PGCE Secondary Computer Science and Information Technology with QTS (11-16) course preparation
Educating young adults and being able to inspire them to share your passion for a particular subject is one of the main reasons why people choose to train as a Secondary teacher. Imagination is crucial, as is the need for patience and the ability to develop and sustain excellent relationships with pupils, communicating clearly with them and breaking down complicated concepts into manageable building blocks for learning.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you onto your PGCE Secondary Computer Science and Information Technology with QTS programme. Studying on this course will equip you with a range of academic, professional and vocational knowledge, understanding, skills and values necessary to become a high quality and effective teacher of Computing.
We’ll support you as you develop reflective and analytical skills, gain practical experience in planning effective lessons, help pupils to learn, and learn effective teaching and learning strategies. Before your studies begin, please read the information below and complete any of the tasks required.
Student Allocation Profile Survey
The survey helps the Partnership Development Team (PDT) find an appropriate professional practice placement (PPP) for you. This is done by taking as many relevant details of your personal situation into account as possible.
If you’ve got strong links to a school where you’d like to undertake a PPP please let us know. You can do this by completing our Professional Practice Allocation Form (PPAF). We’re always happy to consider these schools and have a set process in place to do so.
Suggested reading
You will be given lots of information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access, when you begin your studies. In the meantime, you might like to begin some academic reading before starting your degree. We don’t recommend rushing out to buy texts before you arrive but if you can pick some up second hand, borrow from a library or access online to read over the summer, here are some suggested texts below:
- Read Simmons & Hawkins, (2015) Teaching Computing (Developing as a Reflective Secondary Teacher) – Chapters 1 & 2
- Read Royal Society, (2012) Shut Down or Restart? and Royal Society, (2017) After the reboot: computing education in UK schools
- Read: Ball, D. L., Thames, M. H., & Phelps, G. (2008) Content knowledge for teachers: What makes it special? Journal of Teacher Education, 2008 59: 389 DOI: 10.1177/0022487108324554 [Online] Accessible online
- Read: Sue Sentance, Jane Waite & Maria Kallia (2019) Teaching computer programming with PRIMM: a sociocultural perspective, Computer Science Education, 29:2-3, 136-176, DOI: 10.1080/08993408.2019.1608781Accessible online
- DfE, (2020) ITT Core Content Framework [online]
- Register with Teach Computing and explore the Promoting effective computing pedagogy pages
- Register with Computing at School and find your local CAS Community
- Download, save and read the 2014 National Curriculum programme of study for teaching Computing (you’ve probably done this already – but just in case)