Devonport High School for Boys
Biology (AW09)

PGCE with QTS full time

• Accredited body: Plymouth Marjon 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.

• Course length: 1 year
• Date you can apply from: 13 October 2020
• Date course starts: September 2021
• Website: http://www.dhsb.org

Contents

About the course

The course trains you in one year to become a Newly Qualified Teacher in a secondary school in the following subject specialism Biology. You will be based in two different secondary schools across the year, immersed in school life and taking an active role in the school team. You will work mainly out of a lead school of Devonport High School for Boys, with an additional placement for six to twelve weeks to give you breadth of experience.

Some training will be school-based, led by teachers and working with other trainees from other schools, and you will also attend university and be part of a broad cohort of university students Formal assessment for the School Direct programme takes place throughout the year in partnership with Plymouth Marjon University our HEI link partner.

Interview process

If you are invited for interview you will receive full details of what will be expected of you in a letter of invitation. We work closely with Plymouth Marjon University in the selection process. You will be expected to be familiar with key issues and developments in secondary schools - especially those in your subject area. It will help you to read the educational press and to talk to teachers and those currently undertaking teacher training. Our interview procedure is a rigorous and thorough process, designed to get the best match of applicant to the School Direct places available. It will also include an assessment / audit of your literacy and numeracy skills. The best preparation for interview is a visit to a school or schools. Talk to teachers and students; try to evaluate what is being learned and how the teachers encourage the learning to take place. You will be expected to discuss these observations in your formal interview; where we will be looking for your ability to analyse your experience and show a deeper understanding of the learning process. During interview the following points will be assessed:

• Appropriate qualities, attitudes, ethics and values
• Subject knowledge and understanding
• Intellectual and academic capabilities
• Suitability for the course

How school placements work

If you are successful in being offered a School Direct placement with us you will be based in Devonport High School for Boys. In addition, you will be required to develop further in a second school identified by us as best suited to meet your training needs from the range of partner schools wishing to train in your subject. Unlike a university based PGCE the academic year runs from September to July following our school term dates. Each School Direct trainee will undertake two placements, a longer placement starting at DHSB and a second shorter placement usually taking place in one of our other partner schools to provide a contrasting experience.

Fees

The course fees for 2021 to 2022 are as follows:

UK students	£9,250
International students	£11,000

Financial support

You’ll get a bursary of £7,000 if you have a degree of 2:2 or above in any subject.

You don’t have to apply for a bursary - if you’re eligible, you’ll automatically start receiving it once you begin your course. Find out about eligibility and how you’ll be paid.

You may be eligible for a loan while you study – note that you’ll have to apply for undergraduate student finance.

Find out about financial support if you’re from outside the UK.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants must have a degree normally at 2:2 or above and GCSE English and Mathematics at grade C/4 or above. Pass a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check as a ‘Trainee School Teacher’ and meet the Secretary of State’s requirements for physical and mental ‘Fitness to Teach’. School Direct candidates must meet the standard entry requirements of the university and be approved by the university. Please note that we will only accept specific equivalency tests. Please check with admissions@marjon.ac.uk for more information. An offer may be offered on the condition that Subject Knowledge enhancement is completed prior to starting.

Personal qualities

We are looking for committed and dedicated people who can demonstrate effective inter-personal and communication skills and who can work as part of a team. All applicants need the ability to use their initiative and be resilient when working under pressure. We are looking for trainee teachers who are passionate about making a difference and who think deeply about their practice, actively seeking advice and guidance in order to be the very best they can be.

Other requirements

All applicants will be subject to suitability checks. This includes a full enhanced disclosure and barring check for child and adult workforce, as well as clearance by your HEI Link Occupational Health department.

About the training provider

Devonport High School for Boys, a happy and vibrant grammar school for boys aged 11-18 with a co-educational sixth form. Our vision, whatever your role in the school or personal ambition, is that ‘Everyone Succeeds’. We provide a disciplined, caring environment in which students achieve levels of excellence that reflect their tremendous potential and our high expectations. Examination results and university entrance records are among the best in the country. In addition, we provide a remarkable range of co-curricular activities. Mission statement: We inspire confidence so that all achieve the highest possible standard of academic success. We develop talents so that everyone is enriched. We support individuals in our school community to enhance their prowess and shape their future. As a student teacher at DHSB we commit to provide you with the experiences and support necessary to flourish and qualify as a teacher in your chosen subject area. You will also be given opportunity to develop your understanding and experience of pastoral care. We aim to do this by providing you with a school based subject tutor and in addition a school mentor from outside of your subject area who will provide support with pedagogy and non subject specific aspects of learning to teach.

About the accredited body

Plymouth Marjon University Teacher Education Partnership is a well-established partnership between the university and schools in the South West, London and Service Children’s Education. It is a values-based collaborative partnership that ensures excellent outcomes for pupils, trainees and teachers. It is rated good with outstanding leadership and management by Ofsted. You will spend time studying your subject specialism with peers from the university and then develop these skills with training in the school setting. You will have two mentors, one at your home school and a university based tutor to guide you through your year.

Training with disabilities and other needs

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and other needs and with our HEI partners make reasonable adjustments to ensure that the training programme is accessible to all. Please find detailed information about the support we provide in conjunction with our HEI partner below. University of St Mark and St John (Marjons) :(https://www.marjon.ac.uk/student-life/student-support-/disability–inclusion-advice-service/)

Contact details

• Email: schooldirect@dhsb.org
• Telephone: 01752208787
• Website: http://www.dhsb.org
• Address: Paradise Road; Paradise Road; Plymouth; Devon; PL1 5QP

Apply

Choose a training location

You’ll also need to choose a training location – select the relevant location name on the application form.

Location	Vacancies	Code
Main Site Paradise Road, Stoke, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 5QP	Yes	-

Support and advice

For questions about this course you should contact the training provider using the contact details above.

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