Welcome to your Post-Compulsory Education and Training course

Welcome to University of Staffordshire

We know you're already passionate about your subject, which is why we're excited you've chosen University of Staffordshire as the place to turn possibility into reality.

To give you an insight into what life as a Post-Compulsory Education and Training student is like, your course leaders have prepared introductions to the course and further activities.

Welcome! We are looking forward to you joining us on the PGCE PCET teacher training course in September. Here is some information that, hopefully, you will find useful.

Course Delivery

The delivery of the course at University, will be structured in the following way:

Mondays (9.00-16.00) on campus

Tuesdays (9.00–12.00) on campus (there will be a small number of online sessions, which will let you know about in Welcome Week)

Tuesdays (13.00 – 16.00) directed activities related to your professional practice to complete, in your own time, away from the classroom.

All sessions will take place in term time. Calendars, buildings and room numbers to follow.

Once you start your placements (typically in Early October), you will also be completing two days per week in placement as well as two days at Staffordshire University.

Join us on Social Media

Join our Social Media accounts for the Institute of Education so you can feel a part of the IOE family before you arrive.

You’ll see what we post, links to relevant news articles, developments within the sector, employability support and things going on in our courses.

Following this account will give you the opportunity to do some pre-reading and research before you join the course.

We have four social media platforms, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikT ok. You can find us using @staffsuniIOE.

Visit our Instagram Page

Semester One Activities

You will start Welcome Week on Monday 23^rd September. The timetable for Welcome Week will follow so keep an eye on your inbox.

As this is Welcome Week, there will be plenty of fun events and activities happening all week on campus, which we hope you attend.

Buildings and room numbers to follow also.

Pre-Learning

Before the course starts there are a few activities that it would be helpful for you to engage in:

update your CV: your placement may well ask for an up-to-date CV, prior to your placement commencing;
keep up to date with your subject specialist area;
Visit FE Week, to keep up to date with news on Further Education in the UK: feweek.co.uk/

Free Downloadable Software

Software link: https://staffsuniversity.sharepoint.com/sites/software/SitePages/Home.aspx

For the Monday and Tuesday of Welcome Week, if you have a portable electronic device (such as a laptop, tablet, iPad or Smartphone) bring it with you, so you can make sure you can access Blackboard, Teams etc. Please do not worry, if you are not able to do this.

Free Software

Occupational Health

You may have already been contacted about your pre-placement health questionnaire (or will be shortly), make sure you return any paperwork as promptly as possible; this will help with placements. The same is also true for your enhanced DBS, when you receive the link from the University, complete it as soon as possible as you will not be allowed into your placement without this. Staffordshire University pays for both your health questionnaire and enhanced DBS

Join a Society

Getting involved in a student group can enhance your time at University. It’s a great way to make new friends and connections, learn from other students and develop new skills whist having some fun at the same time. Whether you want to join a group as a member, get involved in running a group as part of a committee or help run an event or organise your own – your Students’ Union is here to help make it happen! Please check out our website for more information on all of our groups, volunteering and other opportunities, or get in touch with our Engagement Team if you have more questions.

All Student Groups: https://www.staffsunion.com/getinvolved/clubsandsocieties/ (filter to see all academic groups).

Current Academic Societies:

Accounting & Finance: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/25507/

Biology: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/biosoc/

Education: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/staffsedsoc/

Engineering: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/theies/

FACS: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/facs/

Fashion: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/fashionsociety/

Humanities: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/humanities/

Law: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/lawsociety/

Bonus Group - Debating: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/21294/

How to set up a new group: https://staffordshire.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0CG5LLyaUvS8eVv

Group Committee Resource & Support Area: https://www.staffsunion.com/managementhub/

Developing You (personal development resources): https://www.staffsunion.com/developingyou/

Meet the team

Tina Richardson

Senior Lecturer

I have extensive expertise of working in the secondary and post compulsory sector as well as experience of teaching in Greece and China. I am also an external examiner for PGCE Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) courses.

Tina's profile

Dr Sandra Murray

Lecturer

I am passionate about learning and constantly seeking new challenges. My focus is now on developing the next generation of Further Education teachers alongside developing a research profile whilst supporting and developing the research of others

Sandra's profile

What to expect on Welcome Week

We're so excited for you to join us on campus and to welcome you to where you matter. During your welcome week you'll be able to meet our friendly student services teams, connect with new friends, join societies, explore on-campus venues attend club nights and much more.

We shall leave you with our favourite quote on teaching from Stephen Brookfield: ‘We teach to change the world’.

If you have any queries about your course please don't hesitate to contact Tina Richardson, T.A.Richardson@staffs.ac.uk or Sandra Murray, Sandra.Murray@staffs.ac.uk.