Professional Certificate in Post-Compulsory Education and Training PCET In-service
Undergraduate
Course Overview
The Professional Certificate in Education (PCET) is a teacher education programme that will qualify you to teach in the Education and Skills sector.
Are you employed or working in a voluntary capacity in the post-compulsory education and training sector in FE Colleges, Training Agencies or the Public Sector? This course also prepares you to register for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, which is a key qualification for teaching in further education and can be gained in the year after you finish the programme.
The course equips you to educate learners over the age of 14 including adults, sharing your knowledge and helping others fulfil their potential. You may be teaching apprentices, trainees or students in further education and sixth form colleges. This is a valuable opportunity to gain a recognised University qualification as you improve your teaching skills. You will be supported by a mentor in your subject specialist area.
QTLS is relevant to vocational training, adult education and teaching in further education and sixth form colleges.
The course mixes taught elements with practical teaching and professional development.
Modules on this course include:
Compulsory Core modules
- Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (20 Credits)
- Developing Theories of Teaching, Learning and Assessment (20 Credits)
- Contextualising Policy and Curriculum (20 Credits)
- Enhancing Learning through Innovation and Change (20 Credits)
Practice-based modules:
- Practical Teaching and Professional Development (total of 40 Credits)
These courses are for people who are already working as teachers or trainers. Applicants must meet the following entry criteria to be able to join the programme:
Academic qualification Professional Graduate PCET route:
- An honours degree, 2:2 or higher in a relevant subject
- GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent qualifications) in Mathematics and English. If you have studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above.
Academic qualification Professional Certificate PCET route:
- Level 3 qualification or higher, in a vocational or another specialist subject
- GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent qualifications) in Mathematics and English. If you have studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above.
Additional entry criteria applicable to both routes:
- A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check that has an issue date within 3 years at the start date of the programme
- A completed medical pro forma
- If you are invited for an interview, you will be asked to complete a pre-interview written task, and complete a literacy assessment
- 50 hours of appropriate Teaching Practice Hours each academic year
The University of Sunderland and/or any Partner FE College are not responsible for securing Teaching Practice Hours on your behalf. If you are unable to complete the compulsory Teaching Practice Hours, then under no circumstances (other than any negligence on the part of the University or any of its Partner FE Colleges) will the University of Sunderland or any Partner FE College be held liable for any loss you may sustain.
If English is not your first language, please refer to the University of Sunderland English Language requirements.
We use a wide variety of teaching and learning methods which include classroom seminars, tutorials, directed learning and group work, as well as teaching practice workshops.
Assessment methods include assignments, seminars, presentations and observed teaching practice.
By the end of the course you will have a Professional Certificate in Education (PCET) which is also equivalent to the Diploma in Education and Training. Your new qualifications will open employment prospects throughout the post-compulsory sector.
Many of our successful trainees have moved from part-time to full-time positions and temporary to permanent contracts whilst also gaining more senior posts with leadership responsibilities in the institutions in which they are employed.
This programme is run in partnership with the University of Sunderland. The qualification you will receive is awarded by the University of Sunderland.
TyneMet College working in partnership with the University of Sunderland.
In order to help ensure that the student experience is maintained at a high level across the life of partnership programmes, there is a minimum of 12 students required to enrol in year 1 of each programme offered by TyneMet College in partnership with the University of Sunderland in order for it to run. In the event that this minimum is not reached, the University reserves the right to either close this programme and withdraw offers made on it or, if appropriate to the programme, apply conditions to the programme in order to allow it to run with reduced student numbers. If the programme is closed, the University will use reasonable endeavours to help affected students switch to a suitable alternative programme or alternative HE provider if they wish to do so. If a decision is taken to apply conditions to the programme in order to allow it to run with reduced student numbers, consultation will take place with affected students. Conditions may include things like studying some of the programme at a different venue or merging study with other similar programmes where there is overlap. If these conditions are not acceptable to all students, the programme will close.
Covid-19 has challenged the delivery of all educational and professional programmes. The University of Sunderland have established emergency professional standards which have helped us to develop an effective approach to your programme of study. This will include a blend of face-to-face and online teaching.
Our experience has shown that this method opens new learning opportunities for all, enabling you to develop graduate skills such as time management, self-care and workload prioritisation, with support from the academic team and the wider University services available to you.
Theoretical lectures and pre-session reading will be delivered and made available via Microsoft Teams.
In the meantime, please contact the Programme Leader if we can offer any further guidance.
Programme leader contact: Douglas Hallam
Programme leader contact details: douglas.hallam@tynemet.ac.uk
* The University of Sunderland has a wide range of scholarships on offer. Find out more.
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The North East Collaborative Outreach Programme (NECOP) has launched its FutureMe programme of activity and support to increase the number of young people from the North East progressing to higher education.
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