Further Education and Training PGCE

How this course is delivered

Students have a blend of on-campus and digitally enabled remote learning that keeps everyone safe, connected and involved in university life. Lots of opportunities are provided to interact and engage with lecturers and other students. The balance between online and on-campus learning varies by module, and in response to the external environment.

Course structure

This course is delivered through taught sessions at the Falmer campus and on placement in a further education setting.

Taught sessions at the university normally take place on a Wednesday where you will build on and enhance your strengths. Sessions include seminars and tutorials, self-directed study, peer-teaching sessions, practical workshops, shared expertise sessions with leading practitioners, and reflexive learning.

You will spend two days a week teaching, under supervision, in one of our local partnerships which include further education colleges, sixth form colleges, a land-based college (Plumpton) as well as Lewes Prison, DV8 and the Connected Hub.

Our tutors and mentors will advise and support you throughout your placement. You will receive comprehensive feedback during this time which will enable you to see what you are doing well and where you might need to improve.

Areas of study

This course is made up of six modules all comprising 20 CATS (Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme) points and the final award provides 120 points at either professional or postgraduate level.

Modules

• An Introduction to Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Education and Training
• Contemporary Issues in Education and Training
• Teaching Practice in Education and Training
• Applied Learning Theory and Inclusive Practice
• Wider Professional Practice in Education and Training
• Practitioner Enquiry

Course content is kept up to date with changes in local and national initiatives and legislation, so you will be confident that your working knowledge is based on current theory and practice.

Some of the specialist areas trainees have studied on this course incudes English, maths, art and design, music tech/performance, sociology, health, hairdressing, psychology, sport, sport science, law, history, business, engineering and science.

Placements

You will be placed in a suitable location for the majority of the year. This may involve more than one location and you will teach for around six hours a week.

Our staff will ensure that you are well prepared throughout your placement, and that you have all the support and guidance needed to make the most of these opportunities.

You will start by observing teachers, then with assisting and team teaching, before taking responsibility for planning, delivering and assessing learning yourself.

You will have additional time to find out about the extent of the work of the organisation, including areas of specific interest such as learning support and quality assurance.

Key aims of placements

• Advance the development of your professional attributes, skills, knowledge and understanding.
• Provide practical and specific experiences that enable you to critically analyse your professional practice and take responsibility for your own professional development.
• Enable you to work collaboratively with colleagues in order to develop an understanding of the ways in which the attainment, development and well-being of all learners can be achieved with a unified support and teaching system.
• Provide opportunities that enable you to adopt a creative and constructively critical approach towards your practice, supported by appropriate reading and research.

During your placement, university tutors, college mentors and teachers will support you and take shared responsibility for your professional development.

Organising your college-based training
Our Partnership Office will organise your placement for you which will be in a college or sixth form setting. We work hard to ensure that you have placement opportunities that will give you valuable and varied experiences in the area of education in which you are interested.

How it works
We will ask you to complete a placement information form when you start your course, and will use this information to match you to a suitable placement. We will consider your previous experience, travelling distance, the subject you wish to teach, and your current needs.

Once we have matched you with a placement, the team in the Partnership Office will confirm the placement as quickly as possible with the college or organisation. They will then contact you with the confirmed details. Almost all of our placements are with partner schools or organisations in south-east England, the majority in East and West Sussex.

Ofsted

This course was rated ‘good’ in our most recent Initial Teacher Education inspection report.

Ofsted identified some of the Further Education Partnership key strengths as:

• a very high proportion of trainees meet the professional standards for further education and training at a good or better level. Their subject knowledge is a notable strength
• a high proportion of trainees progress to employment in the further education sector, particularly in the local area.
• trainees demonstrate high standards of conduct and professional behaviour because of the high expectations their trainers set from the start
• trainees are adept at applying the theories they learn during their training to their teaching and professional practice. They develop into reflective professionals who care about how to become better teachers.
• a strong relationship between the university and its partner contributing to the supply of well-trained and well-qualified teachers to local colleges.

Partner college courses 

Full-time and part-time post-16 teacher education courses are also offered by our partner colleges including routes for those currently teaching, or who will have a guaranteed post in the further education and training sector for the academic year in which they start the course.

You can choose to study at:

• East Sussex College Group
• Greater Brighton Metropolitan College

Upon successful completion, you will receive a either a PGCE or a Certificate in Education from the University of Brighton. Our partner colleges provide access to specialist facilities and knowledge, and offer the opportunity of being able to study locally whilst working towards a university qualification.

Find out more about the courses and how to apply on our partners websites.

• Greater Brighton Metropolitan College
• East Sussex College Group

Useful links

The following organisations provide further information about the further education and training sector.

• Education and Training Foundation is a government-backed, sector-led national support body for the further education and training sector.
• Society for Education and Training is the only membership body dedicated to professionals working across further education, vocational teaching and training.
• Association of Colleges represent and promote the interests of colleges, and provide members with high-quality professional support services, including training, events, and recruitment.

Course fees

Bursaries

Bursaries of up to £26,000 are being offered for some subjects for courses starting in 2021. Details can be found on the Get into Teaching website.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Education are listed here.

• You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.
• In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget approximately £30 for printing.
• For courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your travel expenses but you may be able to claim some travel costs back from the university, depending on where your placement is in relation to where you live.
• Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £150 to buy your own copies
• You may wish to consider budgeting up to £25 for stationery/teaching materials.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps