Course Overview
The course is split into a number of modules each designed to give you all the skills you need to teach within the secondary sector. You will study various styles of teaching Computing, IT and Digital Literacy to pupils, including lesson planning, resource preparation and selection, teaching approaches for examination courses, class management and control, assessment of attainment, and the impact of IT on learning. You will be assisted in developing the range of your specialist knowledge and skills to cover all the content required for the National Curriculum at key stage three, GCSE at key stage Four and GCE 'A' level at key stage five and equivalent vocational courses.
This will involve concept and skill development in in all aspects of ICT together with computing and innovative programming languages such as SCRATCH at KS3 and Python at KS4.
During your time at university you will have a choice of opportunities to further your expertise, there is the option to join your Maths colleagues for a few hours a week which will enable you to teach Mathematics at KS3 in addition to Computing, IT and Digital Literacy, or if your interests lie with emerging technology then you will be able to opt for Cross-Curricular support and you will be assigned a subject area, this might be any one of the specialist PGCE course. You will then have the opportunity to help develop the digital literacy of that specialist subject for a couple of hours during the university weeks together with exploring new applications to help in the teaching and learning process.
Key Features
It is available with English and Welsh medium student provision using long established English and Welsh medium partnership schools and colleges.
Most importantly we have the best employment rate throughout Wales
The course has recently been updated to reflect contemporary issues and changes within the world of education. It is taught by highly respected tutors who have considerable knowledge within their field and chosen specialism.
The course is challenging, but motivating and invigorating, combining practical strategies and skills with academic enquiry and theory.
There are opportunities to investigate areas of specialist interest.
The course is split between university and professional teaching practice, with approximately 12 weeks and occasional days and 24 weeks split between two placements. The weeks at University are designed in such a way that you experience lead lectures both with your own subject area and with students from different subject areas in order to have an insight about how a particular issue relates to different specialist subjects. These may be given by University Staff or by guest lecturers with specialist expertise.
There are also plenty of opportunities where your experience can be enhanced such as involvement with local conferences and workshop events. This year students attended the Technocamps conference at The Liberty Stadium, Swansea, where they had the opportunity to listen to guest speakers from local IT and computing enterprises such as Raspberry Pi and Welsh government ministers. They also had the opportunity to observe first hand some of the innovative programming applications such as 'Blockly' and 'sCRATCH' being used first hand in teaching environments.
This year it is also hoped that the Secondary PGCE Computing and ICT will have the opportunity to join their Primary colleagues in their own conference on site in Swansea.
Within the newly designed course if you are achieving your QTS early it is envisaged that should you wish to take the opportunity you can arrange a fortnight placement at an establishment of your choice within the Secondary or 14-19 sector. This will enable you to observe, experience a specialist area that you may wish to pursue. It could include special needs schools, independent schools and training establishments. This opportunity is likely to increase your experience and employability.
Modules
- Module 01: Principles of Teaching, Learning and Pedagogy in Secondary
- Module 02: Skills and learning across the Curriculum - (Welsh or English)
- Module 03: Investigating Issues in Secondary Education - (Welsh or English)
- Module 04: Curriculum Development and Enhancement
- Module 05: Professional Teaching Experience (English or Welsh/bilingual).
Professional Accreditations
PGCE with QTS
Course Tutor(s)
- Janine Barnes
Assessment
The course comprises of 120 credits, 40 of which are at Masters level and is assessed by a combination of written assignments and Professional Teaching Experience.
The assignments are a combination of level 6 and level 7 assignments and are designed to combine practical teaching strategies and academic enquiry.
The Professional teaching practice is assess through teaching observations by both experienced placement mentors and university tutors against the qualified Teacher Standards.
Career Opportunities
The South West Wales Centre of Teacher Education has excellent graduate employment rates with 99% of graduates going into employment or further study (DLHE 14/15).
Many school and college departments, both locally and nationally, are staffed with several of our teachers and many of our trainees have gone on to forge successful teaching careers at strategic, professional and management levels at home and abroad.
Our PGCE graduates usually remain in close touch with us as they make their careers in the teaching profession and they often become Subject Mentors on the programme. This creates a very strong, sustainable professional network of teachers which is a rich source of continuing professional development.
Recently our PGCE Computing and ICT graduates have gone on to work as Secondary teachers in many independent and state schools in Wales, England and abroad including (but not limited) to: Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe (Swansea), Milford Haven School (Pembrokeshire) and Hilbre High School (Wirral).
Further Information
If you are called to an interview you would need to undertake 30 minute Literacy and Numeracy tests and if you wanted to follow the course through the medium of Welsh, an additional Welsh Literacy test. You might also be asked to undertake: a presentation related to your subject area, group discussion, an extended writing exercise, a formal interview with a subject tutor and school mentor.
You would need to demonstrate a passion and enthusiasm for your subject.
Related Courses
- PGCE Primary with QTS
