Teacher Training at St Martin's College

St Martin's College has a national and international reputation for producing excellent teachers. It is the largest teacher-training institution in the UK and has been rated extremely highly by Ofsted inspectors.

The PGCE secondary programme provides an excellent, practical route into teaching the 11-18 age range. On successful completion of the one-year course, you will receive a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Lancaster University together with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Subject Areas

They currently offer standard one-year courses in English, Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), Information Technology, Modern Foreign Languages, History, Geography, Religious Education and Art. They also offer two year conversion courses in Mathematics and Information Technology and a variant of the Modern Foreign Languages course (based in London) which combines the PGCE with a French or German language teaching qualification.

• A subject curriculum studies course in your chosen subject area;
• A smaller general professional studies course (GPS), studied alongside trainees from other subject areas.

Both components are taught in College and school by means of regular tutorials.

Key People in the PGCE Training

You will benefit from outstanding support and mentoring – not only from College tutors but also from the teachers in the placement schools.

College tutors are all experienced teachers themselves and deal with the practical and theoretical aspects of teaching. They provide tutorial support and visit you on your school placements.

School mentors are teachers in the placement schools who are trained to give you advice and support in the classroom. They work closely with St Martin's and play a key role in the assessment of trainees.

Assessment

There are no examinations on the PGCE course. Instead you have to demonstrate that you have met all the national standards for QTS and that you have achieved an appropriate academic level in teaching-related subjects. The former is achieved through an ongoing Portfolio of Professional Development. The latter is demonstrated by a series of written assignments related to work in school. Additionally all candidates for QTS have to pass the national tests for literacy, numeracy and ICT.

Government Incentives

Given the shortage of teachers in the UK, the British government is now offering a £6000 salary to all trainee teachers during their PGCE year, plus a further £4000 for shortage subjects at the beginning of their second year of employment in a school. As we already recruit students from other European countries to our Modern Foreign Languages programmes, we have decided to offer this opportunity in other subject areas too. This initiative has resulted in an ongoing programme with the University of Tampere in Finland who are offering the PGCE to their trainees as part of their Finnish teacher training. Of course, it is hoped that these teachers will at some point stay and teach in UK schools for a few years. St Martin's trainees have excellent employment prospects and tutors provide invaluable help with job applications.

Content Teaching through a Foreign Language

The growth of content teaching through the medium of a foreign language throughout Europe has led to a demand for teachers, who are qualified in both their content subject and a foreign language. A PGCE in, for example, Geography is an excellent way for you to perfect your English, while at the same time learning the terminology and language of your subject. Furthermore, you will be able to broaden your methodological approaches and gain an in-depth knowledge of  resources available in English.

Location

You will be based in one of the most beautiful areas of the country, in Lancaster or Carlisle. You will also receive a substantial amount of help with finding accommodation and financial support is given for travel to and from your placement schools.

Entry Requirements

In order to apply for a PGCE course you should hold, on entry, a degree or a recognised degree equivalent qualification in the subject you wish to teach. You must also have an English language qualification if English is not part of your degree.

These include:

ELTS (International English Language Testing Service from the British Council and the University of Cambridge) passed at a minimum of 6.0 (www.britishcouncil.org.uk)

Certificate of Proficiency in English from the University of Cambridge with a minimum of grade C (http://www.cambridge-efl.org.uk)

TOEFL test: passed at a minimum of  213 points (www.toefl.org), 550 points if you take the “normal” written test 

If you hold other qualifications you should consult the College. 

Interviews

All applicants to the course undergo an interview, which is a two-way process. We try to enable candidates to experience our teaching techniques and learn as much as possible about the training we provide.  Although interviews normally take place in Lancaster, it may well be possible to arrange an interview in your own country.  

Course Structure

The course lasts 36 weeks (from mid-September to early July), of which 24 weeks are spent in school. You will be placed in two different schools: School A (from September - January) and School B (from February/March - July). In addition, you will gain experience of primary and post-16 institutions.

The course can be divided into the following phases:

Mid-September to early October: College-based sessions introducing the principles of teaching the subject.

Early October to January/February: On-going teaching practice in School A supported by college sessions arranged in a variable weekly pattern. Observation and work with small groups of pupils. Four week “block teaching practice.” 

February/March: Four weeks of college-based work building on experience so far and focusing on older pupils (14 -18) and GCSE/ “A” level work. Preparation for main block practice in School B.

March to Late June: Block placement in School B. Broader teaching experience encompassing all age groups (11-18).

Early July: Final college-based sessions.

How to apply

You should apply through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR).

It is now possible to apply on-line at www.gttr.ac.uk

Otherwise you will need to request an application form from:

GTTR, Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham GLOS   GL52 3LZ  UK      

Tel: 00 44 1242 544 788

Further Information

Fran Higgin - Postgraduate Admissions Officer,  Lancaster Campus
Telephone: 00 44 1524 384500    Fax: 00 44 1524 384567   
or email   f.higgin@ucsm.ac.uk

Janet Streeter – Senior Lecturer Modern Languages & European Recruitment Co-ordinator, Carlisle Campus
Telephone: 00 44 1228 616234
or email j.streeter@ucsm.ac.uk