Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (Lifelong Learning)

If you’re looking to progress into a career teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector, including sixth form and further education colleges, adult education and a wide range of other training and educational settings, then this course could be ideal for you. We welcome applicants with industrial skills and/or relevant academic qualifications and a passion for teaching and training others.

Why Lifelong Learning?

• Upon successful completion of this course, you may be eligible to proceed to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, following 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.

• During the course you’ll have the opportunity to develop the skills to play a full part in teaching and curriculum development.

• We know there’s no substitute for the classroom environment, so we’ll give you the opportunity to go on placement with one of our partnership institutions. On your placement you’ll be able to observe experienced teachers, gain practical hands-on experience and benefit from one-to-one mentoring to help develop the skills you’ll need to become an outstanding and effective teacher.

Occasional changes to modules and course content may take place. Trainees will be notified when applicable.

Upon successful completion of your postgraduate studies, progression onto the following programmes may be of interest: - Masters in Education Studies

Upon successful completion of this course, you may be eligible to proceed, following a process of professional formation through the Society for Education and Training to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status. This is the full professional status for teachers in the Lifelong Learning Sector.

Core Modules:
Year 1

• Research Informed Teaching, Learning and Assessment
• Becoming a Subject Specialist Teacher (Practice Based)

Year 2

• Being a Subject Specialist Teacher (Practice Based)
• Curriculum and Context

Work-Based Practice (In- service):
You should be in employment as a teacher or trainer at a recognised training or educational establishment. The work-based practice hours for each practice-based module should be at least 125 hours in duration, of which at least 75 hours should be teaching practice (totalling 250 hours). The balance constitutes your professional practice hours and can include a range of activities, including team meetings, planning, interviews, assessment meetings, observations and/or provider wide CPD sessions. These activities should be supported by reflection and self-evaluation. A minimum of 10 hours of remote synchronous delivery should be included per practice-based module, (totalling 20 hours) alongside a minimum of 40 hours face to face delivery.

Placement (pre-service):
The placement hours for each practice-based module should be at least 250 hours in duration, of which at least 75 hours should be teaching practice. The balance constitutes your professional practice hours and can include a range of activities, including team meetings, planning, interviews, assessment meetings, observations and/or provider wide CPD sessions. These activities should be supported by reflection and self-evaluation. A minimum of 10 hours of remote synchronous delivery should be included per practice-based module, (totalling 20 hours) alongside a minimum of 40 hours face to face delivery. Your placements could be based in areas some distance from your point of study, so please be aware of potential associated travelling costs.

To improve your range of experience in the sector, your work-based practice across the year must include experience in another teaching location. Cumulatively, this must come to 20 hours across the year. The 20 hours experience can include observation of practice, CPD activities, etc rather than teaching practice. If it is not possible to source a second work-based practice/ placement, this could include observation of a different subject area and/or venue (e.g. alternative provision, 6th form) in the same provider. The 20 hours of experience in another work-based practice/ placement will be logged in the teaching portfolio that you will submit as part of the assessment requirements for the module titled ‘Being a Subject Specialist Teacher’