Secondary Initial Teacher Education Mathematics - Postgraduate Certificate in Education

The course is part of the Department of Education's programme for Initial Teacher Training. Units studied are:

• Enabling Learning
• Meeting Curriculum Challenges
• Becoming a Teacher

These units are studied in both the school and the University-based parts of the course, the work on each site being complementary.

During the 36 week course you will address the various aspects of learning and teaching mathematics - how you learn and, through reflection, how young people might learn, as well as factors which may inhibit their learning. Sessions will involve you in workshops, discussion and informal lectures.

Work in schools is an integral part of the course. You will gain teaching experience in two schools where you will have opportunities to try out your ideas and further your learning skills and experience of mathematics teaching. You will work alongside teachers and student colleagues with small groups and individuals as well as engaging in whole class teaching. In each school there is a mathematics subject mentor who has primary responsibility for your day-to-day work and study. Your subject mentor will support you in your learning to teach, assess and manage classes in mathematics.

Throughout the course you will:

• engage in interesting and challenging mathematical starting points, reflecting on your own work and the nature of mathematical activity
• consider how learning environments appropriate to learners of all abilities can be created
• focus on specific issues related to the mathematics classroom, for example, the National Curriculum, numeracy, ICT and mathematics, special educational needs, differentiation and progression, the cross-cultural nature of mathematics, pupil assessment, language, and the teaching of mathematics at post-16 level
• explore strategies for the effective management of learners and resources, including ICT, in the classroom situation
• consider different teaching and learning styles, for example whole-class interactive teaching, problem solving, practical and investigative activity
• use your ability and initiative to create starting points which enable traditional areas of mathematics to be explored in interesting ways
• critically evaluate existing resources for mathematics, including computer software
• work at enhancing your own knowledge and understanding in mathematics and ICT with respect to the National Curriculum, National Strategy, and the 14-19 curriculum, including AS/A2 level

If you have the knowledge and the passion to teach Mathematics then this PGCE course is for you.

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The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved we will inform you.

Personal support
We recognise that embarking on a new course of study can sometimes be quite a challenging undertaking. Students have three main sources of support and information from the University during the course: firstly there is the Group Tutor in their subject area, secondly each student is allocated a Personal Tutor and thirdly any student can get support on a range of issues from the Department Student Adviser.

In order to pass the course, trainees are required to pass each unit. They are assessed on a number of written assignments and also on classroom practice against the standards specified by the Secretary of State for the award of QTS.

For more detail see our full glossary of assessment terms.