PGCert Secondary Education (Science with Chemistry) with Recommendation for QTS

Pre-professional Course Attributes

Essential

• The ability to communicate effectively in both spoken and written English. If selected for interview, you will be expected to interact effectively with university tutors and school colleagues and demonstrate the potential to form positive and productive relationships with colleagues and pupils in schools and in professional learning contexts.

• Professional Skills Tests. In order to gain the award of Qualified Teacher Status, all student teachers are required to pass the skills tests in Numeracy and Literacy (further details below).

• An awareness of the Teachers\xc2\x92 Standards (DFE, 2012).

• An enthusiastic and energetic approach which communicates clearly your commitment to teaching and working with young people

Pre-professional Course Knowledge

Essential

• An undergraduate degree related to the field in which you intend to teach. Normally this should be second class honours or above. We consider relevant higher degrees

• Maths and English grades A* to C or equivalent at GCSE level.

• Modules within your pre professional degree course should provide a foundation of preparatory knowledge for the subject you are applying to teach.

• An informed personal philosophy on the aims of your subject area, drawing on relevant reading and research.

• An understanding of statutory requirements for your subject area within the state school sector

• An awareness of recent government policy or initiatives in education and your subject area.

Pre-professional Course Skills

Essential

Apply 1

• Recent and relevant experience of state funded school education in England through team teaching or observing with experienced teachers. This should normally be pre professional teaching experience where you have had the opportunity to develop relationships with a group(s) of pupils over a sustained period of time.

• Professional Skills Tests - via the main application cycle, Brunel University London will accept applications for PGCert courses within Education prior to completion of the Teaching Agency Skills Tests. If you are offered a place on one of the courses and have yet to meet the requirements of passing the Skills Tests then your offer will be conditional on passing these tests by the 30 June.

Apply 2

• Apply 2 will be dealt with on a case by case basis, however the expectation is that you have already passed the required tests at the point of application to Brunel University London.

Desirable

• Pre-professional preparation school experience should be across two phases of education ie Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

• Evidence that you have planned, delivered and reflected on teaching or coaching episodes to pupils or young people in either educational contexts or within a learning community.

The Application Process

Following receipt of you application form from the UCAS Teacher Training there are three stages:

• Stage One: Initial screening by the Admissions Office for status, degree classification and GCSE requirements. In the case of some overseas qualifications, Brunel International may be consulted about the equivalence of these with British qualifications;

• Stage Two: Applications will then be passed to Admissions Tutors for the PGCert course you are applying to. The form will be scrutinised according to the criteria set out above and will be used to form the basis of questions if you are invited for interview;

• Stage Three: Those applicants successful at stage 2 will be invited to Brunel. This stage of the process will involve an introduction to the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCert) course within the context of the Brunel Partnership; an interview with University and school based staff; documents checks by Admissions staff. In addition there will be subject specific activities which will include some of the following: a written exercise; a subject knowledge audit and/or test; a presentation. Further details will be provided if you are invited for interview.

• Following the interview we will consider all components of the process and Brunel Admissions will inform you of our decision as soon as possible.

• It is important to realise that the above criteria are the ones we will use in assessing your application. Judgements are based on considerable experience within the Secondary Brunel Partnership which is validated by regular quality enhancement procedures.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS: 7 (min 6 in all areas)

• Pearson: 64 (51 in all subscores)

• BrunELT: 70% (min 60% in all areas)