The programme enables you to observe, learn and teach at the secondary school development stage in a child's compulsory education phase. It equips you with the subject and phase knowledge to plan and deliver the National Curriculum across Key Stage Three (11-14) and Key Stage Four (14-16) whilst also developing a knowledge and understanding of a child’s education journey from 3-18 years.
Throughout the programme, you will work closely with your placement mentor, lead mentor and subject specialists to ensure that you get all the support you need to become an excellent teacher.
During your two contrasting school placements, you will develop your skills, knowledge and behaviours by learning from expert colleagues who have many years of successful teaching in secondary schools. Additionally, we provide Experience Days to deepen your understanding of a child’s educational journey, providing insights into primary, post-16 and specialist areas such as SEND. We take note of your transport needs and seek to place you in schools that are conveniently located for your individual circumstances.
As an integral part of the curriculum, four Intensive Training and Practice experiences (ITAPs) focus on pivotal aspects of the training and provide further opportunities to observe, reflect and apply what you have learned, strengthening your understanding of the link between evidence and classroom practice.
Upon successful completion of the course, you will gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). This can be used as the first third of a master's degree (60 credits), should you wish to continue with this accredited professional development.
For QTS: Assessment is ongoing throughout the year. Your progress towards meeting the Teachers’ Standards, and acquiring the intended knowledge, understanding, skills and professional behaviours of our curriculum, is assessed holistically by mentors, subject and/or phase leads, lead mentors and yourself. This includes elements such as target-setting, lesson planning, lesson observations, reflective tasks, professional learning conversations and presentations. These are summarised at Holistic Review Summary (HRS) points, and then you are assessed against the Teachers’ Standards at the end of the programme in the Early Career Teacher transfer document.
For the PGCE: Assessment is by two written assignments for Sheffield Hallam University that are assessed at master’s degree level and provide the 60 master’s level credits, which are academically robust and grounded in your day-to-day practice.