Court Moor Partnership Biology (39PH)

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

• Accredited body: The University of Reading
• 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: 11 October 2022
• Date course starts: September 2023
• Website: http://www.court-moor.hants.sch.uk/

Contents

Course summary

This course will offer trainees an excellent route into teaching. You will be supported by a very experienced mentor at both of your training schools. The course is offered in collaboration with the University of Reading, which has an outstanding record in teacher training.

The Court Moor Partnership is led by Court Moor School, one of the highest performing schools in Hampshire. Most of the weekly Professional Studies sessions will be held at the main site. All of our partner schools (all within easy commute of each other - in Fleet, Farnborough, Frimley and Godalming) are welcoming and supportive of trainees, and open to visitors who would like to observe some lessons and meet staff prior to applying.

The course has a good balance of time spent in university and at school, allowing trainees to spend their early phase at school observing lessons and learning how the school operates, before beginning to teach your first lessons. You will be assessed at the end of each term by your university tutor. QTS is awarded in June 2022, provided evidence has been met across the teaching standards.

School placements

Trainees spend the first two weeks of their course at university. The main placement begins in mid-September, at which point you will spend two days at university and three days at your school each week. At this stage, you will mainly be observing colleagues and gaining an understanding of the school.

After October half-term, this increases to four days each week at school, and you will begin teaching your first lessons.

In January, you will begin your second placement, which will be roughly six weeks. This will always be at one of our partner sixth-form/college providers, and will include the opportunity to teach some A-level content.

From March to June trainees are effectively full-time, back at the main placement school.

Locations

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

Location	Vacancies
Ash Manor School Manor Road, Ash, Aldershot, Surrey, GU12 6QH	Yes
Court Moor School Spring Woods, Fleet, Hampshire, Spring Woods, GU52 7RY	Yes
Fernhill School Neville Duke Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 9BY	Yes
Tomlinscote School Tomlinscote Way, Frimley, Surrey, GU16 8PY	Yes
Wavell School Lynchford Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 6BH	Yes

Entry requirements

Qualifications needed

An undergraduate degree, 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’ll consider candidates who need to take a GCSE equivalency test in English or maths.

Personal qualities

Candidates must demonstrate an enthusiasm for their subject and a passion for working with young people to help them to fulfil their potential. Teachers must be innovative, committed and conscientious. Confidence is crucial, too, but it is something which can be developed during training.

Other requirements

All applicants will be required to successfully complete a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check before appointment.

Fees and financial support

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

About the training provider

Court Moor School is one of the highest performing schools in Hampshire: in 2017 we had the highest ‘Basics 9-5’ results (students achieving at least a Grade 5 in both maths and English) in the county and we are consistently near the very top of the league tables. The school is consistently rated ‘good’ by Ofsted and our 2022 Ofsted report highlights the positive atmosphere among staff. Attendance is excellent and behaviour issues are rare; in fact, visitors frequently comment favourably on the conduct of our students.

Our new partnership offers the chance to train within a network of local schools who work closely together and are all committed to the development of new staff. We have an excellent track record of ITT, and many current members of staff trained at the school. Our teaching mentors have all undertaken the relevant training with the University of Reading (and/or similar institutions), and the feedback we receive from trainees reflects the supportive and collaborative environment.

About the accredited body

One of the ‘Top 10’ ITT providers in the country. The University of Reading have a superb track record in ITT and are always supportive of trainees and partnerships schools, working collaboratively to ensure trainees get the best possible experience. We choose to only work with University of Reading for ITT, because their levels of communication and support are first class.

Interview process

Interviews are conducted by senior teachers. We usually ask candidates to teach a ‘mini lesson’ on an accessible topic with carefully selected students, followed by an interview with the head of department and an assistant headteacher.

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 for the duration of this course, you may need to apply for a Student visa.

To do this, you’ll need to be sponsored by your training provider.

Before you apply for this course, contact us to check Student visa sponsorship is available. If it is, and you get a place on this course, we’ll help you apply for your visa.

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

Trainees with disabilities and other needs are offered our full support. The school/partnership has made staff wellbeing a priority: this year, for example, we have focused on ‘mindfulness’ as a pathway to good mental health, and we have appointed a wellbeing co-ordinator to ensure we are doing everything we can to support staff.

Contact this training provider

• Email: terry.mcenroe@court-moor.hants.sch.uk
• Telephone: 01252615065
• Website: http://www.court-moor.hants.sch.uk/
• Address: Court Moor Partnership; Spring Woods; Fleet; Hampshire; GU52 7RY

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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