Course description
Trainees who successfully complete the programme, including success in the prescribed QTS skills tests, will be confirmed by the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) as newly qualified teachers.
The programme prepares participants to teach children in the 3-7 or 5-11 years age range. This one-year full-time programme aims to develop trainees' skills and knowledge of primary teaching, based on a reflective and critical approach to theory, policy and practice, through a programme of university and school-based professional training.
All trainees embarking on this programme will be registered on the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) pathway. During November trainees will have the opportunity to remain on the PGCE pathway (taking all modules at HE level 3) or choose to follow the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCertEd) pathway (taking three modules at level M and remaining modules at HE level 3). Further guidance will be available at interview and at the start of the programme.
A substantial part of the time (18 weeks) is spent in partner schools where, under the supervision of a mentor and supported by a university tutor, you will integrate the understanding developed at university with school-based learning. All lectures take place at the Westminster Institute of Education, Harcourt Hill Campus, Oxford Brookes University.
Trainees focus on either early years (3-7 years) or primary (5-11 years).
Course content
* Curriculum Studies develops knowledge and understanding of the primary curriculum and the requirements of the national curriculum. Modules cover English, mathematics, science, information and communication technology, design technology, geography, history, art, music, drama, physical education and religious education. Information and communication technology is addressed within other curriculum elements, as are further cross-curricular aspects of the programme such as special educational needs, multicultural education and citizenship.
* Specialist Studies On the 3-7 programme you will be following the early years specialism. On the 5-11 programme there is the opportunity to follow a pathway in primary languages (French, German or Italian) or to select from a range of other pathways linked to recent developments in the primary curriculum.
* Professional Studies is concerned with the development of attitudes, skills and knowledge required to develop understanding of the full professional life of a teacher.
* Planning, Teaching and Assessment applies trainees' knowledge and understanding of the curriculum guidance to classroom practice through explanations of planning, teaching and assessment.
* School Experience The Oxford Brookes Primary Partnership of schools is well established and mentors and teachers are involved in all aspects of your training. You will undertake school experience (18 weeks in total) in at least two partnership schools teaching in two key stages.
All elements of the programme are compulsory.
Teaching, learning and assessment
Approaches to learning include lectures, directed reading, workshops, seminars, and practical and project work with professional tutor support. Assessment is based on coursework, assignments and the achievement of the standards for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Quality
Strong features of the most recent Ofsted short inspection include:
* the outstanding quality of the pre-course assessments and follow-up for successful candidates
* the excellent arrangements for identifying trainees' individual needs and providing for these effectively
* the excellent communications across the partnership
* high quality and well differentiated training, excellent documentation and effective regional networks.
The inspection graded the management and quality assurance of Oxford Brookes primary teaching programmes as 'outstanding', the highest rating possible.
Teaching staff are drawn primarily from the Westminster Institute of Education. Visiting speakers from partnership schools, teaching unions, newly qualified teachers (NQTs) and other experts within the field of education provide further input.
