Top reasons to choose this course
- Learn with an Ofsted 'good' provider.
- Fully supported placements to grow your knowledge, skills and confidence.
- In addition to your PGCE, you can apply for Qualified Teaching and Learning Skill status (QTLS) once you have completed the course and are in employment.
- Excellent employment rates for our graduates with most gaining their first teaching post soon after graduation.
- Be taught by an expert team of further education practitioners.
- At university you’ll have access to over 30,000 specialist resources including books, DVDs, games and an online catalogue in our curriculum centre.
Course structure
This course is delivered through taught sessions at the Falmer campus and on placement in a further education setting.
Taught sessions at the university normally take place on a Wednesday where you will build on and enhance your strengths. Sessions include seminars and tutorials, self-directed study, peer-teaching sessions, practical workshops, shared expertise sessions with leading practitioners, and reflexive learning.
You will spend two days a week teaching, under supervision, in one of our local partnerships which include further education colleges, sixth form colleges, a land-based college (Plumpton) as well as Lewes Prison, DV8 and the Connected Hub.
Our tutors and mentors will advise and support you throughout your placement. You will receive comprehensive feedback during this time which will enable you to see what you are doing well and where you might need to improve.
Areas of study
This course is made up of four modules each comprising 30 CATS (Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme) points and the final award provides 120 points at either professional or postgraduate level.
Modules
- Teaching my Subject
- Teaching Practice 1
- Teaching Practice 2
- Teacher as Researcher
Course content is kept up to date with changes in local and national initiatives and legislation, so you will be confident that your working knowledge is based on current theory and practice.
Some of the specialist areas trainees have studied on this course includes English, maths, art and design, music tech/performance, sociology, health, hairdressing, psychology, sport, sport science, law, history, business, engineering and science.
Placements
You'll undertake two placements on this course.
The first is required to be a minimum of 250 hours in duration, with at least 150 hours of teaching practice, enabling you to gain a full sense of the everyday activities of a teacher. Of the 150 teaching hours, at least 100 should be in your subject area. You'll be expected to gain experience of remote teaching alongside face-to-face delivery.
The second placement must be for at least 20 hours. These hours can be observation, CPD and other activities to give a sense of the approach within that area.
Our staff will ensure that you are well prepared throughout your placement, and that you have all the support and guidance needed to make the most of these opportunities.
You will start by observing teachers, then with assisting and team teaching, before taking responsibility for planning, delivering and assessing learning yourself.
You will have additional time to find out about the extent of the work of the organisation, including areas of specific interest such as learning support and quality assurance.
Key aims of placements
- Advance the development of your professional attributes, skills, knowledge and understanding.
- Provide practical and specific experiences that enable you to critically analyse your professional practice and take responsibility for your own professional development.
- Enable you to work collaboratively with colleagues in order to develop an understanding of the ways in which the attainment, development and well-being of all learners can be achieved with a unified support and teaching system.
- Provide opportunities that enable you to adopt a creative and constructively critical approach towards your practice, supported by appropriate reading and research.
During your placement, university tutors, college mentors and teachers will support you and take shared responsibility for your professional development.
Organising your college-based training
Our Partnership Office will organise your placement for you which will be in a college or sixth form setting. We work hard to ensure that you have placement opportunities that will give you valuable and varied experiences in the area of education in which you are interested.
How it works
We will ask you to complete a placement information form when you start your course, and will use this information to match you to a suitable placement. We will consider your previous experience, travelling distance, the subject you wish to teach, and your current needs.
Once we have matched you with a placement, the team in the Partnership Office will confirm the placement as quickly as possible with the college or organisation. They will then contact you with the confirmed details. Almost all of our placements are with partner schools or organisations in south-east England, the majority in East and West Sussex.
Meet the course leader
Belinda Garlick
"I joined the University of Brighton as course lead and partnership coordinator for the Further Education and Skills PGCE in September 2021.
"Prior to joining the university, I had 10 years of experience teaching in Further Education colleges in both London and Brighton. My subject specialism was Sport and Physical Education, which I taught until I moved over to teacher training in September 2019.
"Alongside my teaching roles at college, I was a teaching and learning coach for six years, working regularly with other teachers in the sector to assist in improving their practice. I also mentored PGCE trainees each year and hold a master’s level mentoring qualification.
"My passion is research informed education practice, and this underpins my teaching. I enjoy encouraging my trainees to be reflective practitioners who experiment with their teaching and make informed decisions on the methods that are the most effective for student learning.
"I work alongside a partnership of five colleges in Sussex and Surrey to provide the best career and networking opportunities for our trainees, both during their qualification and into their future teaching careers."
Ofsted
Graded 'good' by Ofsted for further education in our 2024 Initial Teacher Education inspection.
Ofsted commended us on many aspects of our courses saying:
- Trainees shine at Brighton’s long-established and highly impressive teacher training programmes.
- The care and dedication shown by staff towards trainees is superb.
- Trainees are at the heart of everything. They are valued and expertly supported throughout the course.
- The curriculum skilfully equips trainees in safeguarding, behaviour management and supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- Trainees impress the placement settings they work in because of their professionalism and aptitude to apply what they have learned.
Partner college courses
Full-time and part-time post-16 teacher education courses are also offered by our partner colleges including routes for those currently teaching, or who will have a guaranteed post in the further education and training sector for the academic year in which the course starts.
Upon successful completion, you will receive either a PGCE or a Certificate in Education from the University of Brighton.
You can choose to study at:
- Bexhill College
- East Sussex College Group
- Brighton MET
- Plumpton College
- Reigate College.
Our partner colleges provide access to specialist facilities and knowledge, and offer the opportunity of being able to study locally whilst working towards a university qualification. You'll also have access to University of Brighton facilities including student support services, study support, the Brighton Students’ Union and library and computing resources.
Find out more about the courses and how to apply on our partners websites.
Useful links
The following organisations provide further information about the further education and training sector.
- Education and Training Foundation is a government-backed, sector-led national support body for the further education and training sector.
- Society for Education and Training is the only membership body dedicated to professionals working across further education, vocational teaching and training.
- Association of Colleges represent and promote the interests of colleges, and provide members with high-quality professional support services, including training, events, and recruitment.