An exciting cocktail of creativity, problem-solving and logical reasoning, mathematics is an essential part of many professions and everyday life. And from the early study of astronomy to the recent creation of Facebook, mathematics has always been at the heart of life-changing discoveries. Are you ready to empower the next generation of mathematical pioneers?
Mathematics teachers are in great demand and this course enables you to meet the national standards for the award of qualified teacher status. Combining theory and practice, you will comprehensively investigate the structure of the mathematics curriculum, considering numbers and algebra, shape, space and measures, and handling data. You will be encouraged to provide evidence of your own development in teaching and learning.
Under the guidance of our team of experts, students become involved in designing, producing, teaching and evaluating a range of materials currently used to support mathematics in the secondary school.
We have excellent relationships with schools in London, Essex and Hertfordshire and during your studies, you will have the opportunity to undertake teaching placements in at least two secondary schools, allowing you the chance to acquire skills in the application of new technologies in teaching and learning. Schools are carefully selected to suit each individual and expose them to a wide variety of imaginative and thought provoking learning strategies. Key experts from our partner schools will always be on hand to offer invaluable mentoring and support.
Course highlights
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At the start of the course you will be shown how to audit your mathematics subject and pedagogical knowledge and you will develop an action plan to address gaps in subject knowledge. The course begins with developing your understanding of the purpose and rationale for teaching mathematics in schools, and engages you with research and literature about the pedagogy of mathematics teaching and how to teach your subject effectively.
Through interactive workshop, tutorials, lectures and debates, our team of expert staff will equip you with the skills and experience necessary to educate and inspire secondary pupils. You will critically evaluate the effectiveness of a wide range of resources and your own lesson plans. You will analyse research data and critically evaluate how research has contributed to the knowledge and understanding of how to teach your subject effectively.
We’ve made sure that the skills and knowledge that you’ll gain on your course will not change during the coronavirus outbreak. Your module information is below.
This module aims to introduce the professional secondary school environment. You will demonstrate your progress in developing your understanding and skills necessary to operate as an effective teacher in a secondary school. As such, it supports you to progress towards the achievement of current requirements for the award of Qualified Teacher Status.
This module aims to consolidate your professional practice in a second secondary school environment. It aims to ensure you can demonstrate the understanding and skills necessary to operate as an effective teacher in a secondary school. As such, it supports you in the achievement of statutory requirements for the award of Qualified Teacher Status.
This module aims to develop your understanding and skills necessary to operate as a critically reflective teacher in a secondary school. You will be assessed by undertaking a small-scale research assignment that compares theoretical perspectives in education with the reality found in school.
This module builds on the learning and skills developed in the Professional Knowledge and Pedagogy and the Secondary Professional Development 1 modules and aims to deepen your understanding and skills necessary to operate as a critically reflective mathematics teacher in a secondary school setting. You are summatively assessed through a Monitoring and Assessment assignment. Here you design, resource, teach and evaluate a scheme of work that reflects best practice in Mathematics education and assessment.
More information about this course
See the course specification for more information:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we've learnt in recent years by enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
The programme is designed to provide 120 days in schools with two school experiences (School Based Training 1 and School Based Training 2). Each placement provides a sustained teaching experience over the complete teaching week.
The remaining 60 days of the programme is university based, where lectures, seminars and practical workshops in a blended learning environment. The course will comprise a range of presentations, discussions and practical workshops where exemplar material can be selected from a specialised subject context.
The two school experiences assess your ability to demonstrate you are able to apply the knowledge, understanding and skills of the ITE curriculum to your teaching practice, and fully meet the Teacher Standards by the end of your training programme:
We are currently reviewing our approach to teaching and learning for 2023 entry and beyond. We've learned a lot about how to give you a quality education - we aim to combine the best of our pre-pandemic teaching and learning with access to online learning and digital resources which put you more in charge of when and how you study. We will keep you updated on this throughout the application process.
Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.
You’ll receive final arrangements for your teaching and a full course timetable before you start. Delivery may differ in light of block teaching requirements, with theory sections covered online and practical sessions delivered in specialist spaces on campus.
Outside of these hours, you’ll be expected to do independent study where you read, listen and reflect on other learning activities. This can include preparation for future classes. In a year, you’ll typically be expected to commit 1200 hours to your course across all styles of learning. If you are taking a placement, you might have some additional hours.
Definitions of terms
Support
You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
We are proud to have strong and committed partnerships with hundreds of schools located in London and the surrounding area. This means that during your studies you will take part in work placements at a variety of schools, where you will have an opportunity to apply the skills you have learnt.
Our course gives you Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Teaching is a profession with excellent progression and benefits and our graduates have an excellent reputation within the profession. Our employment rates are extremely high with around 97% of our PGCE graduates in employment or further study six months after graduation. The starting salary of a qualified teacher in inner London is £30,480.
Teachers can find career progression in both the classroom and the school's management structure. You might aspire to become the head of a department, age group or curriculum. And through developing your leadership skills and experience, you could progress to a senior management position, such as deputy head or head teacher.
For more information on salary and career progression, visit the Department for Education's website.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
Start: September 2024
Duration: 1 year full-time
Code: Q3X1
