PGCE Primary 3-7

COURSE OVERVIEW

• Obtain Qualified Teacher Status with Ofsted outstanding-rated initial teacher training
• Gain practical experience with two school placements
• Benefit from a personal tutor who tracks and monitors your progress
• Accredited by the Department for Education (DfE)

PGCE Primary at Winchester prepares you to teach in either the 3–7 or 5–11 age range. The course gives you the opportunity to learn to teach in a stimulating and supportive environment, from tutors with extensive expertise and experience. You leave the programme as a high quality postgraduate teacher, with the skills, knowledge and motivation to inspire and educate others.

Established in 1840 as a teacher training college, and graded as Outstanding by Ofsted, the University of Winchester has a reputation for innovative, high-quality teacher education programmes. PGCE Primary is a postgraduate professional programme of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) leading to the award of either Postgraduate Certificate in Education (for students achieving 40-60 Masters level credits) or Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (for students achieving fewer than 40 Masters levels credits, both including the recommendation of the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

This course prepares you to teach the 3–7 age range. The course covers everything that trainee teachers need: expert tuition in all early years and primary school subjects; understanding of childhood development and effective early years and Key Stage 1 pedagogy; meeting the needs of all learners and professional skills associated with high-quality teaching.

Our programme runs in close partnership with a wide range of schools and educational settings to provide supportive placements where you can develop your skills as a reflective teacher. You will spend 120 days developing your understanding and skills through classroom practice. This includes two assessed placements, one in the autumn term and a second in the spring/summer and a further three-week research based placement.

The programme prides itself on the support and guidance offered to students. Every student has a personal tutor who tracks and monitors your progress through the programme. On the 3-7 route this is often a tutor with expertise in this area. Progress is tracked both academically and in terms of the Teachers' Standards (Department for Education 2012), which are a required part of professional training.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Department for Education (DfE) for the purpose of delivering initial teacher training programmes to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Careers

The PGCE Primary programme at the University of Winchester has a high employability rate, with many students securing their first teaching posts in our partnership schools.

A first or second-class Honours degree (or equivalent qualification). This can be in any subject. GCSE English language or literature, mathematics and a science at grade C or 4 or above, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the University. If you have taken a combined Science GCSE, a minimum grade of 4-3 is required.