PGCE Secondary Religious Education

The University is an original Anglican Foundation that combines a longstanding tradition of high quality provision in Theology and Religious Studies with a national reputation for excellent initial teacher education.

Key Features of the course

  • Part-time/Flexible - 18 months to 3 years
  • Flexible school placements
  • One day a week in University and home study
  • Strong links with Local Authority and Diocesan Advisers

The Faculty of Education, in partnership with the Diocese and Hampshire LEA, is pleased to be able to build on this tradition through offering secondary teacher education in RE.

 

 

What Qualifications do I Need?

We seek pro-active students with a mature, informed outlook on life.

You will need

  • A good degree from a recognised institution, or equivalent qualification. We consider all degrees, as good Secondary RE teachers come from a variety of backgrounds and experience.
  • Evidence of working with young people
  • Appropriate personal and intellectual qualities to be a teacher

Structure of the Course

The course is designed to give students the theoretical knowledge and professional skills to teach RE in the secondary school

Flexibility is its key feature. There will be opportunities to gain Masters level credit for some modules.

The flexible nature of the course means that both the timescale within which the course is completed, and the order within which the course is completed and the order in which some of the modules are taken are negotiable and will be agreed as part of the initial needs analysis.

Course Strands

Students will develop understanding of both the theory and practice of teaching religious education using a range of learning and teaching techniques.

  • Religious Education
  • Professional Studies
  • School Experience

School Experience

During the school-based modules, students will develop practical classroom skills both in teaching RE and in the teacher’s wider professional role.

The Teaching Team

The teaching team includes Winchester staff with specialism in religious education and initial teacher education, supported by Advanced Skills Teachers and secondary school mentors.

Admissions Policy

The admissions policy for the programme is rigorous. It is designed to be compliant with current statutory requirements (www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching) and it includes:

  • interviews for all applicants to assess suitability for teaching and communication skills;
  • enhanced clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau;
  • assessment of entrant's physical and mental fitness to teach DfES and Teaching Agency guidance (DfEE circular 4/99 Physical and Mental Fitness to Teach and of Entrants to Initial Teacher Training; DfES/DOH, 2000, Obtaining Occupational Health Advice on Fitness to Teach, Norwich, HMSO; TDA, 2004 Able to Teach; Guidance for providers of initial teacher training on disability discrimination and fitness to teach, London, TDA);
  • involvement of partner schools in the interview and selection process;
  • the completion by students at interview of a literacy task. This is designed to identify applicants with significant weaknesses so that a decsion may be made about their suitablilty for the course. 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 experience in schools to ensure that they have a realisitic perception of the role of the teacher in a climate of change and will therefore persist with a programme which can be extremely demanding.

Do you know what you are missing?

In line with the University Strategic Plan and admissions policy which is informed by the Dearing Report (Higher Education in the Learning Society 1977), the programme seeks actively to widen participation, in particular recruiting male entrants, mature entrants and those from ethnic minorities, with learning disabilites and from a range of socio-economic classes.

Bursaries

You may be aware that the TDA has recently announced the withdrawal of training bursaries for PGCE students.  This does NOT affect students starting the flexi Secondary RE PGCE programme in May 2011. Your group will receive their expected bursaries for the duration of the programme.  If you have any finance related queries, please contact Emma in the first instance.

Further Information

Please contact;