Important

Apply now to get on a course starting in the 2022 to 2023 academic year

Courses can fill up at any time, so you should apply as soon as you can.

If you’re applying for the first time since applications opened in October 2021, apply no later than 6pm on 6 September 2022.

If your application did not lead to a place and you’re applying again, apply no later than 6pm on 20 September 2022.

LiFE MAT and Partners School Direct Art and design (J084)

PGCE with QTS full time

Accredited body
Coventry University
Financial support
Student finance 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.

Age range
11 to 18
Course length
1 year
Date you can apply from
12 October 2021
Date course starts
January 2023
Website
https://www.lifemultiacademytrust.org.uk/schooldirect/

Contents

Course summary

We are different from other University teacher training courses in that all of your time is spent in school.

You will be in school for the full 5 days a week. In your school you will develop your craft of the classroom, guided by an in-school Mentor who will support you on a day-to-day basis.

This is underpinned by our interactive, online learning platform, which hosts our regular engagement with you in webinars, tutorials and podcasts, and allows opportunities for collaboration with fellow trainees.

You will also receive 1-1 support from your own University Tutor, who is part of a dynamic and highly-skilled University team.

You will attend up to four days in person with us at our educational conferences where you will share ideas with fellow trainees, and engage with leading educators and teachers. Where Covid-19 prevents attendance in-person, the conferences are delivered online.

Additional advantages of training to teach with us are:

  • A flexible approach to training: You can start in September choose to train on a full-time.
  • The practical relevance of in-school training combined with the quality and rigour expected of a University PGCE with 60 Masters-level credits.

For more course details, visit www.coventry.ac.uk/education

School placements

LiFE MAT and Partners School Direct is a wonderful group of nine schools serving many areas of the north and west parts of Leicestershire. Placements school will be within the LiFE MAT and Partners. These schools are judged good or outstanding by Ofsted in at least one area of the areas of inspection and it has been noted that they are schools where students want to learn. The placements are discussed with the trainee and based on partners’ capacity and the availability of experienced staff to act as mentors.

Students have two placements in contrasting schools within the partnership and access to 11-19 age range and key stages 3-5.

We believe that outstanding, daily mentoring is one of the most important elements of teacher training. On placement, your in-school Mentor will be an experienced, highly effective teacher who receives regular training from us. In addition, your University Tutor will oversee and help guide your progress throughout the course, including support with your assignments as well as providing practical tips for your teaching.

Throughout the year there will be opportunities for LiFE MAT and Partners School Direct trainees to come together to share their experiences and good practice in our CPD days, while on placements. This enriches the experience and builds vital collaboration between trainees and subject areas.

Locations

You can select one of the following locations when you apply.

List of locations and vacancies
Location Vacancies
Ashby School
Nottingham Road, Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics, LE65 1DT 		No
Bosworth Academy
Leicester Lane, Desford, Leicestershire, LE9 9JL 		No
Brookvale Groby Learning Campus
Ratby Road, Groby, Leicester, LE6 0FP 		No
Countesthorpe Academy
Winchester Road, Countesthorpe, Leics, LE8 5PR 		No
Ibstock Community College
Central Avenue, Ibstock, Leics, LE67 6NE 		No
Ivanhoe College
North Street, Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics, LE65 1HX 		No
Main Site
Leicester Lane, Desford, Leicestershire, LE9 9JL 		Yes
Saint Martins Catholic Academy
Stoke Golding, nuneaton, Warcs, CV13 6HT 		No
South Charnwood High School
Broad Lane, Markfield, Leicestershire, LE67 9TB 		No
The Winstanley School
Kings Way North, Braunstone Town, Leicester, LE3 3BD 		No

Entry requirements

Qualifications needed

An undergraduate degree at class 2:2 or above, or equivalent.

Your degree subject should be in Art and design or a similar subject. Otherwise you’ll need to prove your subject knowledge in some other way.

Grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths, or equivalent qualification.

We’ll consider candidates with pending GCSEs.

We’ll consider candidates who need to take a GCSE equivalency test in English or maths.

Personal qualities

Developing positive relationships, the ability to listen, be sensitive, work collaboratively and to respond to the needs of others is crucial and our selection process pays particular attention to these qualities.

Trainees should be able to express their ideas confidently, both orally and in writing and make effective use of technology to support learning.

We are looking to recruit individuals who understand the position of trust which teaching puts them in by demonstrating a professional regard for the schools you will work in and for promoting fundamental British values, positive values and attitudes.

Other requirements

Teaching is an intellectually demanding career that requires an ability to analyse and reflect upon experiences. This is likely to be demonstrated in our selection process by applicants expanding on their previous experiences in school settings and displaying a capacity to structure thoughts; to raise and answer related questions both in discussion and in writing. Previous experience in a school setting would therefore be desirable. All candidates will be expected to go through an Enhanced DBS Check.

Fees and financial support

The course fees for UK students in 2022 to 2023 are £7,500.

This includes accommodation at any residential conferences

About the training provider

LiFE MAT and Partners School Direct is a unique partnership of nine schools in Leicestershire with access to 11-19 provision.

We offer a range of experiences where you will develop your potential as a teacher.

Our vision is:

  • To develop outstanding teachers of the future and guide them on a career path within our partnership schools.

  • To enhance and support trainees’ professional development.

  • To provide our trainees with outstanding support and development in a positive and caring environment.

We offer you:

  • An expectation that successful graduates of this programme will be considered for employment in our partnership of schools

  • The maximum possible amount of time working with students and developing the skills to become an outstanding teacher.

  • The earliest possible opportunity to get into classrooms and make a difference to students.

  • Access to the opportunities provided by the LiFE MAT. - which includes 6 of our partnership schools.

Our partnership of schools allows us to be small enough to care and know each trainee really well so that we can identify needs and target support. We encourage our trainees and staff to identify aspirational improvement goals in a supportive workplace culture. Our goal is to create life-long educators who are passionate about the profession and committed to young people.

Interview process

Whilst an interview can cause apprehension, ours is designed to be fair and relaxed, and we will look at your suitability to train to teach more than anything else. It is a chance for you to share with us your knowledge about your chosen phase or subject as well as your enthusiasm for a career in teaching. The interview is a two-way process, and we encourage you to ask questions about our course and the teaching profession.

LiFE MAT and Partners School Direct applications are required to attend an individual, virtual interview.

This will include:

  • A short presentation on your experience in schools to date
  • A task examining the qualities of a good teacher
  • A subject knowledge task

Then followed by a formal interview with the Director of Learning, and a subject lead.

International candidates

You’ll need the right to study in the UK. You already have this if, for example, you:

  • are an Irish citizen
  • have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (you may still be able to apply)
  • have indefinite leave to remain in the UK

If you do not already have the right to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa. The main visa for fee-paying courses (those that you have to pay for) is the Student visa.

To apply for a Student visa, you’ll need to be sponsored by your training provider.

Sponsorship is not available for this course.

If you need a visa, filter your course search to find courses with visa sponsorship.

Alternatively, check if you’re eligible for a different type of visa, such as a Graduate or Family visa, that allows you to train to be a teacher without being sponsored.

Find out more about training to teach in England.

International qualifications

If your qualifications come from a non-UK institution, we may want to see a ‘statement of comparability’ from UK ENIC. This will show us how they compare to UK qualifications.

You can call Get Into Teaching on 0800 389 2500 for:

  • guidance on the UK equivalents of your qualifications
  • a free statement of comparability once you’ve submitted your application (if we ask you for this)

Training with disabilities and other needs

Wheelchair access is available on our sites. Please let us know if you have any specific requirements that would support you during your training.

Contact this training provider

Email
bwhite@lifemultiacademytrust.org.uk
Telephone
01455 822841
Website
https://www.lifemultiacademytrust.org.uk/schooldirect/
Address
Bosworth Academy
Leicester Lane
Desford
Leicestershire
LE9 9JL

Support and advice

For support and advice, you can speak to a teacher training adviser for free. They’re all experienced teachers who can help you to prepare your application, book school experience, and access exclusive teaching events.

You can also call Get Into Teaching free of charge on 0800 389 2500, or chat online Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm (except public holidays).

Find out about the different ways to train if you do not have a degree, or are already an experienced teacher.

If there is something wrong with this course listing, contact us by email.