StudyQA — Diploma: Post-Compulsory Education

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Description Contents Requirements

This full-time programme will help students develop the generic skills needed to teach their own subject, or develop generic and specialist subject skills in either Mathematics (including Numeracy) or English (including Literacy and/or English for Speakers of Other Languages).

Through taught sessions and mentored teaching practice in the workplace you will learn about employment in the sector, how to plan lessons in your subject, how to teach, engage and assess learners, how to manage the learning environment, and how to understand and use theory and research to broaden and improve your professional knowledge and expertise in teaching.

Students undertake modules to the value of 120 credits or 135 credits (for English (including Literacy andEnglish for Speakers of Other Languages) combined route only.

The programme consists of modules to the value of 120 credits (60 at Bachelor’s level and 60 at Master’s level) or, for those on the English (with Literacy & ESOL) combined route only, 135 credits (75 at Bachelor’s level and 60 at Master’s level).

Core modules

Planning and Enabling Learning and Assessment
Theories and Principles of Teaching and Learning
Curriculum Design: Principles and Practice
Professional Enquiry (generic pathways) or Wider Professional Practice and Development (English (including Literacy and/or English for Speakers of Other Languages) and Mathematics (including Numeracy) pathways
Literacy and ESOL Learning and Teaching (English (including Literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages) pathway only

Placement

All students on this programme will undertake a teaching practice placement and your development as a teacher will be assessed as part of the course. You will spend at least 120 hours, working with subject-specialist mentors who support you through your placement. We are fortunate to have a good choice of colleges and other providers, as well as some outstanding mentors in the field of post-compulsory teaching, with whom we work.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered via taught sessions, (including lectures, presentations, discussions, and classroom group tasks), and a practical teaching element based in a partner-provider organisation, usually a further education college. You are also required to read widely and to carry out written assignments in your own time. The programme is assessed through written assignments, module tasks and formal and informal observations of practical teaching skills.

First degree

Normally a minimum of a lower second-class UK Bachelor’s degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with extensive work experience will be considered on an individual basis.

A levels

Not required, but Level 3 qualifications normally required in your subject specialism.

GCSEs

Not required, but English and Mathematics at grades A-C is highly desirable.

School experience

No experience of teaching is required. However, any experience of education, particularly in post-compulsory sector settings such as Further Education colleges, independent learning providers, local authorities, prisons, community organisations, etc, whether in a teaching role or not, is desirable.

DBS and Occupational Health

If you are made an offer you will be required to successfully complete Occupational Health and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure checks. These checks are required to ensure you meet the Department for Education’s requirements for physical and mental health to teach, as well as assessing your suitability for access to children and vulnerable adults. These checks will either be carried out by UCL at a cost of £125, or by the college that employs you.