Further Education and Skills PGCE
About this course
The Further Education and Skills sector plays a vital role in supporting diverse learners and can have a profound impact on the lives of students. This PGCE in Further Education and Skills will prepare you for a career in the sector by focusing on work-based learning in the local community. You’ll embark on a journey of self-discovery as you develop your professional identity as an educator – giving you the confidence you need to shape learning, teaching and education.
Studying with NTU, you’ll cover key educational theories and get to grips with curriculum design and planning. You’ll gain the skills and hands-on experience to become a resilient and accomplished practitioner.
The full-time course is designed for you if you are aspiring to work in a Further Education setting. We’ll provide you with an exciting and rewarding placement opportunity where you’ll give real-life context to your learning as you carry out teaching practice alongside your studies.
The part-time course is suitable for you if you are already employed in the sector and would like to gain the qualification alongside your employment.
Why study this course?
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Work-based learning opportunities are embedded throughout the course through our partnerships with local settings. -
Designed to align with the Institute for Apprenticeship and Technical Education’s Occupational Standards. -
Highly qualified tutors who are experts in further education teaching. -
Collaborative programme encouraging you to explore research-informed practice in the sector.
What you’ll study
This course is delivered on a full-time and part-time basis. For the full-time course, we will organise you a placement. For the part-time course, you will need to be in a teaching role.
This is a work-based course where you’ll carry out teaching practice alongside university sessions.
Students are assessed on both coursework and their teaching practice. The focus of assessments is determined by the student's own practice and subject specialism.
Key Educational Theories (20 credit points)
- This module will introduce you to key educational theory.
- You’ll interpret a range of expert advice to promote learner progress and wellbeing and enhance your own practice.
Sequencing Learning (40 credit points)
- As part of this module, you’ll create a scheme of work or a sequence of lessons in your subject specialism.
- The module is aligned to the placement/ work-based practice.
Portfolio (60 credit points)
- Over the duration of the course, you'll compile a portfolio of professional development.
- You will complete reflective activities, undertake lesson observations and extensively evidence your progression.
This is a work-based course that will promote putting learning theories and strategies into your own practice. You will have a part time or full-time teaching role, with a minimum of 75 teaching hours each year of the two-year programme. You will attend university one evening a week.
Students are assessed on both coursework and their teaching practice. The focus of assessments is determined by the student's own practice and subject specialism.
Key Educational Theories (20 credit points)
- This module will introduce you to key educational theory.
- You’ll interpret a range of expert advice to promote learner progress and wellbeing and enhance your own practice.
Sequencing Learning (40 credit points)
- As part of this module, you’ll create a scheme of work or a sequence of lessons in your subject specialism.
- The module is aligned to the placement/ work-based practice.
Portfolio (60 credit points)
- Over the duration of the course, you'll compile a portfolio of professional development.
- You will complete reflective activities, undertake lesson observations and extensively evidence your progression.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
Q&A - PGCE Further Education and Skills
How you're taught
Placement
Full-time
NTU will provide you with a suitable placement, which will form a key element of this work-based course.
You'll spend a minimum of 250 hours in placement carrying out teaching and the wider responsibilities of an educator. This will include a minimum of 150 hours of teaching and 10 formal observations of your teaching.
Of the 150 teaching hours, at least 100 hours will be in your specialist subject area. You will also gain valuable experience of remote, synchronous delivery. You will also spend at least 20 hours in another placement location. This will allow you to expand the breadth of your experience and will most likely entail shadowing, observations and CPD to give you a sense of the approach to teaching and learning in another Further Education setting.
Part-time
You will need to be employed in a role that will allow you to have access to a minimum of 150 teaching hours for the duration of the two-year programme. You will need to participate in a full educator's role (i.e. assessment, planning, delivery, pastoral role). There will be 10 formal observations of teaching.
Of the 150 teaching hours, at least 100 hours will be in your specialist subject area. You will also gain valuable experience of remote, synchronous delivery. You will also spend at least 20 hours in another placement location. This will allow you to expand the breadth of your experience and will most likely entail shadowing, observations and CPD to give you a sense of the approach to teaching and learning in another Further Education setting.
How you're assessed
The assessment strategy for the course is mapped to the occupational standards for the learning and skills teacher, providing you with the opportunity to meet the expected standard of a trainee educator in the FE sector.
This course is assessed solely through coursework with assessment methods including:
- Journal based on key educational theories and the application of these to teaching of subject specialism and placement context.
- Poster defence of a scheme of work which demonstrates understanding of curriculum design and planning.
- Portfolio of evidence of teaching practice including formal teaching observations and evidence of collaborative practice and your wider experiences on placement.
Careers and employability
The PGCE Further Education and Skills course prepares you for a career teaching in the Further Education and Skills sector.
As well as roles based in further education colleges, sixth form centres, alternative provision, independent learning providers, you may also consider working in prison education or community centres.
The qualification can lead to a range of diverse and rewarding employment opportunities, such as:
- Lecturer
- Tutor
- Instructor
- Assessor
- Teaching Assistant
- Support Worker
- Careers Advisor
- Learning Mentor
- Achievement Coach.
Upon completion of this course, you will be eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher (Learning & Skills) through the Society for Education & Training (SET). This is awarded following a period of professional formation post completion of the qualification and is valued by employers.
If you’d like to know more about NTU’s groundbreaking Employability Promise, and the support you’ll receive both during and after your course, visit our Careers and Employability page.
Campus and facilities
As a Further Education and Skills student you’ll mainly be studying in the Ada Byron King building, home to Nottingham Institute of Education. You will benefit from our specially designed teaching rooms simulating classrooms for subjects such as music and science. These purpose-built classrooms will help prepare you for a future in teaching, giving you the chance to gain hands-on experience in a realistic environment.
Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep our students busy between lectures. Catch-up with your coursemates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in chic and stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!
You’re also right next to the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. All through termtime, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.
Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.
Entry requirements
UK students
- A UK honours degree, at a minimum Third Class;
- If your degree is in a subject other than your intended subject specialism, an A-level at grade C or equivalent in your intended subject specialism would be required.
Additional requirements for UK students
Full-time course
- an interview
- an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and any other safeguarding checks that may be necessary; and
- GCSE English and Mathematics at minimum grade C / 4 or equivalent; and
- two academic or vocational references
- basic knowledge of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is an advantage.
Part-time course
- be currently employed in role that will allow you access to 75 hours of teaching per year; and
- an interview
- an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and any other safeguarding checks that may be necessary; and
- GCSE English and Mathematics at minimum grade C / 4 or equivalent; and
- two academic or vocational references
- basic knowledge of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is an advantage.
International students
Academic entry requirements: A UK honours degree or equivalent at a minimum Third Class. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international qualifications on our international entry requirements page.
Other requirements: If your degree is in a subject other than your intended subject specialism, an A-level at grade C or equivalent in your intended subject specialism would be required.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
Full-time course
- an interview
- an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and any other safeguarding checks that may be necessary; and
- GCSE English and Mathematics at minimum grade C / 4 or equivalent; and
- two academic or vocational references
- basic knowledge of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is an advantage.
Part-time course
- be currently employed in role that will allow you access to 75 hours of teaching per year; and
- an interview
- an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and any other safeguarding checks that may be necessary; and
- GCSE English and Mathematics at minimum grade C / 4 or equivalent; and
- two academic or vocational references
- basic knowledge of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is an advantage.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
