School of Education Postgraduate Certificate in Education ... · Postgraduate Certificate in Education 2012/2013 UNIVERSITY STREET UNIVERSITY ROAD AVENUE BOTANIC RUGBY ROAD UPPER

School of EducationPostgraduate Certificate in Education2012/2013

Disclaimer

All reasonable efforts have been made toensure that this prospectus is accurate andup-to-date when compiled, but theUniversity reserves the right to makechanges as they become necessary.Applicants are asked to check all detailswhen they apply.

THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Queen’s University69/71 University StreetBELFAST BT7 1HLTelephone: 028 9097 5941Fax: 028 9097 5066Email: [email protected]/edu

Queen’s University Belfast

School of EducationPostgraduate Certificate in Education 2012/2013

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Contents

P. 1

Introduction

P. 2

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Queen’s

This prospectus tells you about our PGCEat Queen’s which prepares students toteach in secondary-level schools. We aim toattract a lively mix of students fromdifferent parts of the country, fromdifferent universities and colleges, and fromdifferent academic disciplines. Each year werecruit students who are in the final year oftheir first degree or who have completedhigher degrees, and those more matureindividuals, who after a period in anotheroccupation, have decided to becometeachers.

The PGCE at Queen’s provides a master’slevel qualification. Successful students maythus be eligible for exemption fromelements of master’s programmes ineducation.

Our teaching and research staff in theSchool of Education also show diversity intheir wide range of specialisms andbackgrounds. Many have distinguishedreputations in their fields and practically allhave recent experience of teaching inschools. The lecturers in the School ofEducation are supported by efficientadministrative, clerical and technical staff.Importantly, they are also supported in

their work by serving teachers from schoolsin the region. The schools you will visit andin which you will practise are varied, well-established and highly respected.

The School of Education is situated on theedge of the main campus of the University,and is convenient to the Students' Unionand Queen’s Sport. Students may readilyparticipate in the intellectual, cultural,sporting and social opportunities affordedby university life.

We hope this prospectus provides theinformation you require. If not, please donot hesitate to contact us at the address atthe beginning of the booklet.

Postgraduate Certificate in Education 2012/2013 iv

Queen’s University Belfast

Queen's University Belfast, which wasoriginally established as Queen's College in1845, is situated in a pleasant tree-linedVictorian suburb about a mile from the citycentre. The University area is well providedwith restaurants, shops and pubs.

Within the University precinct Queen’ssport provides a wide range of facilities forindoor recreation. In addition to aswimming and a diving pool, there aresquash courts, badminton courts, a fullyequipped gym, climbing wall and two largehalls which can be used for various games.Queen's Film Theatre is the University'sown full-time cinema. Several othercinemas and theatres are within easy reach.An annual Queen's Festival (lasting almostthree weeks in November) brings manyhighly esteemed performers andperformances onto the University campus.Festival provides a tremendous diversity ofevents covering drama, opera, ballet,classical music, jazz, folk, pop, artexhibitions, celebrity lectures.

Accommodation is available inconventional halls less than a mile from themain site and in self-catering houses. TheUniversity runs a lodgings and flats adviceservice for accommodation in the privatesector.

Belfast is only an hour from London by airwith many flights a day each way. Dailyflights are also available from most otherlarge urban centres in Britain. In addition, anumber of rail-sea links provide a moreeconomical, if slower alternative.

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The first Chair in Education in Queen's wasfounded in 1914 and the present School ofEducation was established in 1986, by themerger of a number of pre-existingeducation-related departments.

The School provides full-time coursesleading to the Postgraduate Certificate inEducation (the current enrolment is about160). It also provides courses leading to theAdvanced Certificate in Education, theDiploma in the Advanced Study ofEducation (DASE) and the degrees ofMaster of Education (MEd), Master ofScience (MSc) and Doctor of Education(EdD). Students may also enrol for theresearch-based degrees of M.Phil and PhD.The school has a substantial externallyfunded research programme. There areabout 400 serving teachers associated withthe School taking in-service courses orengaged in research, and manyexperienced teachers contribute to thePGCE course.

The facilities of the School includelaboratories, computer suites and aresources centre, as well as general lectureand seminar rooms.

School of Education

vii Postgraduate Certificate in Education 2012/2013

Contents

1.1 Introduction ................................................................2

1.2 Partnerships with Schools............................................3

1.3 Course Aims and Curriculum ......................................4

1.4 Subject specialisms......................................................5

1.5 The Student Experience...............................................6

1.6 Assessment and Award of the ....................................7Certificate and Prizes

1.7 Candidates with Special Needs ...................................8

2.1 How to apply. Grant Aid .............................................9

3.1 Appendix: A Staff List ...............................................11

3.2 Appendix: B Map......................................................11

Please note:Details of the course are correct at the time of going to press. Changes intro-duced after this will be notified to all staff and students involved in the course.

Postgraduate Certificate in Education 2012/2013 1

This booklet provides details of thepostgraduate programme of initial trainingfor teaching which leads to the award ofthe Postgraduate Certificate in Educationof Queen's University Belfast.

In recent years many changes have takenplace in schools, both in the social contextand in the new developments in curricula,assessment and teaching methods.Intending teachers need to be equipped torespond to these changes in a professionalway, and the Postgraduate Certificateprogrammes seek to combine the learningof practical teaching skills with an analysisof contemporary professional practice inboth its subject specific and generalaspects.

Location

The teaching and administration of thecourse is centred in the main School ofEducation building at 69/71 UniversityStreet. The School of Education occupiesseveral other buildings, and also usesteaching space in the main Universitycampus. The Resources Centre, whichhouses a collecton of teaching and learningresource materials, is situated within themain Education building.

University Membership

Each year about 160 graduate studentsenrol in the School of Education to read forthe Postgraduate Certificate in Education.All are registered as members of theUniversity.

1.1 Introduction

2 Postgraduate Certificate in Education 2012/2013

The design of the course follows recentgovernment advice which emphasises thedesirability of co-operation between highereducation institutions and schools in theinitial education of teachers.

Partnership is the shared responsibility forthe initial education and induction of thebeginning teacher. Schools, the highereducation institution and student teachersall have clearly defined roles based onmutual trust, openness and team-workwhich enable the course provided to befully integrated.

This co-operation consequently involvesformal collaboration and consultation withschools in:

• planning the course,• selection of students,• delivery of the course,• support of the student teachers,• assessment of the students’

professional compentences,• review and evaluation of the course,

and• the induction of the newly qualified

teacher.

The model of training is based on the viewthat the professional development of ateacher is a continuum and that the initialtraining process is the first stage in thedevelopment of a career teacher, who willcontinue to review, adapt and improvethroughout his or her professional career.

A PGCE student will, during the course,have a total of 24 weeks experience inthree schools. In the two post-primaryschools in which students have experience,the student will work closely with certainmembers of each school’s staff. A student'ssubject methods lecturer from the Schoolof Education, will also maintain close co-operative links with these teachers duringschool placements.


1.2 Partnerships with Schools

1.3 Course Aims and Curriculum


Course AimsThe course aims to develop students'competence and confidence in theteaching of their chosen subject specialismand in the general professional role of theteacher. Together these mean that theremust be strong emphasis on the acquisitionof appropriate skills which include:

• communication skills using the spokenword, the black/white-board and newtechnologies,

• skills necessary for the management ofpupils and the efficient organisation ofclassroom work,

• strategies for planning schemes of workand individual lessons,

• skills required for the effectiveevaluation and reporting of learning,

• interpersonal skills needed in relating toand communicating with othermembers of staff and parents.

The course also encourages students toreflect critically upon the aims andpurposes of education and the schoolsystem, and in particular, on personal andprofessional practice. Those completing thecourse should have an informedunderstanding of curriculum and teachingmethodology, and appropriate personalqualities and professional attitudes.

In common with other providers of teachereducation in the province, the Queen’sUniversity course seeks to develop teachercompetence in the following broad areas:

• understanding the curriculum andprofessional knowledge,

• subject knowledge and subjectapplication,

• teaching strategies and techniques andclassroom management,

• assessment and recording of pupils’progress,

• foundation for further professionaldevelopment.

Students who successfully complete thecourse are issued with a Career EntryProfile, based upon the above five areas ofteaching competence.

CurriculumThe programme of study is organisedaround three interdependent strands:

• Subject teaching,• The Professional Role of the Teacher, and• Professional Performance.

Subject Teachingfocuses upon the teaching of the student'sparticular specialism.The Professional Role of the Teacheris concerned with common aspects ofteaching and the general professional roleof the teacher including for example:

• the Northern Ireland Curriculum• the education system• assessment and recording• classroom processes and cognition• educational disadvantage• the social context of teaching• pastoral care, counselling• general management issues• teaching as a moral activity• relationships with other professionals• promotion of equal opportunities• use and understanding of information

technology• literacy and numeracy in the classroom.

Professional Performancefocuses on developing practical teachingcompetence particularly through workingclosely with experienced teachers duringperiods of school placement.


1.4 Subject Specialisms

The secondary school PostgraduateCertificate in Education programme isstructured broadly in line with the NorthernIreland Curriculum. Training to teach thefollowing school subjects (or combinationsof subjects) up to Advanced-level GCE, areexpected to be available in 2012/2013.

• English• Mathematics• Information Technology/Computing• Modern Languages (applicants including

native speakers of languages other thanEnglish, should normally offer twolanguages from the following list:French, German, Irish, Spanish)*

• Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)**• Religious Education• Politics• Sociology• Irish Medium Education (IME)

Extra places are reserved to preparethose who are interested in teachingtheir subject through the medium ofIrish in Irish medium schools. Thesestudents do a number of extraelements, including a Gaeltachtresidential in the August preceding thecourse, which are delivered by St Mary’sUniversity College. They receive an

additional certificate in IME andapplications are welcome from studentswishing to do such courses in one ofthe subjects listed above.

• Main subject with Special NeedsEducation and InclusionA limited number of places are availablefor interested and creative traineeteacher, who may have had a range ofrelevant prior life experiences, todevelop additional competencies tomeet the diversity of learning needswithin the context of their main subject.The module is aimed at trainee teacherspreparing to teach young people inordinary schools – it is not aboutpreparation to teach in special schoolsor units. You will graduate with a PGCEin a ‘main subject’ (English,Mathematics etc.) with Special NeedsEducation and Inclusion.

* Modern Languages students shouldstate specific language(s) on theapplication form.

** Science students should state clearlytheir specialist science subject orcombination on the applicationform.

Supplementary CoursesOptional supplementary courses may beoffered in the teaching of Citizenship,Drama, Employability, PersonalDevelopment and in Religious Education.These are for professional development andinterest only and are neither assessed norrecorded for the purposes of qualification.

School PlacementsThe number of students following thePostgraduate Certificate in Education coursemakes it difficult to place all students inschools in greater Belfast throughout theircourse. Prospective students should thereforebe aware that the course programme mayinvolve a significant period of time (up to 24weeks) away from Belfast. Course participantswill have extended placements in twodifferent schools; normally one such block isspent in a school catering for pupils in the 11– 16 years range and the other in an 11 – 18years age range school, enabling students towork with pupils from the whole ability range.(In some subjects, students may be placed inInstitutes of Further and Higher Education).

The Course ProgrammeThe course has a duration of 36 weeks andcommences in early September withenrolment and registration. This is followed bya two week block experience in a primaryschool. The next block of the course isdevoted to University-based tuition (aninduction week, taught sessions and directedindependent study). This is followed by thefirst extended period of professionalplacement based in a school arranged by theInitial Teacher Education office. This block

practice straddles the Christmas vacation, sostudents will only be free to take the sameholiday as that of the school in which theyhappen to be placed. About the beginning ofFebruary, students return to University-basedtuition in preparation for their secondprofessional period in a school different fromthat of their first placement. This secondplacement straddles the Easter period andagain the vacation is determined by theschool in which the student happens to beplaced. A final week of university-basedtuition completes the course at the beginningof June.

Successful completion of the course dependson achieving satisfactory standards in bothpractical teaching and in course work. At theend of the course each student will beprovided with a Career Entry Profile which willreport the levels of teaching competenceachieved. For master’s level assessmentpurposes, they will also receive agrade/percentage equivalent for each of thethree modules that comprise the course i.e.‘Education Studies’, ‘Subject Methods’, and‘School Placement’.

Tutorial SupportEvery student belongs to a Tutorial (Discussion)Group, which meets with the same tutor once

each week during the University-based parts ofthe course. The students in any one groupnormally come from a variety of subjectbackgrounds. During these weekly meetings,tutorial support for the general educationalaspects of the course may be provided. Inaddition these meetings provide a forum forthe discussion of issues of general educationalinterest and for mutual support in a multi-disciplinary context.

Course MaterialsAt the beginning of the course students aresupplied with the PGCE Course Handbook andwith a subject-based booklet which willinclude subject coursework requirements.

PGCE SCC CommitteeAt the beginning of the year elections are heldfor the PGCE Staff-Student ConsultativeCommittee (SCC). Each subject area isrepresented. The committee is concerned withacademic and pastoral matters related to thecourse.

Course EvaluationsEvaluations of the course are an importantcomponent of the course management anddurring the year students are asked tocomplete a number of comprehensive courseevaluation questionnaires.

1.5 The Student Experience



1.6 Assessment and Award of the Certificate and Prizes

The award of the Postgraduate Certificatein Education of Queen's University Belfastis made to candidates who haveconscientiously attended and activelyparticipated in the course. They must alsosatisfy the examiners in practical teachingand in the coursework set. Successfulstudents will be issued with a profile,indicating the levels of competence theyhave achieved in various attributes of theprofessional teacher. This profile willprovide the basis upon which furtherprofessional development activities may beplanned. For master’s assessment purposesthey will also be graded in each of thethree course modules.

There is no formal graduation ceremony forPGCE students, but successful students arenormally invited to an informalpresentation of certificates held during anevening in the September following thecompletion of the course.

PrizesThere are three prizes awarded annually asa result of high achievement in the PGCEcourse.

Elizabeth M. Fulton Prize:

The Elizabeth M. Fulton Prize wasestablished in 1990 by Professor J F Fulton

The prize is awarded annually to thestudent(s) who achieve(s) the bestperformance in the course leading to theaward of the Postgraduate Certificate inEducation in the School of Educationprovided that there is a candidate whoseperformance is sufficiently meritorious. Inthe event of there being two or morecandidates of equal merit the prize shall bedivided.

GTCNI Prize

The General Teaching Council for NorthernIreland Prize is chosen from amongst thewinners of the Elizabeth M. Fulton Prize byan interview process which will include ashort presentation. The GTCNI awards oneof these prizes to the top performingstudent in each of the Northern Irelandteacher education HEIs.

Last academic year the General TeachingCouncil for Northern Ireland awarded twoPrizes. One prizewinner was chosen fromamongst the winners pf the Elizabeth MFulton Prize by an interview process whichincluded a short presentation. Anotherprize was awarded for achievement in theEducation Studies module and was alsodecided by a presentation and interview.

Excellence in Teaching Prize

The Prize is awarded annually and chosenfrom amongst those students who performbest in the teaching placement module intheir subject and who are not recipients ofthe Elizabeth M. Fulton Prize. It will bedecided by an interview process which willalso include a short micro-teaching session.


1.7 Candidates with Special Needs(all candidates should read this section)

Please ensure that you complete the boxprovided on the application form.

The University is very willing to helpstudents with disabilities. However, weneed to have information from you toenable us to do this effectively. This will notaffect judgements concerning youracademic suitability for a course and will betreated confidentially by us. It isrecommended that you contact us as earlyas possible about your special needs toensure that we can provide the supportyou may need.

If you have a disability and require extrasupport in your study or accommodationplease enter, in the box provided, the codefrom the list below which is mostappropriate to you. If you have no needsarising from your disability (e.g. youare short-sighted but your vision is

corrected by spectacles), or if you haveno disabilities, please use code 0.

0 You do not have a disability orspecial needs or are not aware ofany additional support requirementsin study or accommodation

1 You have dyslexia

2 You are blind/partially sighted

3 You are deaf/hard of hearing

4 You are a wheelchair user/havemobility difficulties

5 You need personal care support

6 You have mental health difficulties

7 You have an unseen disability e.g.diabetes, epilepsy, asthma

8 You have two or more of the abovedisabilities/special needs

9 You have a disabilility or specialneed not listed above.

In the section labelled “SPECIAL NEEDS”please also provide a brief description ofyour disability if appropriate.


2.1 How to apply - Grant aid.

made for the collection of confidentialreports and for interviews whereappropriate. Applications received after 1November will be regarded as ‘late’ andwill only be considered if vacancies exist.

Please refer to website for details on howto apply:www.qub.ac.uk/edu.

Progress

Applicants are normally informed duringDecember/January if they are to be invitedfor interview. Interviews normally takeplace from Mid-January onwards.Successful applicants will normally beoffered a place on the course by the end ofMarch preceding the commencement ofthe course.

EligibilityProspective students for the PostgraduateCertificate in Education should be honoursgraduates or have qualifications that arerecognised as honours degree equivalent.Their degree will normally be in their cho-sen subject specialism or in a closely relatedsubject.

All students must hold, at the time ofapplication, passes in GCSE or O-levelGCE(Grades C or better) in Mathematicsand in English Language, or equivalentqualifications. Applications will not beprocessed without documentary evidenceof these qualfications. Applications willnot be processed without documentaryevidence of these qualfications.

How to ApplyApplication packages are available fromSeptember for admission the following yearand should be completed according to theinstructions issued. You must clearly statethe subject teaching area(s) for which youare making application. The closing datefor receipt of completed applications is1 November 2011. Early application isencouraged to enable arrangements to be


Tuition fees and Student

Support Arrangements

From September 2006 new arrangementsfor the payment of university fees cameinto effect. Fees will become part of a loanwhich will be paid back, via the UnitedKingdom tax system, when graduates areworking and earning more than £15,000 ayear. Students on courses of initial teachertraining (ITT) in Queen’s University arepresently charged £3,375. ITT students canapply to their local Education and LibraryBoard (ELB) for a tuition fee loan and helptowards living costs. A single applicationform (PN1) is used for applying for a feeloan, loans for living costs and Governmentmaintenance grants.

Further details can be found on theStudent Finance Northern Ireland websitewww.studentfinanceni.co.uk, or on theQueen’s homepage.

Non-United Kingdom EU students will paythe same fees as UK-resident students, andwill also be able to defer payment. Theyare not entitled to government grants,bursaries or loans for living costs. Whenoffered a place they should apply to theEuropean Team, Student Loans Company,

Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington,Co Durham, DL3 9BG, Tel. 0141 243 3570for an application form for a fee loan.Website:www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/eustudents

Candidates will normally be regarded asinternational for ‘fees purposes’ if theyhave not been resident permanently in anEU country for reasons other than

education for three years prior to entry tothe University and if they do not have‘settled status’. Evidence of settled status isnormally provided by a stamp in theirpassport indicating that they haveindefinite leave to remain. It is the countryof domicile and not nationality which isone of the main factors in determining feestatus.

Head of School

Prof John Gardner

Director of Initial Teacher EducationDr. William McClune

3.1 Appendix: Staff List.School of Education

Methods Tutors

Dr Joy Alexander, English

Dr Joe Allen,Information Technology and Mathematics

Dr Pamela Cowan,Mathematics and Information Technology

Dr Ruth Jarman, Science

Dr William McClune, Physics and Chemistry

Ms Lesley McEvoy,Sociology, Politics, RE and Citizenship

Dr Claire McGlynn,Science, Diversity Education

Dr Eugene McKendry, Modern Languages

Dr Hugh Morrison, Mathematics

Dr Colette Murphy, Biology

Ms Realtan Ni Leannain,Modern Languages

Dr Ron Smith, Special Needs

Dr Patrick Walsh, English

Secretaries to the Initial teacherEducation Division

Claire Shannon

Margaret Kennedy

Technical Staff

Alastair Edwards

Alan Reid

Stephen Whiteside


The School of Education

Queen’s University69/71 University StreetBELFAST BT7 1HL

Telephone: 028 9097 5941Fax: 028 9097 5066Email: [email protected]/edu

CDS 66004 This publication is also available in alternative formats onrequest, including large print, Braille, tape, audio CD andDaisy CD.For further information, please contact the University’sPublications and Website Unit on +44 (0)28 9097 5332.

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School of Education Postgraduate Certificate in Education ... · Postgraduate Certificate in Education 2012/2013 UNIVERSITY STREET UNIVERSITY ROAD AVENUE BOTANIC RUGBY ROAD UPPER