PGCE Secondary, Geography  PGCE Secondary, Geography University of the West of England, Bristol ../webroot/files/Institutions/cover_photo/1534159324University-of-the-West-of-England,-Bristol.jpg

The Secondary Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one academic year (36 week) course that trains graduates to be secondary school teachers of Geography. The PGCE programme has been designed to train teachers for the full secondary age phase (11-18). Trainees are assessed against the standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in two key stages, normally KS3 and KS4. In the first half of the autumn term, some trainees may seek to change this to Key Stage 4 and post-16, this will be subject to discussion with the Programme Leader. The course is active and practical allowing trainees to develop professional competence through work undertaken in schools and in the University. Trainees work with young people, develop their expertise in their specialist subject area, share and discuss educational issues and study relevant educational research. The course is just the beginning of what we hope will be a process of continual professional development throughout a challenging and rewarding career. The PGCE Secondary Programme has been awarded a Grade 1 (outstanding) for Management and Quality Assurance from OfSTED (Office for Standards in Education) and all of the nine subjects have received good or very good OfSTED grades. We aim to help you to develop: - your skills, knowledge and understanding of geography as set out in the National Curriculum, GCSE, ASA2 and of the contribution of geography to Advanced VCE courses - activities that promote an enquiry-based approach to teaching and learning - fieldwork and other geographical skills, such as mapwork, the use of photographs, satellite images and ICT - an appreciation of the importance of geography in the school curriculum and its contribution to other areas of the curriculum including citizenship and environmental education - knowledge of teaching and learning approaches in other humanities subjects including history and religious education - your use of technology, including active learning techniques with videos and ICT within a geography context - your sensitivity to the teaching of the many important and controversial issues that arise in our subject We offer a course that has access to a wide range of resources to help you plan your school and university-based work. You will have practical teaching experience in two differing schools and will be supported by tutors and mentors from both schools and the University. The course sets out to support trainee teachers make the most of their year working in partnership with the University and our partner schools. Ultimately it is about making our subject stimulating, exciting and relevant to the students of today's classroom. Placements 24 weeks are spent on placement: a total of eight weeks in one placement during the autumn term and 16 weeks in a second placement during the spring and summer. As well as teaching, the programme includes contact time with a Senior Professional Tutor and a Subject Mentor, directed study time and personal study time. There is an opportunity to spend time in a primary school and some students may also visit other institutions, such as special schools or colleges of further education.