The module will also address assessment issues in detail, to enable you to critically review the purposes and fairness of assessment in your own teaching area. It will also consider the importance and methods of delivering quality feedback to learners in order to progress learning.
- Active inquiry
Reflective practitioners who take a critical professional approach to their teaching and learning, have the ability and willingness to engage in experimentation and reflection, and use the learning that ensues to develop excellence in practice. This module provides you with the opportunity to put your theoretical understanding into practice by devising and carrying out a small scale piece of action research, to delve deeper into an area of teaching and learning and in the process develop further strategies for professional learning and development.
- Portfolio
of practice and professional learning
Much is written about the need of teachers to be critically reflective practitioners. Learning to reflect honestly and effectively on our teaching is one of the hardest aspects of professional development. Reflective teaching means learning from our experiences, learning to question, challenge and change our practices in the light of that experience, and in the light of theory. You will learn how to evaluate your own lessons and how to set yourself targets for development and improvement.
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.
- Preparing to teach in the lifelong learning sector (Reflective practice, classroom craft and planning) (core)
- Learner support in the lifelong learning sector: professional values and sector context (core)
- Learning from policy context and practice (core)
- Assessment and feedback in learning and teaching (core)
- Active inquiry (core)
- Portfolio of practice and professional learning (core)
How you'll be assessed
There are two components of assessment: theory and practice.
Theory:
Coursework in:
- Preparing to teach in the lifelong learning sector (Reflective practice, classroom craft and planning)
- Learner support in the lifelong learning sector: professional values and sector context
- Learning from policy context and practice
- Assessment and feedback in learning and teaching
- Active inquiry
- Portfolio of practice and professional learning
Teaching Practice:
You must teach for at least 100 hours across the programme and successfully pass 8 teaching observations.
There is no final exam; applicants build up a portfolio of professional practice that demonstrates evidence of their progress against the Professional Standards for Further Education teachers as they move through the programme.
Course specificationYour 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
