Secondary Education: Chemistry at Heath Park

• Over the one year course, you undertake two periods of University-based learning at Walsall Campus, and you spend at least 120 days divided between two different schools determined by the school direct alliance.

• All course modules provide examples of good practice in teaching which you will reflect upon as you develop your own teaching style. You will be expected to participate actively in your own learning and development

• Teaching on the course reflects a variety of methods that will prepare you for life in the classroom including teacher-led debates, pupil-led exploration, peer-group discovery and the provision of individual targets. You will be assessed in a variety of ways including written assignments, classroom based investigation and other school-based activities and appraisal of practical teaching skills. The majority of teaching sessions will be alongside trainees from the other the science routes.
• All University-based elements of the course take place at the Walsall Campus.

• Typical modules may include
  • Observation of teaching, before undertaking ‘sheltered’ teaching activities, for example teaching parts of lessons or groups of pupils within a class
  • Progression to teaching single or short sequences of lessons
  • Further development through planned classroom activities
  • Development of teaching skills as you move to sustained sequences of lessons
  • Research in the University and school on the use of ICT in the teaching of your subject

PGCE: programme structure

• Starting in September and ending in June the full-time PGCE is the fastest and most condensed way for non-experienced trainees to qualify.
• The course comprises of two school placements and two periods of University-based teaching September to October; January to February.
• 24 weeks of the 36 week PGCE course will be spent in schools. This covers three phases the first and third (autumn and summer) will be in your alliance school. The second will be in an alternative setting. During the third phase a proportion of your teaching at key stage 4 will be focussed on your chosen specialist area.