PGCE Primary with QTS

The Swansea University Schools’ Partnership (SUSP) is committed to delivering high quality initial teacher education that meets the needs of a Welsh education system undergoing significant curriculum transformation.
The one year full-time Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Primary with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) offered by the Swansea University Schools' Partnership (SUSP) connects research and policy to primary practice.
Our PGCE Primary programme will allow you to develop teaching skills across the primary age phase and develop your understanding of the new curriculum in Wales. You will work with experienced, enthusiastic University tutors and mentors in our Partnership schools across South Wales to develop and reflect upon your own teaching practice.
The programme is unique in that after experiencing teaching placements across the primary age phase, you can choose to specialise in Foundation Phase, Key Stage 2 or All-Age contexts. This will not only enhance your knowledge of teaching and the curriculum in your specialist phase, but also deepen your understanding of how children learn and develop.
Placement Schedule
You will be required to undertake:

1. School placement 1 - 57 working days in Semesters 1 and 2 that incorporates 10 Practice and Theory days.
2. School placement 2 – 64 working days in Semester 2 that incorporates 1 research day, 1 network reflection day and a 5 day alternative setting placement to include special schools or SEN facilities on school premises, pupil referral units, Welsh medium and other age phase institutions.
   All aspects of the SUSP programme are underpinned by research, allowing you to benefit from the University's national and international reputation.
   With the Partnership’s strong commitment to wellbeing, you will experience high quality personal, professional and academic support throughout the year.

The programme comprises 3 modules:

The Exploring Pedagogy, Curriculum and Assessment in the Primary School module (EDPM31) will develop your understanding of, and ability to employ effective strategies for teaching, learning and assessment across the primary age phase. The module will explore how children and adolescents learn, and what factors support and hinder effective learning. You will also explore the evidence-base around the characteristics of ‘good’ teaching and the importance of establishing supportive learning environments. You will develop an understanding of the importance of providing a broad and balanced curriculum suitable for meeting the diverse needs of the pupils you will teach. You will take responsibility for developing your own personal skills in literacy, numeracy and digital competence. You will receive 35 hours of differentiated Welsh language skills development. This is a 30 credit, Level 7 module.

The Research-informed Reflective Practice module (EDPM32) will introduce you to quantitative, qualitative and mixed method approaches to education research. It will also require you to demonstrate an understanding of the reflect-research-respond-review cycle, through the completion of a small-scale classroom based close-to-practice research project. This is designed to improve the learning experiences of individuals or groups of pupils in your placement school. The assessment strategy for this module supports the clinical practice approach and is designed to enable you to link University and School based learning experiences directly to Professional Practice and to develop yourself fully as a ‘Research-informed Reflective Practitioner’. This is a 30 credit Level 7 module.

The Professional Practice and Placement module (EDP301) is designed to enable you, as a primary student teacher, to work in a school ‘clinical practice’ setting and to work towards the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership at Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) level. It is primary school based and comprises two block-teaching placements and the Practice and Theory (PAT) days. It will also provide you with opportunities to experience alternative educational settings such as secondary schools, special schools and pupil referral units. Placement experience develops the appropriate curriculum knowledge, skills and attitudes identified in both statutory requirements and non-statutory guidance. It will enable you to develop a full understanding of the complexities of the role of the teacher as a professional within a regional, national and international context. This is a 60 credit Level 6 module.

The PGCE (Primary) programme is delivered by the Swansea University Schools Partnership (SUSP) which comprises Swansea University and Lead and Network Partnership Schools located across south Wales. The University and Schools share accountability for all aspects of programme governance, design, delivery and evaluation. In addition, the Academi Hywel Teifi will provide you with 35 hours of Welsh Language tuition whilst on the programme.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Primary