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PGCE Mathematics

Academic Year 2018/19

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.

Programme Title

PGCE Mathematics

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

Postgraduate Certificate in Education

Programme Code

EDU-PGC-MA

UCAS Code

HECoS Code

100512

ATAS Clearance Required

Health Check Required

Yes

Portfolio Required

Interview Required

An offer of a place on the course is subject to conditions including an acceptable performance at interview.

Mode of Study

Full Time

Type of Programme

Postgraduate

Length of Programme

1 Academic Year(s)

Total Credits for Programme

Exit Awards available

INSTITUTE INFORMATION

Awarding Institution/Body

Queen's University Belfast

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

Social Sciences, Education and Social Work

Framework for Higher Education Qualification Level
www.qaa.ac.uk

Level 7

QAA Benchmark Group
www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

Accreditations (PSRB)

REGULATION INFORMATION

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

N/A

Programme Specific Regulations

The course extends over 36 weeks, 24 of which are spent in schools. The outline is as follows:

Induction week
2 weeks in primary school
6 weeks in Queen's
11 weeks in post-primary school (1) - usually an 11-16 school
4 weeks in Queen's
11 weeks in post-primary school (2) - usually an 11-18 school
1 week in Queen’s.

See Student Handbook for full details.

The Queen's based parts of the course can be sub-divided as follows:

Subject-based work (seminars, groups, micro-teaching, peer support, focusing on subject specific issues, cross-curricular skills);
Tutorial discussion groups (focusing on general educational and professional issues);
General lectures (focusing on general educational and professional issues);
ICT Support sessions including online course creation;
Workshops (on statutory topics: Curriculum, Learning and Assessment; Pastoral Care; Diversity, Inclusion and Additional Needs Education and The Teacher as a Professional).

Assessment of PGCE

The course will be examined by the assessment of:

(i) teaching competence i.e. the School Placement module (level 6). Pass mark 40%;
(ii) coursework based on Mathematics Studies and Educational and Professional Studies modules (level M / 7). Pass mark 50%.

Each element of coursework must be submitted by the date specified in the course handbooks. All modules must be passed to be awarded the PGCE qualification.

Candidates must show competence in practical teaching before being awarded the PGCE. Where candidates fail in practical teaching, arrangements may be agreed which allow the candidates to be re-assessed after further school-based practice.

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

Yes
Students are required to be checked for "Fitness To Teach".

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

The PGCE course is governed by the requirements of the Teacher Education Handbook (DENI, 1999) and the teaching competences contained in the GTC(NI) document, ‘Teaching: the Reflective Profession’ (2011). These competences are divided into 5 areas:

Professional Values and Practice
Professional Knowledge and Understanding
Professional Skills and Application: Planning and Leading
Professional Skills and Application: Teaching and Learning
Professional Skills and Application: Assessment

These are covered in the following aims which encompass the three course modules. The course aims:

to provide some of the essential background that students will need to understand when working in classrooms and schools;
to encourage students to reflect on pedagogy as a systematic discipline that can be theorised and researched with a view to developing more effective practice;
to encourage students to reflect on how children learn with a view to optimising their learning through effective pedagogical approaches;
to enable students to develop their competence and confidence in teaching their subject(s);
to enable students to develop their understanding of the professional role of a teacher;
to enable students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the post-primary curriculum;
to enable students to develop their teaching methodologies and strategies for managing teaching and learning effectively at the classroom level;
to enable students to develop their subject knowledge and application;
to enable students to develop their skills in assessing pupils’ learning;
to make links between theory and practice in the context of a school placement;
to develop teaching competence sufficient to meet the standards for the award of qualified teacher status within the Northern Ireland teaching competence framework;
to develop confidence in working in a professional environment;
to gain experience of different types of school contexts.