Developer Info

At a glance

• 86% of students rated LJMU’s teacher training as good or very good
• LJMU has over 100 years' experience of delivering teacher education programmes
• Targeted at graduates wishing to teach in secondary schools or Further Education colleges
• Graduates qualify for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• Mix of on-campus and school/college based training
• Option to complete period of teaching in the Further Education sector
• Graduates leave the course well equipped to start their career with an e-portfolio and a Career Entry Development Profile

Course overview

The study of engineering is an increasingly popular option for young people at GCSE and post-16 education. This demand reflects the growing employment market within this sector. Learners in both schools and colleges can undertake a range of courses from generic engineering qualifications covering a range of sectors, to more specialised awards. At GCSE level (or equivalent) engineering teachers will be expected to deliver a wide range of engineering skills, including designing and making. This programme concentrates on developing professional and teaching skills and awareness of the engineering curriculum and assessments.

This route will equip you with the knowledge and skills to teach in the secondary age range (11-16) but will have a focus in the 14-19 phase and applied/vocational qualifications. The format of the course may include a period of teaching in the Further Education sector. The course has strong links with the Design and Technology (D&T) Education team and shares a number of sessions. During your teaching placements you will have the opportunity to teach D&T at Key Stage 3 and above. This will broaden your experience and employment prospects.

This one-year course is intended for graduates with a degree in an engineering-related subject who wish to become teachers in an FE college or secondary school context and potentially become coordinators and subject leaders in Engineering. On successful completion of this programme you will be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Our highly qualified and respected academic staff combine specialist knowledge and creative research with hands-on teaching experience. This combination of academic and professional expertise helps ensure that our graduates are well equipped to meet the opportunities and challenges faced by today’s teaching professionals.

Why study this course at LJMU?

Your Training Experience
Your training programme will involve a mix of University based and school/college based training, with the latter becoming predominant as the course progresses.

Your school or college-based training will involve a up to 120 days practice spent in school and/or colleges in the North West. Experienced mentors, working in partnership with university tutors will support training in schools and colleges

Additional Information
The professional development of the trainee is monitored and supported throughout the course. Students leave the course with an e-portfolio as well as a Career Entry and Development Profile (CEDP) and well developed reviewing and action planning skills that stand them in good stead for their professional career.

Introduction to the School

The Faculty of Education, Community and Leisure delivers this course at the IM Marsh Campus. This is a green campus on the south side of the city with excellent views overlooking the River Mersey. The campus has a range of large and small teaching rooms, dance studios, laboratories, a food product development base, textile centre, in-service teacher training centre, traditional and all weather sports pitches and a gym. There are also many organised sporting activities (step aerobics, football etc.) available on campus for students.

There is also a Student Meeting Place incorporating the Student Union shop and cafeteria. The Rose Lane LJMU Accommodation provides local accommodation for postgraduate / mature students. A major food retailer, a good selection of local shops, restaurants, bars and pubs are within walking distance of the campus.

Staff research interests

The PGCE Engineering route has strong links with the PGCE Design and Technology route as well as the other Applied PGCE routes. The current research interests of the Design and Technology Education team include vocational education (initial teacher education), subject knowledge acquisition and teacher modelling/demonstrations in the subject.

Research in the Faculty is central to its strategic aims of providing quality education, engaging in enterprise activities and contributing to the regeneration of the region. Structured and directed by Faculty Research Directorate, research supervision is available in the following areas:

• Education
• Sport, Dance and Outdoor Education
• Nutrition and Health
• Leisure and Tourism

Research activity is organised under the aegis of one of five research centres:

1. Centre for Education Studies and Primary Research
2. Centre for Postgraduate and Professional Development
3. Centre for Sport, Dance and Outdoor Education
4. Centre for Tourism, Consumer and Food Studies
5. Centre for Secondary and Vocational Education.

Many projects are of national and international significance and are presented at conferences both at home and abroad.  Research groups are also culturally diverse and reflect the cosmopolitan nature of projects undertaken in the Faculty.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is continuous throughout the course and includes academic components and the development of a portfolio of evidence of teaching practice.

What do past and present students say about the course?

"...staff always made time to see me and return my calls/emails and kept me going when things got tough."

"...[there was] opportuntiy to get invlolved with extra curricular activities...

"...overall [I am] very happy with how the year went, very pleased with the support given from LJMU and delighted with my progress..."

"...I found support from my school based mentors to be a great influence on my teaching practice..."

Other related courses

PGCE Design And Technology 

Entry requirements

You must have a degree or recognised degree equivalent with at least 60% content in the subject area.

You should hold, or be expected to achieve, at least a 2:2 Honours degree.

Nationally, all secondary PGCE courses require GCSE qualifications at grade C (or the equivalent) in Mathematics and English language prior to the start of the course. LJMU provides GCSE Equivalence Tests – further information is available at www.ljmu.ac.uk/teaching/gcse.

Trainees starting the course from September 2013 will be required to pass the skills tests in Numeracy and Literacy before starting the course. Registering for the tests is available now and you are encouraged to take the tests as soon as possible. Further information can be found at: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/careers/traininganddevelopment/professional/b00211200/registration

The desire to teach children and an enthusiasm for your subject are essential requirements for all courses. Applications for this programme will be welcomed from qualified professionals from a variety of industrial, commercial and educational backgrounds where they have gained experience in the field they wish to teach.

The selection process also looks for applicants who demonstrate an interest and enthusiasm for the subject area and their ability to make this exciting and meaningful to young people in a range of contexts. Relevant work experience and evidence of time spent working with young people is particularly important. In addition applicants will be asked to demonstrate their ability to work with others in teams and to manage people and projects.

Our selection and interview procedure involves partner schools and includes a written test. Successful applicants are expected to complete up to 10 days of experience in a secondary school prior to the start of the course.

An Enhanced CRB Disclosure check is a requirement of entry onto this course which involves working with children or vulnerable adults during placements. The University will pay the cost of Enhanced CRB Disclosure checks. Please contact us should you require any further information.

All offers made will be conditional on a satisfactory health check and all applicants will be required to complete a medical health questionnaire prior to the start of the course.

Application and Selection

All applications for PGCE courses must be made online through the GTTR www.gttr.ac.uk

University Codes
GTTR Code name: LJM
University Code Number: L51

GTTR Course Codes:

Engineering: HX1C

If you need help or advice on your individual application, you should call the Customer Service Unit on 0871 468 0 469 (or 0044 871 468 0469 from outside the UK), open Monday to Friday, 08:30-18:00 (UK time). Calls from BT landlines within the UK will cost no more than nine pence per minute. The cost of calls from mobiles and other networks may vary.

Will I be interviewed?

Fees information

For fees and bursary information please visit our Teaching Information Page.

Financial support

Funding for postgraduate Teacher Training

Home and EU students may be eligible for a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of tuition fees and may also be entitled to a tax free bursary from the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA). The size of the bursary depends on when you start training and what subject you train to teach.

A student maintenance loan may also be available to help towards accommodation and other living costs and may also be eligible for a non repayable maintenance grant. This grant will be means tested and you can apply through Student Finance England.

For more information please visit www.directgov.co.uk and www.tda.gov.uk

How to apply

GTTR

LJMU's Admissions policy is in line with the University's Equal Opportunities Policy and applications are welcome from all candidates who fulfil the entry criteria. The university has a commitment to equality of opportunity and welcomes application from everyone regardless of age, disability, race or sex. The University is committed to widening participation and therefore will actively consider applicants who do not have a relevant degree but who are able to provide satisfactory evidence of their knowledge in the area. All applicants will be considered by the Recruitment and Selection Panel, if shortlisted applicants will be asked to attend for an interview.

International students

LJMU offers an extensive support system through its international office and study centre. An equivalence to the normal entry requirements is needed for entry. Students must also demonstrate a proficiency in communicating through English, for example with an IELTS tests or equivalent. Please note that because of UK visa restrictions, International students are only permitted to study on a full-time basis. Please contact LJMU’s International Team by visiting www.ljmu.ac.uk/international for more information and advice.

Further information

Please contact the Faculty of Education, Community and Leisure on:

tel: 0151 231 5340
fax: 0151 231 5379
email: Ecl-recruitment@ljmu.ac.uk

If you have any queries relating to LJMU or university life in general please contact:

Course Enquiries
Tel: +44(0)151 231 5090
Email: courses@ljmu.ac.uk
Web: www.ljmu.ac.uk

Employment and careers

The professional development of the trainee is monitored and supported throughout the course. Students leave the course with an e-portfolio as well as a Career Entry and Development Profile (CEDP) and well developed reviewing and action planning skills that stand them in good stead for their professional career.

As a postgraduate student you will be able to take full advantage of the extensive range of advice and guidance available in our World of Work Careers Centre, including our Ready for Work training courses, which cover everything from interview skills to preparing for assessment centre tests.

LJMU also has a dedicated Centre for Entrepreneurship, offering business advice and start-up funding, to students and graduates interested in setting up their own companies or working freelance.

Our World of Work Programme – endorsed by FTSE 100 companies and leading business organisations – offers you the chance to get an additional certificate proving to potential employers that you have the skills and experience they are looking for. No other university in the UK or internationally, offers students the chance to develop these skills and organisations backing the scheme include the Confederation of British Industry, United Utilities, Sony, Siemens, Peugeot Citroen and Marks and Spencer.

LJMU offers a superb environment for postgraduate study and top level research.

Whether you are studying on a taught master's course or embarking on a research degree, LJMU offers you a supportive, flexible academic environment, well-structured programmes and round-the-clock access to extensive resources.

Our research environment is rated as 'world-leading' in a majority of our subjects and all of our postgraduate programmes are taught by academics actively involved in research or consultancy projects with business and industry.

It is this combination of academic expertise and 'real world' experience that ensures LJMU's courses have real currency with potential employers and why over 95% of our postgraduates are in work or further study six months after they graduate (HESA 2010).

We believe this expertise – coupled with world-class academic standards – 75% of LJMU's research is rated as internationally important – puts us in a league of our own.

To find out more about our postgraduate courses and research opportunities plus the range of facilities and support we offer, click on the links opposite.

Why Liverpool?

Liverpool is a fantastic student city, bursting with opportunities and lots of things to do: a legendary music scene that's bigger than just the Beatles, a city centre bursting with clubs, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes. Plus award-winning shopping facilities, museums, galleries and theatres, not to mention two Premier League football clubs, golf courses, beautiful parks and outstanding countryside a few miles up the motorway.

The city recently won Trip Advisor’s Best Nightlife Destination Award 2011, beating Manchester, London, Glasgow and Brighton. The city has also achieved Purple Flag accreditation, commending Liverpool as a safe place to enjoy a night out.

Liverpool is also a city that is very supportive of all the students who live, work and study in its universities. With such a warm and hospitable culture – Liverpool is the perfect 24-hour student city.