PGCE - Initial Teacher Education
The University of Sheffield has provided courses in initial teacher education for over 50 years. The PGCE course prepares students to teach across the 11-18 age range in: English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Modern Languages and the Sciences. The School of Education has a strong national and international research profile.
The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) regularly carries out inspections of the department's secondary ITE course (2002, 2004, 2007, 2011). The grades awarded confirm the consistent high quality of all aspects of the ITE courses, across all subjects.
At the time of writing we have no information from the TDA as to the number of places we will be able offer in each subject. As soon as this information becomes available, we will publish it on this web page. Latest information on bursaries for 2012-13 is available here . Information about fees for PGCE will be found here.
In the meantime, we welcome applications for the PGCE in 2012-13 via the GTTR. We intend to continue our regular recruitment procedures with the proviso that we will be unable to offer places until the above information regarding places is forthcoming from the TDA.
Recruitment and selection
The PGCE course attracts a large number of applicants and in recent years most subjects have recruited to target. Interview procedures and selection criteria have been negotiated within the partnership, with schools involved in most interviews. The majority of students have good qualifications in their subject specialisms with 71% having degrees of 2.1 or above. A high proportion of students gain QTS with 60 masters credits and enter the teaching profession.
Structure of the secondary PGCE
At the university, students spend roughly 75% of their time in subject groups and 25% in small mixed-subject Educational and Professional Studies (EPS) groups. The first period of secondary school experience is in November and December, with students returning to the university on Fridays to share and reflect on experience. A second, longer period of school experience takes place from February to June. Students complete 2 subject assignments and one EPS project, designed to encourage exploration of educational issues and school experience through research investigations, reading and critical reflection. In the summer term, students undertake an Enrichment Experience in a different educational context.
Partnership arrangements
Since 1993, the School of Education has negotiated three-year partnership agreements with local schools, providing continuity and stability. Of the 36 schools involved in the 2006-2011 partnership, 20 have been in partnership since 1993. Students are usually placed in subject pairs for school experience, with most partner schools taking pairs of students in two or more subjects. Each school has an Associate University Tutor (AUT) responsible for all students and Associate University Mentors (AUM) responsible for the students in their subject areas. AUTs and AUMs are responsible for weekly sessions for students during school experience. Attendance at the twice-yearly planning and development meetings held at the university for AUTs and AUMs is very high. The partner schools have the major responsibility for assessing school experience and are supported by university subject tutors who visit schools on at least three occasions to observe and debrief student teachers. The university has responsibility for assessing all assignments including the Enrichment Experience report.
“I found the year that I spent at the University of Sheffield to be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding of my educational career. After completing my degree, I spent a year at the University of Sheffield on a PGCE course. I found it a very friendly, stimulating environment and I enjoyed my time there very much”.
Dr. Joanne Harris, Writer
PGCE Enquiries:
Email: ite@sheffield.ac.uk