Postgraduate Certificate Further Education and Skills

You’ll be taught by a team of experienced teacher educators with a wealth of knowledge from the education sector.

Our whole team regularly update their knowledge and skills, with strong links to Sheffield Hallam University. Staff have or are working towards higher level Master’s and Doctorate qualifications in Education.

• A UK first degree or equivalent in the vocational or academic specialist area in which you wish to teach and you are able to demonstrate appropriate work experience.

• GCSE’S (grade A*-C or equivalent) in both English and mathematics

You are required to complete a Pre interview written task and if satisfactory you will be invited for an interview and provide evidence of your existing qualifications.

You should ideally be in employment as a teacher or trainer at a recognised training or educational establishment. The course is particularly suitable if you have work experience and/or qualifications in industry, including business and administration, hair and beauty, health and social care, uniformed services or armed forces, construction, engineering and many other vocational areas.

You should identify a work-based mentor who can support you in your subject specialism.

You should have 150 hours of teaching practice which runs across the duration of the course. These hours will need to be carried out within more than one setting and there will be a small amount of hours which will need to be delivered online.
You are required to arrange your own teaching placement as this is an in-service course. You can be employed as a teacher/lecturer or you can be a volunteer on placement.

Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) who are able to demonstrate relevant skills or knowledge gained in employment or vocational activity will be considered and may be invited to interview.

Professional Practice ( credits)

Year 1: Reflecting on professional practice and development in further education and skills education (30 credits)
Our vision is to develop and run a course that reflects the FES sector and develops great teachers who are well equipped to work in a diverse range of FES organisations and roles. Our curriculum plan outlines the educational content, learning experiences and teaching strategies that underpin our PGCE Further Education and Skills course.

To pass the PGCE Further Education and Skills course a trainee must:

- Complete 250 hours in a teaching setting, 150 of which will be spent teaching (100 hours teaching their specialist subject)
- Complete an alternative placement for at least 20 hours (no requirement to include teaching)
- Complete 10 teaching observations (two in your classes, eight in placement)
- Endeavour to deliver at least 20 hours of remote teaching
- Complete a teaching log, evidencing all practice hours
- Complete a portfolio of evidence relating to placement, cross referenced to meeting all the Occupational Standards for a learning and skills teacher.
- Teaching at least two different levels e.g., Year 1 and Year 2 of A-levels, or Level 1 and Level 2 BTECs.
- Complete a 30-minute professional discussion relating to any aspect of professional practice linked to Occupational Standards.
- Pass two taught modules, one assessed as an essay, one assessed as a presentation
- Successfully complete a professional discussion, based on a portfolio of evidence that the trainee has put together as they progress through the programme.

The course is run in a classroom environment, allowing you to share your ideas and reflections with your peers. You’ll receive tutorial support and sessions focused on wider areas in lifelong learning throughout your course. In addition, you’ll need to complete at least 100 hours of teaching per year.

Examples of assessments on the course include:
• Micro teach to peers
• Personal skills presentation
• Written assignments including essays, reports and reflective journals
• Reflective journals and accounts of your teaching
• Online personalised portfolio identifying skills development and areas to improve
• Teaching observations, evaluations and reflections
• Specialist conference paper supported by an online subject specialist tutor
• Self and peer assessment

There are two main costs you will have whilst studying and if you are a home student studying on a full-time course, you can apply for student finance to cover both of these:

- Your tuition fees for each year of your course.
- Help with your living costs e.g. rent, food, clothing, course materials, entertainment.

You can find more details, including the actual tuition fee charged on our Fees, Funding and Finance Page.

All of the books required for the course are available either from the library or as e-books. However, many students choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop. You may also need to print assignments and other documents.

Campus printing costs start from 5p per page.

Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop and up to £50 each year for books and printing

As an employed volunteer teacher you may also need to factor in travel costs to your place of work

You will be required to have an enhanced DBS check for this course to ensure you meet our safeguarding requirements