School of Society and Culture

PGCE (incorporating the Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills))

Programme code X341
Duration

1 year

(with placements)
Course type

Full-time, Part-time route available
Location Plymouth
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If you are considering a career in further education colleges, adult and community education, work-based training, and public sector organisations, our programme helps you develop the required skills, knowledge, and professional values to achieve this. With a large proportion of your time on this course spent on placement, you have the chance to gain real-world experience, preparing you for a fulfilling and rewarding career.

PGCE (incorporating the Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills))

Key features
  • Benefit from highly skilled and qualified tutors with many years’ experience in the further education and skills sector. Spend at least two days a week on placement in a further education and skills setting.
  • Take advantage of opportunities to network with potential employers. Follow in the footsteps of many of our trainees and possibly go on to find employment within the organisations you work with during your placement.
  • Demonstrate innovation, creativity and enterprise throughout your time on the programme and benefit from the way education for sustainable development is embedded in the programme. Work closely with your fellow trainees, learning together and from one another, with peer-support is an important part of the programme’s philosophy and organisation.
  • This qualification is tailored for applicants who hold a bachelors or masters degree. The Certificate in Education is available to those who do not hold one of these qualifications.
  • We work with the local General and Specialist Further Colleges and would invite applicants with a range of qualifications and relevant experience.  On completion take your qualifications to the next level - after completing this course you'll have the option to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status with the Society for Education and Training (SET). 

Course details

  • Year 1

  • You are expected to complete four 30-credit modules and ten teaching observations. As a full-time trainee you are committed to a Monday-to-Friday week of academic and professional study, consisting of two full days per week of on-campus study, a minimum of at least two days per week of professional practice placement (arranged by the University) and one day per week of independent study and research. You work closely with your colleagues on the programme, learning together and from one another, with peer support an important part of the programme organisation and learning. Your teaching observations are carried out by university tutors and subject-specialist mentors in an atmosphere of professional evaluation and support. 

    Core modules

    • Learners, Learning and Teaching (PCET601)

      This module, taken at the start of the course, addresses legal, policy-based and theoretical understandings of practices in Further Education and Skills Sector (FE&S). It prepares teachers for practice and helps them to reflect and respond to the needs of learners, utilising a range of approaches to teaching and assessment, while ensuring they understand the need for compliance with regulatory systems. It also inducts the teachers into the processes and approaches of the teacher training course that they will engage with throughout their studies.

    • Subject Specialist Teaching and Managing the Learning Environment (PCET702)

      This module supports a trainee teacher’s investigation into and application of subject specialist pedagogy. Trainee teachers will analyse and critically evaluate theories and principles of inclusive/adaptive practice, identifying ways to improve practice, with reference to the Occupational Standards. Through ongoing experiential learning and reflective practice, trainee teachers will be evidencing their creativity, resilience and flexibility as practitioners. Trainees will work with their mentor to engage in the full range of teaching activities.

    • Teaching and the Curriculum (PCET703)

      This module explores the development of subject specialist curricula and associated pedagogies. Trainee teachers demonstrate the ability to make and justify choices made in curriculum design. Trainee teachers will show an holistic awareness of EMD, EDI, ESD and SEND in relation to inclusive curriculum design. Trainees will also critically analyse and evaluate the use of digital technologies and how they can and will shape educational practices. Trainees will work with their mentor to engage in the full range of teaching activities

    • Professional Practice (PCET704)

      This module focuses upon notions of professionalism and wider professional practice roles and responsibilities associated with the learner journey. Concepts and systems of quality assurance and quality improvement will be critically analysed. Trainee teachers will demonstrate engagement and competence with all the Occupational Standards and consolidate their enactment of the range of teacher roles and responsibilities. The module will also look forward to future practices, CPD, and the gaining of Professional Status. Participants reflexively evaluate their professional and personal progress and plan future development to take them in to their first year of teaching post qualification.

    Optional modules

    • Subject Specialist Teaching and Managing the Learning Environment (PCET602)

      This module supports a trainee teacher’s investigation into and application of subject specialist pedagogy. Trainee teachers will analyse and critically evaluate theories and principles of inclusive/adaptive practice, identifying ways to improve practice, with reference to the Occupational Standards. Through ongoing experiential learning and reflective practice, trainee teachers will be evidencing their creativity, resilience and flexibility as practitioners. Trainees will work with their mentor to engage in the full range of teaching activities.

    • Teaching and the Curriculum (PCET603)

      This module explores the development of subject specialist curricula and associated pedagogies. Trainee teachers demonstrate the ability to make and justify choices made in curriculum design. Trainee teachers will show a holistic awareness of EMD, EDI, ESD and SEND in relation to inclusive curriculum design. Trainees will also critically analyse and evaluate the use of digital technologies and how they can and will shape educational practices. Trainees will work with their mentor to engage in the full range of teaching activities.

    • Professional Practice (PCET604)

      This module focuses upon notions of professionalism and wider professional practice roles and responsibilities associated with the learner journey. Concepts and systems of quality assurance and quality improvement will be critically analysed. Trainee teachers will demonstrate engagement and competence with all the Occupational Standards and consolidate their enactment of the range of teacher roles and responsibilities. The module will also look forward to future practices, CPD, and the gaining of Professional Status. Participants reflexively evaluate their professional and personal progress and plan future development to take them in to their first year of teaching post qualification.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

PGCE and Cert Ed inc DiT FE and Skills Programme Specification Sep24 7745

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A relevant degree with honours or an equivalent professional qualification. Other qualifications accompanied by substantial experience in an appropriate field may also be considered. Maths and English at Level 2 or above. Non-standard applications will be considered on a case by case basis 
Applicants with overseas qualifications can check their compatibility with the UK equivalent through UK ECCTIS, who provide an advisory service. We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary. 
English language requirements
If English is not your first language then we’ll need evidence of your proficiency in English as follows: 
IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in all four elements, or accepted equivalent English qualification as listed on our English language requirements. 
You’ll normally be pre-service and your entry onto the programme will be conditional upon the University identifying a suitable placement and mentor in the subject specialism.

Non-academic requirements

  • An interview is a pre-requisite for entry onto this programme. The first stage interview is conducted by a member of the teaching team. If successful there will be a second interview with a subject specialist tutor from the placement college. This interview is to ascertain your level of subject knowledge in the areas that you might reasonably be expected to deliver whilst on your teaching placement. Find more information about interviews in the Institute's interview pages. 
  • You’ll be required to complete a satisfactory enhanced DBS (formerly CRB) Enhanced Disclosure , register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority and complete a criminal convictions self-declaration form. Find all of the important documentation you'll need when applying for this programme
  • You must be deemed fit to teach. 
All appropriately qualified candidates will be given equal consideration during the selection process. The University does not tolerate discrimination on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, colour, disability, religion, nationality, age, sexual orientation or any other irrelevant distinction.
Entry onto these programmes is conditional on the University identifying a suitable placement and mentor.

Fees, costs and funding
Student 2023-2024 2024-2025
Home N/A £9,250
International N/A £17,100
Part time (Home) N/A £770
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.

Additional costs

This course is delivered by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business and more details of any additional costs associated with the faculty's courses are listed on the following page: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business additional costs.

How to apply
Applications for this programme are made via DfE Apply. Please ensure when submitting your application form that you are available for interview during the 40 day turnaround time following the submission of your application form. DfE stipulate for all training providers to make a decision on applications within 40 working days. If you are not able to attend your interview during this period we will be unable to make a decision and therefore DfE will reject your application by default. If you are unable to attend interview until after the 40 day period, and your application is rejected by default, you will need to re-apply. If you have any concerns about this process email us at interviewtostudy@plymouth.ac.uk.
For any further information and support to help you become a teacher, please visit getintoteaching.education.gov.uk.
Interview guidance
There is a two-stage interview process for this course. The first is conducted by a member of the teaching team, which includes a short presentation that you prepare and deliver and follows the format described below. If successful there will be a second interview with a subject specialist tutor from the placement college. This interview is to ascertain your level of subject knowledge in the areas that you might reasonably be expected to teach whilst on your teaching placement. Find more information about interviews in the Institute's interview pages. 

Find out about...

Careers with the Certificate in Education

Careers with the PGCE/Certificate in Education
Placements with the Certificate in Education

Placements with the PGCE/Certificate in Education

Two PIE Students at whiteboard

Interviews with Plymouth Institute of Education
James Whitbread
James Whitbread holding The Enterprise4U Business Award – awarded to a student team from North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College.

Lecturers