Goldington Academy Biology (2ZC3)

Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) with qualified teacher status (QTS)

• Accredited body: University of Bedfordshire
• 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 16 - secondary
• Course length: 1 year - full time or part time
• Date you can apply from: 11 October 2022
• Date course starts: September 2023
• Website: https://www.goldington.beds.sch.uk/about/initial-teacher-training

Contents

Course summary

Our Initial Teacher Training programme (accredited and delivered in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire) is for high-quality graduates wishing to train in the secondary phase.

This course will provide you with opportunities to teach Biology to students in Key Stages Three and Four, as well as the experience of teaching GCSE Biology and GCSE Combined Science. Teaching takes place in specialist, well-equipped Science labs and the department are well supported by two technicians.

As well as developing your teaching skills, you will be attached to a tutor group and learn to develop your pastoral skills. You will also have the opportunity to help out with the wide extra-curricular life of the school and the vast range of clubs that the Science department in particular have to offer.

You will have a mentor who you will meet with weekly to aid your development, as well as weekly sessions with the ITT Co-ordinator of the school. In addition, the school has a very successful and varied CPD programme which will be accessible to you.

School placements

The full-time course is for one full academic year and involves two placements in two different schools covering the full secondary age range. You will spend the first and third term at Goldington Academy and then have an additional placement during the second term, in an alternative school, which will be local to your home (wherever possible). Monday - Thursday are spent in school and on Fridays you will attend sessions at the University of Bedfordshire with subject specific tutors.

The part-time course is for two full academic years and involves two placements in two different schools covering the full secondary age range. Each placement will last one year. Two days (for two years) will be spent in school, with one day (Friday) spent at the University of Bedfordshire with subject specific tutors.

Entry requirements

Qualifications needed

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

Your degree subject should be in biology 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 will not consider candidates who need to take a GCSE equivalency test.

Fees and financial support

The course fees for UK students in 2023 to 2024 are £9,250.

About the training provider

“Pupils are proud of their school. They enthuse about it to their parents, who know that they feel safe and happy. Pupils have many subjects to choose from, so everyone gets a chance to shine. They know that leaders have very high expectations of what they can achieve.” - Ofsted, February 2022.

Goldington Academy is a popular, oversubscribed secondary school serving in excess of 850 students. Classrooms are equipped with state of-the-art interactive technologies and there are extensive specialist facilities for Art, Computer Science, DT, Drama, Cooking & Nutrition, Music and Science. Sports facilities include a gymnasium, sports hall and all-weather Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA).

KS3 students study a wide range of subjects: English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, French, Drama, DT, Cooking & Nutrition, Computing, Art, Music, Dance PE, RE and Life Skills.

Students begin GCSEs at the start of Year 10. All study English Language, English Literature, Maths and Science, as well as either Geography or History and select from the following: History, Geography, French, Travel & Tourism (vocational), Sports Studies (vocational), RS, Music, Art, DT, Dance, Drama, Computer Science, PE; Spanish, Enterprise & Marketing (vocational), Creative iMedia (vocational), Hospitality & Catering (vocational) and Health & Social Care (vocational).

In 2022, students achieved excellent GCSE results which can be found on the school’s website.

Goldington Academy have experience of successfully working with trainee teachers. Where positions arise, we have a strong record in the employment of our trainees as members of staff on completion of the course.

About the accredited body

Faculty of Education, English & Sport The Faculty of Education, English & Sport prides itself on providing excellent teaching and learning, a supportive friendly environment and outstanding partnership working. They have a commitment to provide outstanding courses in education.

The faculty is based at the Bedford campus. Tradition frames their current provision from which they deliver rich learning experiences, exceptional teaching, internationally recognised research, and a graduate employment rate of 95%.

The faculty provides a supportive environment and work in partnership with students to co-create curriculum and learning opportunities. Student Voice is embedded within the Faculty culture .

Interview process

You will be invited to visit Goldington Academy where you will meet with the ITT Co-ordinator. During this visit you will tour the school and meet with members of your department and your potential mentor. You will observe a variety of lessons and have the opportunity to work with a small group of students. You will then be invited to the University of Bedfordshire where you will participate in written tasks and groupwork, alongside a formal interview.

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

Goldington Academy is a fully accessible site.

There are designated Mental Health and Wellbeing leads for staff.

Contact this training provider

• Email: dickensr@goldington.beds.sch.uk
• Telephone: 01234 261516
• Website: https://www.goldington.beds.sch.uk/about/initial-teacher-training
• Address: Goldington Academy; Haylands Way; Bedford; Bedfordshire; MK41 9BX

Support and advice

You can speak to a teacher training adviser for free, dedicated advice. They are all experienced teachers who can give you one-to-one support with your application. They can also help you get school experience, and find events where you can speak to training providers and teachers.

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).

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