Course overview
This course is delivered full-time and part-time across a range of colleges in our Teesside University Collaborative Partnership. The full-time course is a pre-service award for those intending to teach in the sector and is offered at Darlington College and Stockton Riverside College. The full-time course, delivered at Stockton Riverside College, is specifically for those wanting to be adult literacy or numeracy specialists. The part-time award is offered at Darlington College, Hartlepool College of Further Education, and Stockton Riverside College. It is available as an in-service award if you are currently employed in teaching or training in the sector. If you are not in a paid teaching post, a pre-service part-time route is available but you must be able to find your own teaching practice.
Due to government changes, if you complete this award you may also be able to gain employment in a secondary school setting, particularly in the post-14 age range - subject to the completion of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS).This course has been developed to embed The Professional Standards for Teachers and Trainers in Education and Training, and it combines academic study with substantial placement experience and observation of practice.
Both full-time and part-time routes cover a range of topics including planning and assessment, theories and principles for enabling learning, curriculum design and development plus being a professional in the sector. You study specialist modules if you choose to follow the literacy or numeracy subject-specialist programme. Your award title on qualification will also reflect your chosen specialist route, rather than the generic award title. Trainees also attend two full day conferences alongside trainees from across the partnership.
Course details
Course structure
Core modules
Developing Learning and Teaching
You gain a comprehensive and practical toolkit for approaching teaching in creative ways. You experience and explore a variety of approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. You develop as a teacher who motivates and inspire learners to succeed; consistently evaluates and reflects on your own practice; and possesses the practical skills required for successful classroom practice. The module focuses on the creation of positive learning environments; ensuring inclusion and diversity; developing critical reflective practice; the ability to manage data; make evidence informed decisions and forecast outcomes. You evidence your progression towards the professional standards for the sector.
Enhancing Learning and Teaching
Evidence Informed Learning and teaching
This module underpins the skills that are being developed in the classroom, with educational theory. Fundamental learning, teaching and assessment theories are critically explored, together with more contemporary theories and methods. The module contributes to more advanced strategies and allows you to focus specifically on a specialist subject. You underpin practical classroom practice with contemporary theory and professional standards to explore the evidence base of your subject specialism.
This is a 15-credit module.
Thinking in Learning and Teaching
You critically explore and analyse the impact of government policy, curriculum theory and professional standards on the sector and consider quality processes and their impact. You explore wider perceptions of education and training and discuss the importance of continuous personal and professional development in view of trends in the sector and within your teaching specialism.
Core modules (Adult Literacy Specialist award only)
Learning and Teaching in Literacy
This module provides you with a comprehensive and practical toolkit for approaching teaching literacy and English in creative ways in a range of contexts, and it encourages you to consistently evaluate and reflect on your own practice. You focus on developing approaches to effective learning and teaching of literacy; formative, summative and ongoing assessment of literacy skills; planning for individual students and groups of students to ensure effective progress in literacy; creating and managing effective, inclusive teaching environments; embedding English and maths across the curriculum; and using technology to enhance the teaching of literacy and English. You explore the development of these areas with specific reference to your own experience and practice. You are guided towards developing and organising your subject knowledge to meet the needs of your learners.
Core modules (Adult Numeracy Specialist award only)
Learning and Teaching in Numeracy
This module provides you with a comprehensive and practical toolkit for teaching numeracy and mathematics in creative ways in a range of contexts and encourages you to consistently evaluate and reflect on your own practice. It focuses on developing approaches to effective learning and teaching of numeracy; formative, summative and ongoing assessment of numeracy skills; planning for individual students and groups of students to ensure effective progress in numeracy; creating and managing effective, inclusive teaching environments; embedding English and maths across the curriculum; and using technology to enhance the teaching of numeracy and mathematics. You explore the development of these areas with specific reference to your own experience and practice. You are guided towards developing and organising your subject knowledge to meet the needs of your learners.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
Generally you are taught through seminars, lectures and workshops. A range of specialist tutors contribute to your lecture and seminar sessions - these are supported through our virtual learning environment where you access a range of resources to support course activities.
The course has a substantial element of teaching practice - vital to your learning and development as a practitioner. In addition, you are encouraged to develop your teaching skills by observing experienced practitioners, using simulations and/or training classes, and by watching good practice video footage.
Your practice mentor supports your time on placement and helps you develop reflective practice skills as an aid to your learning and professional development. The course also helps develop your employability skills. You develop an individual learning portfolio which holistically tracks your development over the programme with specific reference to your academic and teaching skills.
How you are assessed
Assessment on this course has been designed to assess trainees’ knowledge, their professional skills and their ability to integrate the theoretical and the practical aspects of their experience. Approaches to assessment have been designed to align with professional standards for the sector.
The overall assessment load has been carefully considered to prevent overload or the bunching of assessments whilst also ensuring that all aspects of the course remain fully integrated and the experience of trainees is a fully holistic one. Throughout the course approaches to assessment are actively modelled for, and discussed with, trainees as an essential aspect of the teacher training process
Specific assessment tasks include completing a Professional Standards Portfolio, an academic poster, observations of teaching practice, and written assessments such as writing a critical evaluation and a journal-style article.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
GCSE (or standard equivalent) in English grade C (4) or above.
Level 3 or equivalent in the intended subject specialism.
Satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
A teaching practice placement of at least 100 hours in an appropriate context.
Successful completion of a formal interview that demonstrates:
• intellectual and academic suitability for the course;
• appropriate attitudes and values expected of a teacher working in the education and training sector;
• the ability to communicate clearly and accurately in standard English.
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Entry requirements
If you are offered a place, we will write to you with the conditions of your offer.
Although you can make multiple applications, you are only able to accept one offer. You will be asked to accept or decline on receipt of an offer letter.
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Work placement
Trainees will undertake a significant teaching practice placement that will form an integral part of their training as a teacher. During their placement trainees will receive support from a designated mentor who will provide formative feedback verbally and in writing.
Mentors receive detailed information about the course and their role and are required to undertake mentor training (this is available via face-to-face sessions, on a 1-2-1 basis or via completion of a distance training package). There is regular communication between mentors and the University-based teaching team.
During placement trainees will continue to be supported by tutors
Career opportunities
Appropriate careers are in the full teaching role in learning and skills sector educational contexts. Graduates go on to work in a variety of professions including further education colleges and training organisations, secondary schools or higher education. Other students have taken the opportunity to further their studies on relevant continuing professional development or masters’ courses at the University.
