Professional Graduate Certificate in Education – Lifelong Learning (Level 6)

Full and Part Time

Special Entry Requirements

All applicants must have:

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (this can be completed through the College before the start of the programme, but costs will need to be met by the trainee)
Satisfactory references
Complete a satisfactory interview

In addition, the entry requirements for this course are:

Have a UK degree or equivalent related to your specialist area
Level 2 maths and English, eg GCSE grade 4/C or functional skills
Relevant work experience in some specialist subject areas
If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent.
If you already hold a teaching qualification at level 4 or above, or have substantial knowledge and experience of teaching, you may be able to make a claim for accreditation of prior learning

Applications are welcomed from those from under-represented groups and diverse backgrounds

Course Introduction

These courses are for teachers or trainers who are working with, or wish to work with, young people or adults aged 14+ in the education and training sector and are particularly suitable for those who have work experience and/or qualifications in industry including IT, business and administration, hair and beauty, health and social care, early years, uniformed public services, construction and allied trades, engineering, catering and hospitality and many other vocational areas.

You will be supported in developing your teaching skills, reflect on current ideas about education and training and creatively explore the professional opportunities open to you. You will learn alongside other teachers and trainers and develop the necessary skills to teach in the education, training and skills sector. You will have the opportunity to develop the skills to play a full part in teaching and curriculum development. The course allows you to focus on your particular subject specialist area, alongside general teaching in the lifelong learning sector. A significant amount of your learning happens in your place of work or work placement, allowing you to put theory into practice.

These courses do not award the status of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS), however, there is an option to gain QTLS through a process of professional formation through the Society for Education and Training. QTLS is the full professional status for teachers in the Lifelong Learning Sector.

Trainees will need to undertake a minimum of 250 hours of paid or voluntary work as a teacher or trainer at a recognised training or educational establishment and identify a work-based mentor who can support them in their specialist subject.

For more information, contact Tracey Herridge, Programme Lead for Teacher Education and Training - t.herridge@s6f.org.uk

Course Modules

4 x core modules:

Research Informed Teaching
Learning and Assessment
Becoming a Subject Specialist Teacher
Being a Subject Specialist Teacher, Policy and Professional Issues

Duration

1 year full-time

2 years part-time

Delivery Model

Full-time – 2 days per week + tutorial. Part-time study option available

Part-time – 3 hrs per week + tutorial (day or evening sessions dependent upon cohort preferences)

Assessment

Assessment includes a variety of methods such as practical micro-teaching sessions, resource design, portfolio, conference paper and written assignments.

Cost

Full-time - £9250

Part-time - £3775 per year

Tuition Fees and Financial Support

All tuition fees for Certificate in Education, Professional and Postgraduate Certificate in Education and Postgraduate Diploma in Education are funded via Student Finance England (SFE) for both full and part-time study (subject to meeting criteria).

Repayments only begin once the course is finished or the trainee leaves the course and if their income is over the payment threshold, which is currently £27,295 (2023-24 academic year).

Student maintenance loans are also available for full and part-time study options. Additional training bursaries are available for pre-service trainees studying specific subjects.

Go to Funding and finance for students for more information.

Bursaries

A tax-free pre-service bursary of up to £30,000* is available for initial teacher education trainees studying the Certificate in Education, Professional and Postgraduate Certificate in Education and Postgraduate Diploma in Education who choose to teach the following subjects: