Mickle Trafford Alliance Biology (2GKH)

PGCE with QTS full time

• Accredited body: University of Chester
• 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.mickletraffordvillageschool.co.uk/

Contents

About the course

Training to be a teacher with Mickle Trafford Village School Alliance of schools allows Associate Teachers (ATs) to gain a realistic understanding of the challenges and rewards of teaching by becoming an integral part of the school staff. From the start, when in school, ATs will be expected to work with students from all year groups, attend department and staff meetings, meet parents, and generally become immersed in school life. Time will also be spent away from the classroom developing professional skills and completing assessments for P.G.C.E. (delivered and assessed by The University of Chester). This approach has proved successful and developed a new generation of teachers who feel optimistic and confident about starting their teaching career. Associate teachers will spend the majority of their training at The Bishops’ High School in Chester and a 30 day contrast placement at a partner schools close by. All our ATs work with an experienced and supportive Subject Mentor to ensure that ATs set high standards for themselves and the pupils they teach.
In addition to time in the classroom, days are spent with ATs from local alliances developing and enhancing professional skills. These sessions include improving Associate Teacher’s subject knowledge across the curriculum, the use of different behaviour management strategies, understanding the needs of children with SEND and learning how to use technology to enhance learning. Associate Teachers are encouraged, where possible, to participate in residential trips alongside the children. They will gain an understanding the planning process, the need for risk assessment, prepare information for parents and ensure medical or SEND needs are catered for - the sort of real life school experiences that enable ATs to feel confident as they enter their NQT year. In collaboration with Mickle Trafford Village Primary School, enrichment days help develop an understanding of the challenges facing transition between primary and high school. ATs from primary and secondary work together to create adapted tasks to be delivered in Y5, Y6 and Y7. The aim of the 3 day programme is to inspire pupils of different ages and encourage them to develop empathy and think sensitively about the lives of others. We recognise this training programme is intense and challenging and endeavour to provide support throughout the year, including with making applications for teaching posts and suggestions for making positive impressions at interview later in the year. This programme may need adaptation to meet COVID-19 restrictions.

School placements

Associate Teachers will spend the majority of their training at The Bishops’ High School and a 30 day contrast placement at a nearby secondary school. During the training year, ATs will have experience of working with students from Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 and will also shadow the work of our pastoral team to prepare them for the role of the Form tutor.

This may be amended due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Entry requirements

Qualifications needed

An undergraduate degree at class 2:1 or above, or equivalent.

A Level in biology or science considered if main degree is not biology

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

We will not consider candidates with pending GCSEs.

We will not consider candidates who need to take a GCSE equivalency test.

Personal qualities

This is a challenging course - resilience, good time management and energy will be needed to complete the year. Candidates are reminded that school hours are no only the ones when the children are present and Associate Teachers will be expected to be in school before and after the children are present.

Other requirements

Ideally, candidates are expected to be able to evidence at least two weeks spent working in schools in the secondary age phase or definite placements organised and confirmed prior to starting the course. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions this may not be possible and candidates without two weeks experience in school will be considered.

Fees and financial support

The course fees for 2022 to 2023 are as follows:

UK students	£9,250
International students	£9,250

Please note the above Fees are a guide only. Fees are set by University of Chester - please check on the university website.

Financial support from the training provider

Please check DFE and University of Chester websites for details on loans and bursaries. Mickle Trafford Village School Alliance have no financial incentives for this course.

About the training provider

Mickle Trafford Village School Alliance has a long established and successful School Direct programme and we are looking to recruit our 8th cohort of Associate Teachers. In partnership with The Bishops’ Blue Coat Church of England High School, Chester, we offer training in both primary and secondary settings - please see the secondary subject offer available on UCAS. Our school-based teacher training programme provides the perfect platform from which to embark on a successful and rewarding career in teaching. Our aim is to ensure you are well equipped to start your career armed with the appropriate knowledge, skills and confidence to enable you to inspire the next generation. This is a tall order, you can expect to be based in a school from the start, gaining an understanding of the practicalities of school life and have an impact on children’s learning straight away. You’ll spend the majority of the academic year with your students supporting and motivating them to make progress, as well as spending time reflecting on your own development and practice. The programme provides the perfect balance of theory (in conjunction with University of Chester) and school based learning, which is why employment rates are high. Almost all our Associate Trainees gain employment in local schools or are supported to gain employment in other locations nationally and internationally.

Interview process

Candidates will be interviewed at The Bishops’ High School in Chester.

The process, which lasts half a day, will include observation of a lesson followed by a formal interview which provides candidates to reflect on the lesson they have observed and make connections to their own experience of working with young people.

This process may be amended due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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

Mickle Trafford Village School Alliance welcomes applications from those who identify as having a disability. Please state on your application form any additional needs you may have and also additional support you require in place for interview.

Contact this training provider

• Email: julie.cox@mickletrafford.cheshire.sch.uk
• Telephone: 01244 981 321
• Website: http://www.mickletraffordvillageschool.co.uk/
• Address: School Lane; Mickle Trafford; Cheshire; CH2 4EF

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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