PGCE Primary Education
The PGCE Primary is a postgraduate programme of initial teacher training which can be studied full time over one year or part time over two years.
The overall aim of the programme is to produce high quality entrants to the teaching profession who are reflective and agile classroom practioners.
Opportunties exist within the programme to graduate with Masters level credits. This reflects the intellectually demanding nature of this route into teaching; the course develops teachers who can analyse their own practice as well as the social and political contexts within which schools operate in the 21st Century.
The Programme
The PGCE programme is a dynamic University-based initial teacher education programme, working closely in partnership with schools. Students develop subject and professional knowledge, skills and understanding, related to the processes of teaching and learning. This is an intensive, intellectually demanding course, requiring a high level of active participation and personal and professional commitment.
- Full-time: One year of full time attendance combining taught sessions and school-based placements. It is not possible to combine work and study whilst on a full time PGCE. September start.
- Part-time: Two years of part time attendance at the University but full time on the school placements. Attendance on the taught programme is one day a week in school term time. In addition to the main school placements, students are expected to organise a further 20 days of self-directed experience in school. Students may not work more than 3 days per week and expect to be successful on this programme. March start.
Applications
Applicants to both routes have to fulfil requirements as indicated in the programme brochure which you can obtain from course.enquiries@winchester.ac.uk.
- Application to the full time programme is through GTTR (www.gttr.ac.uk), institute code; W76, programme code; X100. Application to the part time programme is made directly to the University's admissions department.
- Applications out number places on both routes which makes entry competitive. Applicants are advised to ensure that they meet all the programme requirements, including those relating to experience in school, prior to application, in order to maximise their chances of reaching interview.
- Applicants to the part time route need more than the 2 week minimum in maintained schools prior to application. The minimum experience required for short listing is 4 weeks, but most applicants have considerably more than this. This programme is suitable for self-motivated students who start with a detailed understanding of the primary classroom. The part-time route has a substantial amount of e-Learning involved, for which a high-speed internet connection and access to a computer at home is essential.
Admissions
The admissions policy for the programme is rigorous. It is designed to be compliant with current statutory requirements for teacher training (www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/) and includes:
- interviews for all applicants to assess suitability for teaching and communication skills
- enhanced clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau
- assessment of an entrant’s capacity to meet the demands of the programme and the profession
- involvement of senior managers from partnership schools in the interview and selection process
- the completion of a literacy task by students at interview. This is used to assess students' suitability for Masters Level study. The task also aids early identification of students whose literacy does not preclude entry to the course, but who may benefit from early support
- the requirement that applicants have had recent, relevant experience in schools to ensure that they have a realistic perception of the role of the teacher in a climate of change
Fees and Funding
If you wish to contact the university about any aspect of your PGCE student finances please do so through Paul.Baker@winchester.ac.uk
Contacts for further information
