Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Further Education & Skills) (NESCOT) (QA)
If you hold a degree (2.2 or above) and wish to teach students 14 years+, then study at Nescot for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
At Nescot, we offer teacher training programmes that equip you to teach within the further education (FE) & skills sector. This will enable you to teach students who range from 14 years to adults in different contexts, such as school sixth forms, sixth form colleges, FE colleges, SEND provisions, offender education, adult & community education.
We support you in your placement, in conjunction with a subject mentor, and provide opportunities for you to explore how best to teach your own subject specialism. Our Teacher Training curriculum is rich in practical teaching skills development and pedagogy and we promote evidence-based research to underpin good teaching practice. This is an exciting sector to teach in and our programme, tutors, and placement mentors equip you with the skills, knowledge and professionalism to forge a career teaching your favoured subject.
Duration
2 years part-time
Start month
September
Fees information
For fee information related to this course, please see fees section below
What you should know about this course
What you will study
For Part Time:
Year 1
- Teaching & Learning Fundamentals (15 credits)
- Classroom & Behaviour Management (15 credits)
- Subject Specific Pedagogy (15 credits)
- Professional Development 1 (15 credits)
Year 2
- Professional Development 2 (15 credits)
- Developing Resources & Digital Skills (15 credits)
- Reflective Practice & Professionalism (15 credits)
- Exploring the Curriculum (15 credits)
About the course team
The programme team is highly qualified and experienced in delivering teacher training, offering knowledge and expertise from across different subjects and sectors: FE, secondary, SEND and HE. The team is accessible, supportive, inclusive and passionate about supporting your professional development as a new teacher. The team keeps abreast of current research and pedagogic practices, influencing the ongoing development of the programme, its delivery and your learning.
Entry requirements
Applicants requirements:
Applicants are required to hold a degree (2:2 or above) in the subject they wish to teach. A degree with significant related content would also be considered. If the degree is not in the subject you wish to teach, then you must additionally hold at least a L3 qualification in that subject. If teaching in a SEND setting, a L2 SEND related qualification and/or relevant experience will be considered.
You must also have English & Maths GCSE grade 4 or above, or equivalent.
Please note, functional Skills is not deemed equivalent to GCSE and therefore not accepted as an entry qualification.
If a GCSE in English and/or Maths is not offered then an equivalency test or A star equivalency test graded as a GCSE pass can be accepted. Also required is access to 150 hours of teaching practice over the duration of the programme.
For more information, use our contact form or call us on 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
Further information about entry
All applicants will be invited to attend an interview to assess their suitability for teacher training. You will be asked to complete two tasks related to academic writing and lesson planning, as part of an initial assessment .
These will be set by the admissions’ tutor prior to, and discussed at, interview. You will need to have acess to a suitable teaching placement (150 teaching hours) and provide ID as proof of residency. A reference will be requested and a valid enhanced DBS will need to be applied for if successful in securing a place on the programme.
If any qualifications have been achieved overseas, then equivalency to English qualifications (including Maths & English GCSE) may need to be sought, eg through ENIC.
Available to overseas students?
No
Can I use Prior Learning?
If you already hold a teaching or training qualification, please refer to the Tariff of Qualifications (ITT) Database for accreditation of prior learning and discuss with the admissions’ tutor at interview.
How you will learn
Teaching
Sessions are delivered in an active manner where teaching strategies and the use of resources are modelled. Amongst other practices, lessons include presentations, group work, class discussions, research and elearning (blended and remote). You will have access to a personal tutor, placement mentor and tutorials offering support, feedback and guidance 1:1.
The PGCE incorporates a range of modules developed to meet the needs of the sector and the students within it. The modules are designed, structured and sequenced to develop and build ‘good teaching practice skills’ and provide the underpinning pedagogy to support the professional development and reflective capabilities of the teacher.
Class sizes
Students on a NESCOT higher education course are typically taught in class sizes of 16 or fewer.
Independent learning
You will be expected to undertake independent learning but will be supported by access to a well-being team, good resources, LRC services, research guidance and mentoring. In addition, you will have opportunities to develop your study, time management and critical thinking skills. You will also have time in your placement to engage in CPD, planning and other related activities.
Overall workload
Each week you will participate in 3 hours of taught sessions at Nescot (Thursday 5.30-8.30pm); approximately 4/5 hours of teaching practice in an approved setting (teaching and non-teachng activities); and approximately 3 hours of independent study each week. The assessment schedule for the course is provided in the Programme Handbook and on Google Classroom at Induction.
Assessment
All modules are formatively and summatively assessed and detailed in Module Handbooks. Assessments include, presentations, essays, case studies, reflections, evaluations etc. They are graded against rubrics, returned with constructive feedback and all must be passed. Ongoing mentor and tutor feedback supports the development of teaching skills and teaching practice is assessed by 10 lesson observations. The qualification is achieved with pass (40%+), merit (60%+) or distinction (70%+).Feedback summary
All module assessments are percentage graded to indicate a pass, merit or distinction. In line with the University and College assessment policies, assessments are returned to you within 15 working days of submission. They are supported by constructive feedback and feedforward and, to ensure accuracy and validity of the grades and feedback given, they are moderated within the team before their return.
Dates and timetables
The academic year is 30 weeks, running from early September to late May. A full calendar of each modules' start and end dates; assessment submission and return schedule; and holiday breaks is provided during induction in the Programme Handbook and is further detailed in each Module Handbooks.
Fees and funding
University is a great investment in your future. English-domiciled graduate annual salaries were £10,500 more than non-graduates in 2023 - and the UK Government projects that 88% of new jobs by 2035 will be at graduate level.
(Source: DfE Graduate labour market statistics: 2023/DfE Labour market and skills projections: 2020 to 2035).
| Cohort | Full time | Part time | Distance learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | N/A | TBC | N/A |
Scholarships and bursaries
We offer a wide range of financial help including scholarships and bursaries.
The Greenwich Bursary
This bursary is worth £700 for new undergraduate students with a low household income, entering Year 0 or 1 who meet the eligibility criteria.
EU Bursary
Following the UK's departure from the European Union, we are supporting new EU students by offering a substantial fee-reduction for studying.
Financial support
We want your time at university to be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress, so planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
Careers and placements
Will I have a work placement?
You are required to complete a 250-hour placement, of which 150 hours are teaching practice. We are extremely lucky to work with a wide range of partners across London, Surrey and neighboring areas and we work closely with trainees when deciding on placements to ensure they get the best training possible. Our strong partnerships ensure our trainees are well supported and have outstanding experiences whilst training with us.
Part-time applicants are required to secure their own placement. However, wherever possible, assistance will be provided by the programme leader. In all cases, engagement in the placement is supported by a subject specific mentor and a tutor from the teaching team.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
This award will fully qualify you to teach post 14, in the FE and Skills Sector. Former students have gained promotion, taken up new teaching posts or moved from a voluntary to a permanently employed teaching position. If you wish to teach in a school setting post-qualification then support to gain QTLS status is provided.
Do you provide employability services?
Advice and guidance related to gaining QTLS status is given on the programme, as is interview practice and application support. Our Careers 360 team will support you every step of the way to help you progress in your chosen career and our Student Finance team can provide financial advice if considering further study.
Our high achievement, progression and employment rates are evidence of how well-equipped our trainees are to become 'early careers teachers'.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
We want you to feel fully supported whilst you study with us, so we provide many opportunities for advice and guidance, both pastoral and academic. You can access study skills support through your tutor, information literacy sessions, Coursera modules (eg critical thinking, time management), PDP sessions, our librarians, and our HE Support Mentor.
All assignments are returned with full and detailed feedback that identifies strengths and recommends how aspects can be improved. Tutorials can also be used as a vehicle to discuss such feedback in greater detail.
Support from the department
Throughout your studies, we will endeavor to meet your learning needs and help you become a confident and independent adult learner. Identifying these needs and measures to support them are discussed and acted upon from interview to the close of the programme. You will have access to tutorials with your personal tutor; self-directed or referred access to our HE Support Mentor for guidance to improve your academic writing; on-going support and guidance from your placement mentor to aid the development of your professional practice; regular feedback from your personal and module tutor on your academic progress; and peer support and feedback on microteaches and other in-class activities. Your module tutor, placement mentor, yourself and your personal tutor will contribute to your progress reviews and target setting.
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