PGCE in Business and Economics -

• This Teacher Training course allows graduates with an appropriate honours degree to train at post graduate level to become secondary school teachers of Business Studies and Economics.
• Our course puts learning at the heart of what we do.  This means that your learning, as the Associate Teacher, is at the centre of the PGCE just as, when you are teaching the learning of your school students must be at the centre of your work.
• The course is distinctive because it involves a mix of University input and school experience every week of the course, close attention to your individual needs and a genuine sense of partnership with the schools that we work with.
• Staffordshire University has consistently achieved top marks in OFSTED inspections for its high quality work.

You will leave this Teacher Training course with a PGCE qualification. This can be awarded at 2 levels dependant upon performance during the training year, either 30 (Professional) or 60 (Postgraduate) M level credits, in addition to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), the required qualification to teach in England.

The PGCE at Staffordshire University offers specialist support and expertise from tutors who are at the forefront of developments in Business and Economics education. It is characterised by small class sizes allowing effective links with the schools in our partnership.

The course aims to develop your professional competencies in the creation and delivery of programmes in secondary education, and to develop the wider professional knowledge and skills expected of a qualified teacher.

This is a 36 week course. The equivalent of 24 weeks (120 days) is spent in 2 carefully selected placement schools and 12 weeks in the university.

After a two week Induction Programme, you will be in school for 3 days per week and in the university for 2 days per week for the whole of the first term. In the second term you will spend a 6-week block placement in school. For the rest of the year you will spend 4 days per week in school and 1 day per week in the university. Within a school, you will receive expert support from a subject mentor who will hold weekly meetings with you to help you to prepare, teach and review lessons and develop your subject knowledge.

Each school or college will have a professional mentor who will help you to understand the organisation of the school, pastoral care systems and the legal and social framework of school including supporting services.

Associate Teachers have a phased introduction to teaching that will reflect your personal needs. Initially you will observe the regular teacher, help with group work and then move towards sharing classes with the teacher before eventually taking classes yourself. As well as teaching your subject, you will be required to contribute generally to the life of the school.
 
The University element of the course is designed to engage Associate Teachers in critical reflection on the nature of education. We also aim to develop your knowledge of Economics and your ICT skills. Group and individual tutorials in the university will give you an opportunity to discuss your ideas and the challenges you may face.

The University aspects of the course take place on the Stafford and Stoke campuses and will draw upon the experience of practicing teachers as well as highly experienced tutors.  The school experience is based in local, carefully selected partnership schools.

The blend of practical experience and university study will be evidenced by the compilation of portfolios and the production of short written academic papers.

For further information please contact the Business / Economics Award Leader, Guy Durden g.durden@staffs.ac.uk  Tel: 01782 294909

On completing your Teacher Training course (PGCE) and starting your first teaching job, you can join our Newly Qualified Teacher course and, after your first year in teaching, move onto our Masters awards in Education.  Because of your PGCE and NQT awards, you will be fast tracked and can gain a full MA in Education by the end of your third year in teaching.

If you are thinking of teaching in schools and want to know more about it, go to http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit.aspx. 

To apply, go to www.gttr.ac.uk

For more information about PGCE in Business and Economics please contact: