Welcome to the University of Hertfordshire

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Welcome to the University of Hertfordshire

• Please take a seat

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About today
UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

• 10.30 Introductory talk
• 11.15 Break and reading
• 11.30 Written tasks
• 12.15 Tour of the campus
• 12.30 Lunch
• 1.30 Group interviews
• 2.00 Individual Interviews
• 4.00 End of the day

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The PGCE programme

• Campus based

• Flexi

• Around 500 applications each year
• 300 called for interview
• 120 places available

• Around 250 applications each year
• 180 called for interview
• 60 places available

Places vigorously contested !
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The PGCE programme

• The PGCE Primary Programme is 38 weeks full times
• 18 weeks are spent in schools
• 5 weeks first placement
• 10 weeks final placement
• 4 weeks (four days a week) research
• Flexi PGCE You choose your own rate of study (1
  year, 15 months, 18 months or 2 years)

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Campus based PGCE Structure

• Induction week
• 18 weeks in school
• Blended learning approach face to face sessions
  and online materials prepared by tutors on the
  programme

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Flexi PGCE - structure

• Induction week on campus
• One long weekend on campus in the first February
  of the programme
• 18 weeks in school
• Online, distance learning
• Tutor groups

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Campus Based PGCE Timetable commitments

• The programme begins in mid September and
  finishes in mid July
• You must plan to be on campus from 9 am to 5 pm
  every day, however you will finish at 1.00pm on
  Wednesdays
• Full attendance is required for taught courses
• When you are visiting schools you should be able
  to be in school from 8.15 - 5.00
• There will be no half term holidays
• There will be days for independent study

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Flexi PGCE How much time does it take?

• Expectations far more than you think!
• 1 year at least 5 full days per week
• 1 2 years 2.5 to 3.5 days per week
• Implications
• Is this course compatible with your current
  commitments?
• Full time / part time work/ domestic
  responsibilities?

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The PGCE programme

• The programme is very demanding
• Good organisational abilities are necessary
• The ability to be self motivated
• The ability to learn independently is essential

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Support

• Every student has a personal tutor
• You will have a placement mentor and a UH
  placement supervisor
• Student networks are vital and are set up during
  the first week. You are actively encouraged to
  use your colleagues as part of your learning
  journey.
• Counselling and student services are available,
  including hardship funds and financial advice

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Flexi PGCE Support

• Personal tutor and tutor group
• Subject tutors
• Peers
• Course tutor
• Administrator
• Placement tutor
• Mentor

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School Placements

• School placements are organised by the
  Partnership office which organises 800
  placements each year
• Most partnership schools are in Hertfordshire (or
  very near to Hertfordshire)
• The placement office does its best to ensure that
  your placements are as convenient as possible

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continued

• However you must be prepared for a certain amount
  of travel. Support is available for extra travel
  costs incurred.
• We ask trainee teachers to list areas that they
  would prefer and schools to avoid.
• We do not place trainees in the schools that they
  have strong personal connections with.
• Placements will be within our partnership area.
• Flexi students can find their own research
  placement

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Age Phases for placement for those registering on
PGCE Primary full-time and flexible routes from
September 2007 onwards The Training and
Development Agency (TDA) for teachers has
introduced a change to the requirement for
trainees placement experience. Trainees now
should undertake placements in two consecutive
phases taken from the list below Foundation
Stage ages 3-5 Key Stage 1 ages 5-7 Key Stage
2 ages 7-9 Key Stage 2 ages 9-11 This means
that it is now possible to carry out placements
in Key Stage 2 only.
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UH Placement Pathways Lower pathway Foundation
Stage and Key Stage 1 placements Middle
Pathway Key Stage 1 and 7-9 Key Stage 2
placements Upper pathway both 7-9 and 9-11 Key
Stage 2 placements Please note that this applies
to placements and to some specific differentiated
aspects of the programmes. The taught programme
prepares trainees to understand the development
and education of primary learners as a whole and
so will not be limited to material on one pathway.
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Assessment

• Qualified Teacher Status
• - You must pass all written assignments for
  taught courses (60 level 3 credits or 60 level M
  credits.)
• - You must pass both school placements (2 x 30
  level 3 credits)

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The interview - what we are looking for

• An enthusiasm for teaching and working with
  children
• Some evidence of having worked with children in a
  school setting
• The ability to reflect on the time spent working
  with children
• Some knowledge of the National Curriculum and
  Primary Education

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Continued

• The ability to communicate with a wide range of
  personnel, NOT just children
• The ability to work with other people
• The ability to communicate clearly in both
  written AND verbal English
• A willingness to engage at a Masters level of
  study

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After the interview

• You will be informed in writing by the GTTR of
  the Universitys decision

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If you are successful

• Let the GTTR AND the University know whether you
  wish to accept the offer that has been sent to
  you
• If you have conditions attached to the offer
  please let the ADMISSIONS OFFICE know IN WRITING
  when you have met these conditions, including any
  documentary evidence required - you will not be
  able to register unless you have met all the
  conditions AND we have received this information

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• Please ensure that you have original copies of
  your GCSE or equivalent certificates and your
  degree as we are required by law to check these.
  You will not be allowed to get QTS unless these
  have been checked and your registration will be
  held up
• If you have lost these please get in touch with
  the exam board responsible who should be able to
  verify your results (they keep records of ALL
  results)

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TDA Skills Tests

• You must take and pass the TDA skills tests in
  Maths, English and ICT
• These tests are taken online at official test
  centres (NOT UH)
• Once you have received a registration number
  (soon after you register) you may begin to take
  the tests
• You can take the tests as many times as you like
• You are informed immediately whether you have
  passed or not

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Fees

• Fees for 2010 still have to be agreed (in excess
  of 3,500).
• You may be eligible for
• A non means tested grant available from your LEA
• A further means tested grant can be applied for
• A student loan via the Student Loans Company
• You will have to pay the remaining fees only when
  you have qualified
• For further information contact your LEA and the
  TDA website (www.teach.gov.uk)

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Bursary

• If you are a home student you are eligible for
  a bursary of 4000. This is tax free and is paid
  directly to you each month. It is administered by
  the TDA, not the University and is paid once you
  are registered.
• You will be given a bursary form to fill in once
  you have met all the conditions of entry and can
  access the joining instructions in July/August

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Criminal convictions

• All convictions and official cautions will be
  revealed by the Enhanced Disclosure that will be
  requested at registration
• Please write to Teachers Misconduct Branch of
  DfES if you have any caution or conviction and
  they will advise you whether your
  caution/conviction would preclude you from
  teaching

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Needs Analysis

• Subject Knowledge Audit and target setting
• Knowledge and understanding of how to teach
  based on previous experience of working in
  school.

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Joining the programme

• Ensure that you access joining instructions on
  the University website in the months prior to
  starting the programme. These will be available
  to view in July / August once you have met all
  conditions of entry

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Written task

• Write an account entitled
• What makes an effective teacher?
• The quality of your written English will form
  part of the selection process.
• We will be looking at your ability to think and
  analyse as well as your spelling and grammar.
• Please make reference to the reading we have
  given you.
• You have a maximum of 45 minutes to complete the
  task.