Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Encyclopedia
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is a one-year course in England
, Wales
and Northern Ireland
for undergraduate degree
holders that allows them to train to be a teacher
.
In addition to the PGCE qualification itself, those taking the course in England or Wales are recommended for either English or Welsh Qualified Teacher Status
(QTS), which is required to teach in maintained schools in England and Wales
. Those passing PGCEs in Northern Ireland are granted 'eligibility to teach' in Northern Ireland (equivalent to QTS). Though the QTS/eligibility to teach only applies in the Home Nation it was awarded in, applying for QTS/eligibility to teach in either of the other two Nations is a formality and is nearly always awarded to PGCE holders. Furthermore, the PGCE is also widely-recognised in Scotland
and the rest of world, allowing holders to easily register as teachers there.
This course includes credits towards a master's degree
. In England and Wales only, a PGCE without master's credits was phased in from 2005 to 2007, which is called a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education.
The PGCE was previously also offered in Scotland, but was renamed the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education
(PGDE) from 2005 to 2006 (the exact year depending on the university offering it). It is identical in content to the previous PGCE. Like the PGCE, the PGDE is widely recognised throughout the rest of the United Kingdom
and the rest of the world.
Applications for admission to PGCE (and PGDE) courses are handled by a national clearing house, the Graduate Teacher Training Registry
(GTTR).
Further and higher education lecturers are not usually required to hold QTS/eligibility to teach. However, many lecturers attend lecturer training courses to gain qualifications such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (FE), which is comparable to the regular PGCE.
or other higher education
institution, with much of the course time spent on placements in local schools. A trainee teacher will have to meet the Standards for Qualified Teacher Status and any course specific requirements to be awarded the PGCE. In England only, a trainee teacher also has to pass the QTS Skills Tests
in literacy
, numeracy
and ICT
. The training provider will then recommend the trainee teacher for QTS to the relevant General Teaching Council:
or eligibility to teach to the:
After gaining QTS, the candidate becomes a Newly Qualified Teacher
(NQT) and embarks on an induction programme in their first post.
(which in turn is equivalent to the taught element of a master's degree
). This left the PGCE with a rather inappropriate name as a postgraduate certificate
is a lower level than the postgraduate diploma, requiring only half the amount of work. As a result, the PGCE in Scotland were renamed to Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
From 2005 to 2007, most universities attached credits towards a master's degree to their PGCEs. PGCEs that do not carry master's credits are now known as Professional Graduate Certificate in Education.
The PGCE sits on the Master's Level of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, while the Professional Certificate in Education sits a level lower on the Honour's Level.
Technically, the PGCE is a non-degree
qualification (as it is directly related to a career, it is considered vocational) that does not grant any postnominals, though this is often ignored.
The PGCE is equivalent to a master's degree from the USA, according to Education International, an American corporation specializing in evaluation of foreign education and training, established 1977. EDIT: There is no evidence shown for this, the link just leads to a general page.
Students on PGCE courses in England and Wales now have to pay tuition fees of £3290 (September 2010) and are usually eligible to apply for a Student Tuition Fee Loan from the Student Loan Company (SLC). Students from England are also eligible to apply for a means-tested (and non-returnable) Maintenance Grant of up to £2,906 to cover part of the fee costs. Students from Wales should contact Student Finance Wales for information about assistance with course fees.They receive a training bursary in monthly instalments over the course of the year. Until 2011, for most subjects the bursary amount was £6,000, but for shortage subjects in secondary schools, such as Mathematics, Sciences and D&T (Design and Technology), the bursary was £9,000. For Primary PGCEs the bursary was £4000. For September 2012, rumour has it that bursaries will have ceased for all except shortage subjects, and bursaries will be based on the trainee's degree certification (those with 1st class degrees will be offered £9,000, whereas those with Thirds will not be funded). In addition, secondary school teachers of shortage subjects formerly received a Golden Hello
after successfully completing their induction period. This can be up to £2500 for English, Religious Education, Modern Foreign Languages, Design and Technology and Music, and up to £5000 for Mathematics and Science. Students in Scotland and Northern Ireland still do not pay any fees, but do not receive a bursary. There are also other financial incentives for teachers once qualified.
s in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are not required to hold any particular qualifications, although most schools now prefer applicants to have a PGCE, especially younger people going into teaching as a first career. This flexibility does allow them to occasionally hire older people who have practical experience, such as appointing ex-engineers as mathematics or physics teachers, or appointing people with high-level postgraduate qualifications but no formal teacher-training.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
for undergraduate degree
Undergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
holders that allows them to train to be a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
In addition to the PGCE qualification itself, those taking the course in England or Wales are recommended for either English or Welsh Qualified Teacher Status
Qualified Teacher Status
Qualified Teacher Status is required in England and Wales to become, and continue being, a teacher of children in the state and special education sectors...
(QTS), which is required to teach in maintained schools in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
. Those passing PGCEs in Northern Ireland are granted 'eligibility to teach' in Northern Ireland (equivalent to QTS). Though the QTS/eligibility to teach only applies in the Home Nation it was awarded in, applying for QTS/eligibility to teach in either of the other two Nations is a formality and is nearly always awarded to PGCE holders. Furthermore, the PGCE is also widely-recognised in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and the rest of world, allowing holders to easily register as teachers there.
This course includes credits towards a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
. In England and Wales only, a PGCE without master's credits was phased in from 2005 to 2007, which is called a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education.
The PGCE was previously also offered in Scotland, but was renamed the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education
Professional Graduate Diploma in Education
The Professional Graduate Diploma in Education is a one-year course in Scotland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
(PGDE) from 2005 to 2006 (the exact year depending on the university offering it). It is identical in content to the previous PGCE. Like the PGCE, the PGDE is widely recognised throughout the rest of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the rest of the world.
Applications for admission to PGCE (and PGDE) courses are handled by a national clearing house, the Graduate Teacher Training Registry
Graduate Teacher Training Registry
The Graduate Teacher Training Registry is the subsidiary of UCAS responsible for student applications from graduates to providers of Initial Teacher Training in the United Kingdom. Applications are filled out online via the GTTR website.The Registry was founded in 1960 and was run in close...
(GTTR).
Further and higher education lecturers are not usually required to hold QTS/eligibility to teach. However, many lecturers attend lecturer training courses to gain qualifications such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (FE), which is comparable to the regular PGCE.
Course content and structure
The PGCE is a professional qualification normally taught at a universityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
or other higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
institution, with much of the course time spent on placements in local schools. A trainee teacher will have to meet the Standards for Qualified Teacher Status and any course specific requirements to be awarded the PGCE. In England only, a trainee teacher also has to pass the QTS Skills Tests
QTS Skills Tests
The QTS Skills Tests are three computer-based tests in literacy, numeracy, and ICT, which must be passed by anyone attempting to gain Qualified Teacher Status in England in addition to successfully completing a teacher training course, such as a PGCE, a BEd, a BA or the GTP.-Booking and...
in literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
, numeracy
Numeracy
Numeracy is the ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts. A numerically literate person can manage and respond to the mathematical demands of life...
and ICT
ICT (education)
Information and communication technologies in education deal with the use of information and communication technologies within educational technology.-Purpose:...
. The training provider will then recommend the trainee teacher for QTS to the relevant General Teaching Council:
- General Teaching Council for EnglandGeneral Teaching Council for EnglandThe General Teaching Council for England is the professional body for teaching in England. The GTC was established by the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 which set two aims:...
- General Teaching Council for Wales
or eligibility to teach to the:
- General Teaching Council for Northern Ieland
After gaining QTS, the candidate becomes a Newly Qualified Teacher
Newly Qualified Teacher
Newly Qualified Teacher is a label attached to teachers in the United Kingdom who have been qualified for less than 12 months.-Origins:The term began to be used in the mid-1990s following the removal of the requirement for teachers to serve a probationary period in 1991 under the Education ...
(NQT) and embarks on an induction programme in their first post.
Equivalence
A recent review of the equivalence of qualifications in Scotland declared the PGCE to be equivalent to a postgraduate diplomaPostgraduate diploma
A postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate qualification awarded typically after a bachelor's degree. It can be contrasted with a graduate diploma...
(which in turn is equivalent to the taught element of a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
). This left the PGCE with a rather inappropriate name as a postgraduate certificate
Postgraduate certificate
A postgraduate certificate generally is the credential awarded to an individual upon completion of a higher education postgraduate program designed to provide students with specialized knowledge that is less extensive than a postgraduate diploma or Master's degree...
is a lower level than the postgraduate diploma, requiring only half the amount of work. As a result, the PGCE in Scotland were renamed to Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
From 2005 to 2007, most universities attached credits towards a master's degree to their PGCEs. PGCEs that do not carry master's credits are now known as Professional Graduate Certificate in Education.
The PGCE sits on the Master's Level of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, while the Professional Certificate in Education sits a level lower on the Honour's Level.
Technically, the PGCE is a non-degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
qualification (as it is directly related to a career, it is considered vocational) that does not grant any postnominals, though this is often ignored.
The PGCE is equivalent to a master's degree from the USA, according to Education International, an American corporation specializing in evaluation of foreign education and training, established 1977. EDIT: There is no evidence shown for this, the link just leads to a general page.
Fees
Students on PGCE courses in England and Wales now have to pay tuition fees of £3290 (September 2010) and are usually eligible to apply for a Student Tuition Fee Loan from the Student Loan Company (SLC). Students from England are also eligible to apply for a means-tested (and non-returnable) Maintenance Grant of up to £2,906 to cover part of the fee costs. Students from Wales should contact Student Finance Wales for information about assistance with course fees.They receive a training bursary in monthly instalments over the course of the year. Until 2011, for most subjects the bursary amount was £6,000, but for shortage subjects in secondary schools, such as Mathematics, Sciences and D&T (Design and Technology), the bursary was £9,000. For Primary PGCEs the bursary was £4000. For September 2012, rumour has it that bursaries will have ceased for all except shortage subjects, and bursaries will be based on the trainee's degree certification (those with 1st class degrees will be offered £9,000, whereas those with Thirds will not be funded). In addition, secondary school teachers of shortage subjects formerly received a Golden Hello
Golden hello
A Golden hello is a bonus offered by hiring firms if the hired joins the company from a rival firm. It is very similar to the traditional joining bonus offered by firms but will be offered usually for rival firm employees luring them into a firm....
after successfully completing their induction period. This can be up to £2500 for English, Religious Education, Modern Foreign Languages, Design and Technology and Music, and up to £5000 for Mathematics and Science. Students in Scotland and Northern Ireland still do not pay any fees, but do not receive a bursary. There are also other financial incentives for teachers once qualified.
Independent schools
Teachers in independent schoolIndependent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
s in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are not required to hold any particular qualifications, although most schools now prefer applicants to have a PGCE, especially younger people going into teaching as a first career. This flexibility does allow them to occasionally hire older people who have practical experience, such as appointing ex-engineers as mathematics or physics teachers, or appointing people with high-level postgraduate qualifications but no formal teacher-training.