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ProfGCE

Post Compulsory Education and Training (PcET)

The Professional Graduate Certificate in Post Compulsory Education and Training (PcET) qualifies you to teach in the further, adult and vocational education sector.

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Key Course Details

  • UCAS Code

    X341

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Newport

  • Campus Code

    C

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,535*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

It is a full, nationally recognised teaching qualification, specifically designed for those aiming to teach a vocational subject in areas such as Business, Health and Social Care, Media and IT.

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Module Overview

This course prepares you for a career as a teacher within the Post Compulsory sector and also provides an introduction to university study in a friendly and supportive environment.

Planning for Learning
This module provides an introduction to teaching in theory and practice, with an opportunity to try things out and a practical assessment. 

Assessing for Learning
This module enables you to get to know your learners better, and to plan to meet their needs. You’ll also be supported in the creative use of learning technology for assessment.

Developing Professional Practice
This module runs throughout the year and includes planning and managing 50 hours of taught sessions, being observed teaching, evaluating and reflecting on your own practice, and action planning for your own professional development.

Practice-based Research
This module provides a research project ‘taster’. You will undertake a case study of a learner and develop research skills such as interviewing and other data collection, to help you find out more about your learner and about effective teaching.

Literacies for Learning
This is a chance to explore ideas about all kinds of communication and literacy (digital, visual, graphic, written etc.) in your everyday life and your teaching. The module is assessed via a fun and interactive exhibition which you contribute to.

Extending Professional Practice
This builds on your professional learning in Developing Professional Practice, as you continue to plan, teach, reflect and be observed. You will also look beyond the classroom towards the post-compulsory education landscape and learn new technology/animation skills for an assessed presentation.

Teaching practice
Teaching practice in the full teaching role is at the heart of the qualification (100 hours for full time students, 50 hours per year for part time students). It provides the foundation for all your learning in every module throughout the course. Whilst on a teaching practice placement, you also need to undertake observation of other practitioners, and to take part in the life of the placement institution more broadly.

Course Highlights

How you’ll learn

Full time delivery pattern 

First half term (until October):

  • 9.30am-2.30pm Tuesday 
  • 9.30am-3.45pm Wednesday 
  • 9.30am-2.30pm Friday

November to June:

  • 9.30am-2.30pm Tuesday                               
  • 9.30am-3.45pm Wednesday  

Part time delivery pattern (year 1 and 2) 

  • Sept - June 1.15-7.00 

Teaching practice takes place outside these times, and student teachers negotiate their own teaching timetables with placement mentors or employers. 

There are no exams, assessment is 100% coursework.  

You are assessed in many different ways including practical and interactive activities, as well as written coursework.

Teaching Staff

The team are all experienced teacher trainers, who started their careers as teachers in Further, Adult and Community and/or Secondary education. They come from a wide range of subject backgrounds, including Maths, Science, English (ESOL and Adult Literacy) and ICT, and have a range of teaching and research interests. Key staff are:

  • Jodie Rees - Course Leader
  • Alison Straker
  • Sophie Meace
  • Jodene Jenkinson
  • Carol Wood
  • Janet Best

Placements

We provide support in securing teaching practice placements and practice mentors across the Post Compulsory sector.

We make every effort to ensure you have the most productive and supported professional development experience possible.

Facilities

We have attractive and flexible learning spaces and a number of computer suites which will provide you with authentic learning opportunities.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Typical qualification requirements:

A 2:1 degree or above is desirable, or a recognised equivalent, in a relevant subject area. If you are offering a vocational subject you are normally expected also to demonstrate that you have some relevant vocational experience.

Mathematics and English language GCSE Grade C or above, or equivalent, are desirable.

Part-time applicants will be required to confirm 50 hours (minimum) of teaching, and 20 hours of observation of an experienced tutor in the first year and in second year will be required to confirm 50 hours (minimum) of teaching and 20 hours of observation/departmental duties.

Additional requirements include:

An interview is required for this course.

An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on the Child Workforce and Child Barring List and subscription to the DBS Update Service is required. (Overseas equivalent required for non-uk applicants).

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you should be able to demonstrate a level of at least IELTS 6.5 or equivalent (minimum score of 5.5 in each band).

If you do not meet the English entry criteria please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£9,535

per year*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Busaries Alumni Discount

 Students will be expected to pay for a DBS or certificate of good behaviour from their home country. The DBS fee includes £49.50 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee

Cost: £64.74

Subscription required for each year of the course for a yearly fee of £16. Please note the service has to be joined within 30 days of receipt of your enhanced DBS certificate

Cost: £16

Travel to and from placement and any additional costs levied by placements.

Years 1, 2 & 3 - Cost is dependent on placement location and is an additional cost to be met by students.

Years 1 and 2

University Quality Assurance

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

Careers and Employability

Graduate Careers

Our graduates have a proven track record of moving into fulltime and permanent teaching posts 

  

Recent graduates have gained full and part time employment across the sector and many of our past graduates actively support the course as mentors for our new student teachers.

Possible career paths

After completing the course, you could have a career as a PcET practitioner within the Post Compulsory Education and Training sector, eg Further Education (FE), Training Providers, Adult and Community Learning and Work Based Learning.

Studying at USW

Our courses are designed with industry leaders and provide the practical skills and experiences industry demands. Our flexible courses reflect the need for life-long learning. If you value education in practice, not just in theory, then USW is for you.

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Postgraduate fees and funding
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How to apply

There is an online application process for this course. Please choose the application form for your preferred start date and mode of study (i.e. full-time or part-time).

International admissions

Please see our international admissions advice for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Next Steps

How to Apply
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