Secondary Flexible Postgraduate Programme

Our secondary flexible postgraduate programme enables applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds to enter the teaching profession. It offers a combination of distance learning - meaning you can train from anywhere in the UK - on-campus study, and practical work in placement schools and colleges.

As well as allowing you to learn remotely, this programme also offers flexibility in terms of individual training plans, how you can study, programme outcomes and content, the number of modules studied and the number of weeks spent on placement.

You can also take as little as one term or up to three years to complete your studies and gain a recommendation for QTS, depending on your level of experience.

What subjects are available?

• Business Education (14-19)
• Design and Technology (11-16) *
• English (11-16) *
• Information and Communication Technology (11-16) *
• Mathematics (11-16) *
• Modern Languages (11-16) *
• Music (11-16)*
• Psychology (14-19) - assessment only route
• Religious Education (11-16) *
• Science (11-16) *

* including post-16 enhancement

How is the programme flexible?

We offer you flexibility in terms of:

• Individual training plans
• How you can study
• Programme outcomes
• Programme content
• Number of modules studied
• Number of weeks spent in schools
• Location of placements
• Overall time taken to complete the programme

How We Will Support You

Individually tailored support from your subject tutors at Edge Hill, and from two mentors during each placement: a professional mentor, who oversees all trainees, and a curriculum mentor, who will provide specific support in your subject area.

Your Programme

The Secondary Flexible Postgraduate Programme is made up of three pathways

Pathway A

This is for you if you have extensive successful teaching experience and can demonstrate that you already meet all the standards required for a recommendation for QTS in the appropriate setting.

This is an assessment-only route and can usually be completed within a minimum period of one term.

It involves:

• A needs assessment;
• Production of an Individual Training Plan;
• A synoptic placement, comprising a block placement that must be completed on a full-time basis;
• Successful completion of the QTS Skills Tests and the Career Entry and Development Profile (CEDP).

Pathway B

This is for you if, for example, you are a teaching assistant, cover supervisor or other unqualified teacher/lecturer who currently works in a school and wishes to gain credit for prior experience and learning by receiving a PGCE qualification.

You’ll gain a PGCE award by crediting prior study (APL) and/or prior experience (APEL), as well as a recommendation for QTS, whilst continuing in your employment. The programme involves all Pathway A requirements, plus an appropriate selection of the following, according to your developmental needs:

• Subject application and professional modules;
• Placement  training tasks;
• Initial and developmental placements.

Pathway C

This if for you if you need to undertake the complete PGCE programme, but cannot attend on a one-year full-time basis or need to enhance your subject knowledge within a programme.

Although this route does involve some limited face-to-face provision, much of the programme is available by independent study and distance learning. The programme involves all Pathway A elements, plus:

• Successful completion of all subject application and professional modules;
• An initial placement (35 days), including five days of self-arranged primary experience;
• A developmental placement (40 days), incorporating placement-based training tasks.

On the Flexible Secondary Pathway C, with up to three years in which to complete a PGCE, it is possible to enhance your subject knowledge as part of the programme through the use of online subject knowledge development. Combining flexible and part-time study allows trainees to continue in employment, or with family commitments, whilst acquiring accredited subject knowledge and before engaging with placement training.

How You Are Assessed

A balanced combination of coursework and observed classroom experience will be assessed against academic criteria and the Professional Standards for the Award of QTS in the following areas:

• Professional Attributes
• Professional Knowledge and Understanding
• Professional Skills

You will also complete:

• QTS skills tests in Numeracy, Literacy and ICT that must be passed before you receive your PGCE award;
• A Career Entry Development Profile (CEDP) that serves as a bridge between your PGCE programme and your Induction Year as a Newly Qualified Teacher.

Your School Placement

Much of your PGCE will be spent familiarising yourself with school life - from planning and delivering your own lessons to helping out and supporting individual pupils. Your teaching timetable will increase as your training progresses and you become more confident and competent in the classroom. You will gradually assume responsibility for the children, their achievement and progress, whilst displaying excellence in teaching, learning and assessment.

On a flexible PGCE, your time spent on placement depends on your existing levels of experience. In addition to those in the North West and West Midlands, Edge Hill has a nationwide partnership of excellent schools and colleges and we will seek to find appropriate high quality placements, to meet your training needs, within your region in the UK.

Career Opportunities

Successful completion of this programme will allow you to gain QTS status and progress onto employment as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) at secondary school level in your chosen subject.

Our proactive careers advisory service can help you to find job vacancies and offers in-depth advice on teacher job applications and interviews, to help you secure work.

Teaching is a rewarding job and there are many ways in which you could progress in your career, either in the classroom or in a leadership role. For more information, see www.tda.gov.uk

Further Study at Edge Hill University

Having completed your PGCE, Edge Hill also offers a wealth of Professional Development opportunities designed to keep you at the cutting edge of the profession. Credits gained whilst studying for your PGCE can contribute towards your Masters programme.

Examples of professional development opportunities include an online support module offered by the Faculty of Education to all its qualifying trainees. This is taken during your Induction Year. The Faculty also offers stand-alone modules in areas such as Mentoring and Special Educational Needs and full Masters programmes specific to your subject specialism, all of which further your development as a teacher.

For more information on our full range of postgraduate professional development opportunities, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/education/pd.

Entry Requirements

Please see individual subject entries for further information on entry requirements.

How to Apply

You apply through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR):

• Graduate Teacher Training Registry, Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucester, GL52 3LZ
• Tel: 0870 1122205
• Web: www.gttr.ac.uk

Fees and Finance

For information on fees and financial support for Flexible PGCE students, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/fees and choose the relevant year of entry.

Information for UK and EU students only. For more information about grants, loans, bursaries and scholarships, see our Fees and Finance pages.

Find Out More

We can send you a full prospectus, a brochure about the department and keep you updated about forthcoming events. Contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team on 01695 657000 or email study@edgehill.ac.uk for more information.

We run open days and evenings throughout the year, at our main campus and other centres across the region. See www.edgehill.ac.uk/opendays for more information. University staff also attend careers fairs and other events.

Contact

If this website does not give you all the information you need, please contact:

• Alyson Midgley, Flexible Route Programme Leader
• Tel: 01695 650832
• Email: midgleya@edeghill.ac.uk

Disclaimer
The programme is compliant with the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) / Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Requirements for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) allowing applicants to demonstrate the Professional Standards for the Award of QTS.

Successful completion of the programme leads to a Recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status.

Edge Hill makes every effort to ensure that this information is accurate at the time of printing. Edge Hill reserves the right to change or discontinue any course, programme or module, or the specific content thereof or to amend any other information without notice. Edge Hill does not accept any liability arising out of or in connection with any such changes.