Initial Teacher

About Initial Teacher Training

The Learning Institute's Initial Teacher Training programme offers students the chance to gain a PGCE (Professional Graduate Certificate in Education) at one of Cornwall's leading SCITT colleges.

It is a one-year programme that is entirely based in secondary schools across Plymouth and South East Cornwall. Trainees will have access to invaluable classroom experience that will equip them with the knowledge needed to be a teacher.

Our PGCE leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) which is awarded by the General Teaching Council for England. The academic element of the programme is validated by the University of Exeter and is the equivalent of final year undergraduate study.

We believe that the best way to learn and develop is from practising teachers. As a PGCE trainee, you will have opportunities to work in schools and put the skills that you learn into practice immediately. As your experience in the classroom grows, so too will your confidence and abilities at teaching.

Currently, the secondary school subjects offered are:

Mathematics

Science

Religious Education

Modern Foreign Languages

ICT

Applied Business Studies

Media Studies

Health and Social Care

Assessment is through a Professional Portfolio that demonstrates your ability to meet the national standards for QTS. This portfolio will include observations of your teaching as well as written assignments.

One of our most important roles as a PGCE provider is to support you every step of the way by allocating you a school placement close to where you live. As we are based in the South West, this will be with our local partnership schools in the Plymouth area and South East Cornwall. We will provide you with a web-connected computer if you do not have one and full technical support should anything go wrong, as well as access to the books and journals you need to complete your study.

We regularly hold Taster Days at Callington Community College for prospective students and we encourage you to attend as it will give you an invaluable insight into teacher training.