Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship: PGCE SEND

• School-based (England)
  You will be based in schools for the entirety of the course. Teacher training is most effective ‘on the job’ in schools so the knowledge you gain can be instantly applied in real lessons.
• Online
  The course is delivered to you online through webinars, podcasts, videos, research and tutorials. Our platforms are interactive and engaging, enabling both independent and peer learning. All course content and materials are available online, enabling you to study and revisit them as required.
• Be based anywhere in England
  As the course is delivered online, you can be employed or on placement in a school anywhere in England, subject to the school meeting the required selection criteria to ensure it can offer you the right support.²
• Support
  Described by Ofsted as “excellent”, Coventry University’s online tutorial approach provides you with teaching and support, both one-to-one with your university tutor and in a tutor group. Tutorials deepen your understanding of topics, prompting you to think about what works best for you in your teaching. You will also be guided on a day-to-day basis by your in-school mentor, who will be an experienced teacher in your school.
• Multiple start dates
  You can choose to start the course in September, January or April, according to your preferences.
• Employability
  On successful completion, you will gain Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) which could enhance your employability.

The course is designed to be highly practical to help you develop your craft in schools under the supervision of skilled school-based mentors and experienced university tutors.

This is a university course so you can be confident you are following a high-quality, evidence-based curriculum built on relevant educational theory. Designed to complement your teaching or placement role in school, our online course consists of webinars, podcasts, videos, research and tutorials. Our platforms are interactive and engaging and promote independent and peer learning. All the course content and materials are available online, enabling you to study and revisit them as required.

If you study this course full-time, you will be in school five days a week during which time you will complete the Practical Teaching Practice modules while supported by an experienced school-based mentor. Your teaching commitment will increase as the course progresses and is dependent on your experience. Trainees generally start at 50-70%, building to six weeks at 80% of the teaching timetable of a normal teacher in the school. This is the same as the requirement for the first year as an Early Career Teacher (ECT). This ensures that you get practical, hands-on experience of teaching in the classroom, but also allows you time to observe and learn from other teachers around the school.

Your QTS award will qualify you to teach in both mainstream and specialist schools, so in your second term you will complete a second school placement of a minimum of six weeks in a mainstream school. This will enable you to gain experience in a mainstream environment and the course will support you to relate pedagogy to both types of setting.

You will complete two 30-credit online learning modules per year, each 300 hours made up of approximately 40% live teaching through seminars and tutorials and 60% self-study. During your studies, you will have access to an experienced team, including university mentors, subject and phase specialist tutors, who will support your studies through feedback and dedicated live tutorials. You will require access to a suitable device, a laptop or PC, throughout the course, and will also be expected to be sufficiently competent with IT to learn and use our online platforms.

This combined approach to training will provide you with teaching by our highly experienced staff, as well as enabling vital peer support and a valuable collaborative learning environment. You will be supported to learn from each other, share experiences and reflect away from the school environment.

There are no elements of the course that require you to travel to Coventry or other venues.

Applicants to all salaried routes must find their own schools willing to employ them for the full duration of the course during the application process. NITE do not source placement schools for any salaried courses.

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

• essays
• presentations
• vivas
• observations.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes. The practical modules will be assessed on the evidence you collect, collate and upload to an electronic portfolio.

You will be observed by a Visiting Assessor (VA) at least three times. They will observe you teaching and meet with you and your school-based mentor to discuss and oversee the assessment of your overall progress. At the end of the course, a final assessment is made on whether you meet the Teachers’ Standards.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Our Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship - PGCE with QTS: SEND course is a formal Initial Teacher Training qualification for trainee teachers in England. On successful completion and subject to meeting all requirements, the qualification accredits the teacher to teach in mainstream and special state-maintained schools in England. Many independent schools now also prefer their teachers to hold this award.

The course also provides 60 Level 7 credits that may be transferred as prior learning credits for future study at master’s degree level.

On successful completion of the course, you should be able to:

• teach effectively and skilfully to enable pupils in mainstream and specialist settings to progress in their learning
• critically reflect on what impacts pupil learning, using relevant educational research and evidence from your own teaching to inform and improve your practice
• reflect on and analyse your own teaching and research, into both teaching theory and practice, to identify improvements and increase your confidence and self-efficacy

• synthesise, apply and critically evaluate pedagogical theory and literature to adopt relevant high-quality strategies and teaching methods within your individual context.

You may look for roles such as:

• Special Education Teacher (Primary or Secondary)
• SEN Coordinator (SENCO)
• Early Intervention Specialist
• Behavioural Specialist
• Educational Psychologist (With Further Training)
• Inclusion Officer / Access Coordinator.

The graduate destinations listed above illustrate potential career paths. You may need to gain additional qualifications or practical experience, pass professional examinations, complete training, cover associated costs and meet specific visa or immigration requirements to secure employment in these fields.

Yes, you will be qualified to teach in both specialist SEND and mainstream settings. Your second school placement will enable you to gain experience in a mainstream environment and the course will support you to relate pedagogy to both types of setting.

This course has the flexibility to allow you to train in a phase that is best suited to the needs of your pupils in your main school placement, regardless of their age. NITE will support you in choosing the training route that is best suited to your needs.

This course is designed to introduce you to a range of professional associations, networks and charities that can support you throughout your career. You will be encouraged to interact online with other trainees on course via our learning platform and tutorial programme and your second school placement also helps to begin to network with colleagues in a mainstream setting.

The PGCE provides successful trainees with excellent preparation for master’s level study. The course provides 60 Level 7 credits that may be transferred as prior learning credits for future study at master’s degree level. Successful graduates are offered 15% discount on fees on our MA Education.