Waldegrave Training Alliance Biology (2MS3)

PGCE with QTS full time

Accredited body
Roehampton University
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.

Age range
11 to 18
Course length
1 year
Date you can apply from
12 October 2021
Date course starts
September 2022
Website
http://www.waldegrave.richmond.sch.uk

Contents

About the course

The content of the course is wide and varied and ensures that all trainee teachers have access to the best quality training and support from both the school and the universities we partner with.

  • Working alongside, observing and being mentored by highly effective and successful teachers
  • Excellent subject specialist lecturers with a world class reputation at Roehampton University
  • Regular tutorial time with subject specialists
  • How children learn and the theory of teaching and learning
  • Subject specific content for the curriculum at KS3, KS4 and KS5 in your subject area
  • Behaviour management for teachers and learners
  • Supporting the SEND learner in your subject
  • The role of the tutor and pastoral support for students
  • Safeguarding students and teachers in a school context
  • Professional practice for teachers
  • You will spend the majority of your time in your placement school with one day a week at University
  • Assessment will take the form of classroom observations and written assignments
  • You will attend training opportunities across schools in the Alliance

School placements

Placement schools are selected for candidates following a careful process of working with local headteachers to establish where our best subject specialist mentors are placed across the borough and what school recruitment needs are likely to be in the future. Most first placements (A) will be decided by late June and the second shorter placement (B) in early September once school staffing has been agreed.

You will have two placements (the A-B-A model). Placement A runs from September to February half term and placement B from February until Easter. Trainees will then return to their placement A school until June. The settings are contrasting to ensure breadth of experience.

The Alliance has teaching opportunities in the full secondary range from 11-19. If you have a placement in a school which is currently 11-16 you will be given the opportunity for KS5 experience at another school. There are 10 schools in the Alliance and Schools Direct trainees will have one main placement and one second placement across the year.

You will spend 4 days a week in school and one day at University on a Wednesday. This day will give you essential time out from the school classroom to build your knowledge and experience and reflect on your placements.

Richmond Borough is a small locality and all schools within the partnership have excellent local transport links. All teachers will be placed in the borough.

All trainees will be assigned to a tutor group and mentor throughout their placements.

Entry requirements

Qualifications needed

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

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.

Other requirements

You will ideally have some experience of working with young people, perhaps through volunteering, youth clubs or sports teams.

We recommend that you gain some experience in a classroom prior to interview.

All places on the PGCE are subject to satisfactory health and criminal convictions assessments. Applicants will be required to complete an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Fees and financial support

The course fees for UK students in 2022 to 2023 are £9,250.

About the training provider

All Richmond upon Thames borough schools and the Waldegrave Training Alliance (WTA) are great places to Train to Teach. If you apply to WTA we will provide you with a supportive and tailored learning opportunity in partnership with Roehampton and St Mary’s Universities and our alliance schools.

Our vision for WTA is that staff and students feel valued and enjoy teaching and learning in schools across the borough of Richmond upon Thames. We are very proud of the partnerships we have with all schools in the borough, including our long established secondary schools to the newer free and faith schools.

Waldegrave Training Alliance is led by Waldegrave School, an 11-16 Girls school with a co-educational Sixth Form. OFSTED reported us as an outstanding school in 2017. Waldegrave was awarded comprehensive school of the year in 2016 by the Sunday Times. Prior to that we were in the top 11-16 schools in the country in the Sunday Times Parent Power tables. Our results show that we are in the top 10% of schools nationally each year.

We work closely with all our alliance schools to provide the best placements in fantastic departments with excellent outcomes for students. Schools Direct trainees will have access to great subject specialists and dedicated mentors as well as a full training programme through our universities and partnership schools. Our trainees will benefit from placements in contrasting schools across the borough including single sex, co-educational (boys and girls), faith and free schools.

Interview process

Waldegrave School is the lead school in the Alliance and will be coordinating the recruitment process for all WTA schools. Interviews will include a panel of professionals from across the Alliance and will usually have one representative from the likely main placement school.

Interviews will involve at least a half day spent at one of the schools and will include:

  • A written task
  • A tour, usually led by students
  • A presentation on a given theme
  • A panel interview

Candidates approved by the school will also undergo an approval process at the university which may consist of another interview. Staff from the universities may be part of the school selection panel, as will staff from Alliance schools. The selection process will be thorough and rigorous, in order to help us place trainees at suitable placement schools.

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

Waldegrave Training Alliance welcomes applications from candidates with disabilities or additional needs.

Applicants who would benefit from disabled access should let us know on their application so they can be considered for placement at appropriate schools.

Accessibility varies between schools and locations and WTA will seek to facilitate placements at appropriate settings where they are available.

Contact this training provider

Email
wta@waldegravesch.org
Telephone
02088943244
Website
http://www.waldegrave.richmond.sch.uk
Address
Waldegrave School
Fifth Cross Road
Twickenham
Middlesex
TW2 5LH

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.

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