CAT Teaching School
Biology (38VS)

PGCE with QTS full time

• Accredited body: University of Derby
• Financial support: Bursaries and student finance are available if you’re eligible
• Qualification:
  PGCE with QTS

  A postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) with qualified teacher status (QTS) will allow you to teach in state schools in England and may allow you to teach in other parts of the UK.

  It may also allow you to teach overseas, though you should always check what qualifications are needed in the country you’d like to teach in.

  Many PGCE courses include credits that count toward a Master’s degree.

• Course length: 1 year
• Date you can apply from: 13 October 2020
• Date course starts: September 2021
• Website: https://catteachingschool.org/introductionfutureteachers/

Contents

About the course

GCSE study in the sciences provides the foundation for understanding the material world. Scientific understanding is changing our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all learners should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. They should be helped to appreciate how the complex and diverse phenomena of the natural world can be described in terms of a small number of key ideas relating to the sciences which are both inter-linked, and are of universal application.

These key ideas include:

• the use of conceptual models and theories to make sense of the observed diversity of natural phenomena

• the assumption that every effect has one or more cause

• that change is driven by differences between different objects and systems when they interact

• that many such interactions occur over a distance and over time without direct contact

• that science progresses through a cycle of hypothesis, practical experimentation, observation, theory development and review

• that quantitative analysis is a central element both of many theories and of scientific methods of inquiry.

Many schools are now offering Triple Science, and it is a good idea to gain a basic knowledge across all the sciences. We offer a Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course in all three Sciences, which you can access once you have a conditional offer of a teacher training place in any route. Our SKEs are bespoke, tailored to your availability and requirements and can bring you a generous tax free Bursary whilst you train.

Interview process

Potential to Teach You should demonstrate high expectations for your pupils, be passionate about your subject and engage your pupils.

Potential to Reflect You should be able to reflect on all aspects of your planning and teaching so that you can constantly update and amend lessons accordingly to further improve your performance and delivery.

Interview Process Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate your choice of campus, staffing capacity changes and for this reason your application may also be circulated to other schools within the partnership. It may be that several schools will express interest in you. This method ensures you have an increased opportunity of a successful outcome.

You will usually be invited to interview where you will be asked to teach a 20 minute learning activity to a class of pupils. Following the learning activity, you will have an interview with the Professional Mentor and Head of Department. Some schools may ask you to take part in a Student Panel, or to undertake an activity involving students.

If all goes well, you will be told the decision and the UCAS website will be updated accordingly.

How school placements work

The major benefit of School Direct is being able to select the school in which you are going to do the majority of your training. This choice is often influenced by location and distance travelling from home.

Usually you will spend most of your time at your base school, with one day a week spent at your university (weekly with Warwick and fortnightly with Derby).

We also have a number of Alliance Days where we deliver part of your training to all trainee teachers from across the partnership.

Your complementary placement takes place after Christmas, usually during the first half of the Spring Term. This is usually set up within the partnership schools and in many cases will be a straight swap between trainees doing the same subject. All the schools within the partnership are within a 30 minute drive of The Polesworth School, which is the Lead School in the Partnership.

Trainees are also required to undertake a minimum of 5 days in a primary setting.

As well as your university mentor, you will have access to a professional mentor and subject mentor at your base school. You will have support every step of the way and will not be expected to fly solo until you feel you’re ready to do so. The expectation is that by the time you finish your course you should be teaching around 70% of a teacher’s full timetable.

You will also be required to undertake a number of written tasks set by the university that will contribute towards a Masters Degree should you wish to complete one. Also, you will be collecting evidence throughout the year to complete your personal learning portfolio which you will use to demonstrate your learning journey.

Fees

The course fees for UK students in 2021 to 2022 are £9,250

Maintenance grants are available to support living costs during the training year for Home students in England. These are available to trainees whose total household income is less than £42,600. To check eligibility and to apply visit (https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-salary/overview)

Home and EU students may be eligible for a tuition fee loan to cover the costs of the course. Home students in England may be eligible for a student maintenance loan to help towards living costs and accommodation.

Financial support

You’ll get a bursary of £7,000 if you have a degree of 2:2 or above in any subject.

You don’t have to apply for a bursary - if you’re eligible, you’ll automatically start receiving it once you begin your course. Find out about eligibility and how you’ll be paid.

You may be eligible for a loan while you study – note that you’ll have to apply for undergraduate student finance.

Find out about financial support if you’re from outside the UK.

Financial support from the training provider

Subject Knowledge Enhancement Courses may be available in this subject.

These courses usually bring with them generous tax free Bursaries and are available to applicants holding a conditional offer of a teacher training place.

Information on availability of these courses should be available at the end of December 2020.

Derby graduates could benefit from reduced tuition fees by applying for this course. Please see Derby University website for further details.

Requirements

Qualifications

Requirements Minimum degree required: Lower Second Degree Whilst we prefer a candidate with a good 2:1 degree in the subject, we would consider a good candidate with good, potential teaching skills.

GCSE A good pass in Maths and English at GCSE

Personal qualities

We are actively seeking good quality honours graduates with excellent communication skills; who have the ability to enthuse young people about their chosen subject; are able to demonstrate resilience and who are self-starters with the ability to use their initiative.

Other requirements

Whilst not a necessity, recent, relevant school experience, or experience of working with young people, is strongly encouraged. We offer Taster Days and School Experience across most subjects.

The successful candidate will need to satisfy the necessary safeguarding and prohibition checks and satisfy the HEI provider that they are proficient in maths and English skills prior to QTS being awarded.

About the training provider

Each of the schools in CAT Teaching School Alliance has its own distinctive character, reflecting its local community and history, but all share the same commitment to the partnership’s ethos.

Outstanding Teaching We believe strongly in the personal growth of all staff within the school and take professional development seriously.

During your initial year of training with us you will receive rigorous and regular professional development so that you can progress to being an outstanding teacher.

Our Young People We believe all young people have the potential to achieve great things. Intelligence can be developed regardless of emotional and social background, given appropriate teaching and bespoke, individualised support. They should be equipped with a crucial sense of possibility based on a well-developed self-awareness and ambition, not only for themselves but for the communities in which they live and work.

Our Values extend to how we challenge, support and work with each other. All staff (non-teaching and teaching) play a crucial role in the education of young people. We all understand how our work has a direct influence on the life chances of the young people in our care. In the same way that we all have a duty of care to them, we have a duty of care to each other and have regard for each other’s professional and personal well-being.

About the accredited body

We are partnered with the University of Derby through School Direct, as it has a strong reputation for nurturing successful, confident and forward-thinking teachers.

Practical teaching experience and high-quality placements will help to build your classroom skills and with the excellent support you will receive from expert mentors, you will be part of the team from Day One.

Trainees who have graduated from Derby University may also benefit from reduced course fees should you choose to continue teacher training within our partnership with Derby University.

Training with disabilities and other needs

Working closely with our partner schools and with our University partners, reasonable adjustments can be put in place for students with a disability or specific learning differences, to ensure they can successfully complete their course and get the most out of their time with us.

Contact details

• Email: catts@thepolesworthschool.com
• Telephone: 01827 702205
• Website: https://catteachingschool.org/introductionfutureteachers/
• Address: The Polesworth School, Dordon Road; Polesworth; Tamworth; Staffs; B78 1QT

Apply

Choose a training location

You’ll also need to choose a training location – select the relevant location name on the application form.

Location	Vacancies	Code
Etone College Leicester Road, Nuneaton, CV11 6AA	Yes	U
Landau Forte Academy Woodland Road, Tamworth, Staffs, B77 4FF	Yes	R
Main Site The Polesworth School, Dordon Road, Polesworth, Tamworth, B78 1QT	Yes	-
The Wilnecote School Tinkers Green Road, Tamworth, Staffs, B77 5LF	Yes	S

Support and advice

For questions about this course you should contact the training provider using the contact details above.

Get support and advice about teaching

Register with Get Into Teaching, the Department for Education’s free support and advice service, for personalised guidance from teaching experts. They can help you to prepare your application, book school experience, and access exclusive teaching events. You can also call them free of charge on 0800 389 2500, or speak to an adviser using their online chat service, from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

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