Design and Technology (Secondary) PGCE (PROFGCE)

• Degree: A good honours degree or equivalent, directly relevant to subject specialism. 
• GCSE: Minimum grade C in English language and mathematics. In-house equivalence tests are available for suitable candidates.
• Experience: Applicants will be expected to demonstrate recent and relevant experience of children in secondary schools and understanding of what it is to be a teacher.  
• Foundation degree/HND: Candidates with an art or design-based HND need to engage in further relevant study to obtain a degree before applying for the PGCE. Many BA courses accept HND students for a final year, and some offer a part-time two-year option for candidates who need to continue working.

English Language Requirement:                    

• IELTS 7.0 in all elements.

Graduates will be able to teach a wide variety of design and technology disciplines with a strong personal philosophy and a good understanding of issues related to teaching. They will be able to choose to focus on two of the following three areas:

• materials
• electronic and communication systems
• textiles.

There are four strands to this course: subject study/subject education, education studies, school placements and professional development.

Course content is kept up to date with changes in local and national initiatives and legislation, so you will be confident that your working knowledge is based on current theory and practice.

The subject study/subject education strand builds upon your existing expertise in design and technology and provides you with the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of design and technology in the secondary school context. You will consider the learning and teaching strategies that are relevant to the specialist subject. 

The subject education module is specifically related to teaching the specialist subject in school while the subject study module enables you to take your subject specialist studies to an increased depth. You can earn 20 masters-level credits through the assessment for the subject study module.

The education studies strand will give you a thorough understanding of the learning process itself, including an appreciation of individual differences. The study of the principles and practices of learning and teaching is through both school and university settings, allowing you to develop practical competences, supported by analytical skills. By the end of the course you will:

• refine your understanding of pedagogy, including an appreciation of current and emerging educational theories and debate
• understand how to use and adapt a range of teaching, learning, management and assessment strategies in order to meet the varying needs of learners
• understand how the progress and well-being of learners is affected by a range of influences and know how to take account of the principles of equality, inclusion and diversity.

Professional development is intrinsically linked to all key strands of the programme and is designed to enable you to evaluate critically and reflect upon your learning in order to make improvements. You will be expected to gather and justify evidence of your achievements on a regular basis and develop and implement improvement plans.

Students use an e-portfolio to record their achievements, and this is reviewed throughout the course. An action plan is used to support professional development during placements and makes up a significant part of the improvement planning process.

At the end of the course, the e-portfolio provides evidence that you have met the Teachers’ Standards for the award of Qualified Teacher Status.