PGCE Primary Education with Primary Languages, Italian (Bedford campus)

Course title:	PGCE Primary Education with Primary Languages, Italian
Apply:	online direct to the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR)
Code:	XR3C
Start (ft):	September
Mode:	full-time
Duration:	1 year full-time
Location:	Bedford campus, Polhill Avenue
Faculty:	Faculty of Education & Sport
Department:	Department of Primary Education

Summary

The course offers an in-depth and high-quality qualification in primary school teacher training, leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The 38-week, three-unit course
is run in partnership with local schools and prepares you to teach the 5-11 age range.

The year has a professional emphasis with a minimum of 90 days (18 weeks) spent in schools in a series of week and block placements. School experience is a crucial element of the course and you will undertake two different school placements. You will experience Key Stage 1 and 2 (although not necessarily in sequential order). Over the course of the placements you will have increasing responsibility for a whole class.

The course is divided into three units. It is a Master’s level course. Two of the units carry 30 Master level credits each. All three units are assessed for QTS. The taught elements are made up of the following: Perspectives, Values, Principles and Beliefs of Education, Professional Development Planning and Learning and Teaching – the curriculum. The sessions run weekly throughout the course. The content of the course presents issues that relate to teaching and learning, classroom management, assessment and reporting, as well as topics such as behaviour and inclusion. The teaching is made up of a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials with additional support from mentors and professional tutors in schools when out on placements.

Students follow the same course as other Primary PGCE students, but with slight timetable modifications to allow you to study these aspects of Primary Languages teaching:
Language tuition in Italian
Pedagogical approaches to teaching a modern foreign language to primary children, including specific practical teaching and learning ideas and activities
Planning, teaching and assessing the primary languages curriculum
Primary languages across the curriculum
Cultural awareness and understanding

Students teach across the curriculum in two consecutive age phases in primary schools, with Primary Italian as an additional subject, gaining confidence and competence to teach a modern foreign language throughout the primary age range, while qualifying (as for the mainstream PGCE) as a generalist primary class teacher.

As part of your UK school placements, you will a primary language alongside all other curriculum areas. Between your two major UK placements, you will undertake an additional (non-assessed) four-week placement in an Italian school with a link to an Italian university. The teaching is made up of a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials with additional support from mentors and teacher-tutors in schools when out on placements.

The course is assessed through successful completion the school placements, and also a written research project and on-line reflective journal. Additionally, students are required to be secure in all the national standards set out for QTS, including passing the QTS skills tests in Maths, English and ICT.

Why choose this course?

Offers the opportunity to become a first-class Primary teacher with Italian as an additional subject
You may be eligible for a tax-free bursary of £4000 (correct for 2008 entry)
You will undertake at least 90 days of practical school placement
For both Spanish and Italian, appropriate language tuition is offered as part of the course
We have an impressive record for training teachers

Student Comments

“The modern languages sessions were fun with lots of practical activities. They helped in other areas of my teaching too. The month abroad was fantastic! I’m looking forward to teaching languages in my new school.”
PGCE Primary Education with primary languages (PL) student

Career Opportunities

The PGCE qualification is required for entry into the teaching profession. This course is recognised both by schools and Ofsted as being of ‘good’ quality. As Primary Languages are introduced into the Key Stage 2 curriculum from September 2009, teachers capable of delivering this strand will be very much in demand. Anyone with an interest in Primary Languages should make this clear in their application, as places are limited.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies

The teaching is made up of a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials with additional support from mentors and teacher-tutors in schools when out on placements.

Assessment

The course is assessed through successful completion of the second and third school experiences and also a series of tasks and written assignments.

You are required to be secure in all national standards set out for QTS. The whole course is focused on your monitoring and recording of the standards.

Further details about the course

Areas of study include
Perspectives, Values, Principles and Beliefs of Education
Learning and Teaching – the curriculum
Professional Development Portfolio – reflective journal

Entry requirements

Candidates should possess a second class Honours degree, or above. All applicants must have GCSE grade C (or equivalent) in English, Mathematics and Science. All GCSE requirements must be fulfilled at the time of application. All candidates must have some recent and relevant experience (a minimum of two weeks – 5 days in Key Stage 1 and 5 days in Key Stage 2) of working with children in a mainstream school.

We actively encourage applications from mature students and those thinking of returning to education. We also welcome applications from international students. Preliminary interviews are possible over the telephone to determine eligibility. Students who do not have GCSE grade C in English need to have an average IELTS score of 6.0 on each of the four areas. All suitable applicants will be interviewed, consisting of an English test, Maths test, collaborative group interview and one to one interview. All applicants will undergo a check by the Criminal Records Bureau.

You will need to demonstrate an interest in, and aptitude for, language learning. You may have a language as part of your degree or at A level, or you may have lower
formal qualifications coupled with some experience of working in another language.
For Italian we can accept some candidates who are beginners in this language but who also have substantial knowledge of others in the same linguistic family (for example, French or Spanish). Pre-enrolment work is suggested, and appropriate language tuition is offered as part of the course.

Fees, Bursaries, Scholarships, Costs

UK and EU students receive a £4,000 tax free bursary from the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA). Visit www.tda.gov.uk for more details.

Find out more

Applications for PGCE courses are made online through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). www.gttr.ac.uk

To enquire about this course please contact the Recruitment and Admissions team at Bedford campus.
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1234 793279
F: +44 (0)1234 793277

Related Links

• Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR)
• Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)

Related courses

PGCE Primary Education (Bedford campus)

• PGCE Primary Education (Bedford campus)

Further Study Opportunities

Education MA (Bedford campus)

• Education MA (Bedford campus)

General Enquiries

• www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply for information about standard entry requirements, application routes, open days, fees and funding.
• T: +44 (0)1582 489286 UK/EU Admissions
• T: +44 (0)1582 489326 International Admissions
• Order a prospectus form. Enquire about courses and order a printed undergraduate or postgraduate prospectus.
• T: +44 (0)1234 400 400 University switchboard