Training to Teach at St Mary’s | 1

Training to Teach in England ... in London ... at St Mary’s University (Strawberry Hill)

St Mary’s University Waldegrave Road Strawberry Hill Twickenham London TW1 4SX United Kingdom

Tel +44 (0) 20 8240 4000www.stmarys.ac.uk/pgce

pgceprimary@stmarys.ac.ukpgcesecondary@stmarys.ac.uk

Follow us @TeachStMarys

2 | St Mary’s University Twickenham London

Leafy London

St Mary’s has all the advantages of a great London location with the tranquillity of a beautiful self-contained campus in a safe suburb.Central London is just 30 minutes away by train from Strawberry Hill, giving the opportunity to take advantage of everything it has to offer.

We are close to Heathrow Airport and within easy reach of other London airports, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted.

Teddington and Twickenham offer a wide range of shops, restaurants and pubs. The riverside towns of Kingston and Richmond upon Thames are just a short bus ride away where you will find cinemas, live music venues, night clubs, theatres and pubs, many of which offer discounts to St Mary’s students.

The nearby Royal Parks in Richmond and Teddington have hundreds of acres of beautiful, secluded woodland for get-away-from-it-all walks plus space for cycling or running.

Also close by are historic Strawberry Hill House, The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew and Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace.

“I made up my mind to come here after the open morning visit and chat with my subject tutor. It is a very pleasant environment and I value the pastoral element.”PGCE Modern Languages trainee

Central London

30 mins

25 mins Kew Gardens

20 mins Hampton Court

15 mins Kingston

Twickenham

10 mins

Tour our campusYou can find a virtual University tour on our website at www.stmarys.ac.uk/virtual-tours

For more info on our location Visit www.stmarys.ac.uk/student-life/location

London on your doorstep

Training to Teach at St Mary’s | 3

Welcome / Fáilte

Thinking about becoming a teacher? This brochure outlines a supportive option away from home. The education provision in all countries is constantly under review and refinement, as is the teacher training provision. In September 2014, the Irish Teaching Council introduced a new two-year post graduate qualification – the Professional Masters in Education (PME). At the time some newly qualified teachers in Ireland had to wait on average five years to secure a permanent full time teaching post. The competition for places for the two-year PME route is very competitive.

At St Mary’s, we would like to offer you an additional opportunity to fulfil your ambition to become a teacher. Speaking with our present Irish trainees, they highlighted why training to teach in England is an attractive proposition.

} Shortage of subject bursaries – up to £26,000 tax free paid to you by the UK government to train to be a teacher.

} The course costs compared to Ireland – our one year PGCE courses cost £9,250 with student loans available.

} There are available opportunities for full-time teaching contracts on completion of the course – being paid approximately £27,000 as a newly qualified teacher with the option to complete a full Masters.

Irish students have chosen St Mary’s specifically because of its:} welcoming campus} speciality in Teacher Education} ‘Outstanding’ OFSTED grade} Catholic foundation} competitive Gaelic Football and Hurling teams} positive reputation within Ireland.

Our mission} The mission of St Mary’s University is to prepare its trainees for flourishing lives,

successful careers and social commitment through excellent, research-enriched teaching in a strong community of mutual respect based on our Catholic ethos and identity.

} The Institute of Education is committed to trainees’ personal development and enhancement and are proud to be one of the very few Initial Teacher Education providers in the country to be awarded ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED across all areas of programme provision (Primary and Secondary).

} The PGCE aims to produce teachers of the highest quality, achieved when trainees match the commitment and dedication of teachers and tutors throughout the programme. The course seeks to prepare trainees to teach in both religious and secular schools. We welcome people of all faiths and those of none.

Look us upSt Mary’s University Waldegrave RoadStrawberry HillTwickenham TW1 4SX

T +44 (0)20 8240 4000www.stmarys.ac.uk/pgce

4 | St Mary’s University Twickenham London

Strawberry Hill Station 5 min walkFor trains to London and other local destinations.

Campus Entrance and Visitor ReceptionStaffed 24 hours a day.

Bus stopThe number 33 is a 24-hour service to Hammersmith, Richmond, Twickenham and Teddington.

Bus stopThe R68 bus service to Kew, Richmond and Hampton Court.

The Chaplaincy

Studios, classrooms and lecture theatres

Library Services24:7 Access to IT facilities. All the books, journals and online resources you need.

Richmond Train and Tube Station District Line 20 min bus/25 min cycleFor trains to London and other local destinations.

Twickenham 15 min walk/5 min cycleFor restaurants, bars, cafés and shopping.

Training to Teach at St Mary’s | 5

Teddington 15 min bus/5 min cycleFor restaurants, bars, cafés and shopping.

Kingston 20 min bus/25 min cycleFor restaurants, bars, cafés and shopping.

Teddington Lock Sports Campus 20 min walkOver 16 acres of playing fields with football, rugby, cricket and all weather pitches.

Refectory

Theatre

Dolce Vita Café

School of Education, Theology & Leadership

Sports Centre State-of-the-art Performance Hall, IFI accredited Fitness Suite, Conditioning Suite

Classrooms, lecture theatres, laboratories and IT suites

6 | St Mary’s University Twickenham London

Why St Mary’s?

St Mary’s University has a long and distinguished history for the education of teachers. It was founded in 1850 by the Catholic Poor Schools Committee to meet the need for teachers to provide an education for the growing numbers of poor Catholic children. Our history was recognised with a Papal visit in 2010. Our Irish heritage means that we have competitive Gaelic football and hurling teams.

The University has just over 5,000 trainees and currently a third of this total have Education modules within their studies. We are London’s second largest teacher training course provider.

The campus size sustains a friendly atmosphere and we offer a variety of learning environments from traditional teaching areas to the more informal café. We make good use of the University’s virtual learning environment and buddy systems are in place for trainee teachers to support each other during the course.

At St Mary’s, we have the strongest commitment to trainee teacher support. Visiting trainee teachers in school at least three times over the duration of the course, and more often if needed. We see tutors retaining contact with trainee teachers while they are school-based as a major factor in our support of success.

The PGCE course at St Mary’s UniversityThe PGCE is a university-led professional training course. Trainees are prepared for a teaching career in partnership with schools that are formally linked to St Mary’s. This provides an excellent framework within which to develop their skills.

Course structureThe one-year PGCE course commences at the beginning of September with an induction period. The weeks are split between days at the University and days in school. The course is university-led, not university-based, as your time will be based in partner schools. The course ends in June, allowing employment from July.

TeachingThe course team uses a variety of teaching and learning approaches, including lectures, collaborative, paired and small group work, practical and resourceful approaches, workshop sessions, use of technology, individual and group trainee presentations and some self-supported study. External cross-curricular visits to museums and exhibitions, also take place.

Our dynamic teaching format including whole cohort lectures, subject specific and cross curricular workshops, foster opportunities for trainees to develop effective teaching methods. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is awarded when trainees have successfully achieved all the standards set by the Department for Education. Course work assignments complement work in schools and assist in gaining the QTS Standards. These assignments encourage trainees to be thoughtful and reflective, but also reinforce the evidence-based nature of the course assessment. Self-assessment and evaluation of both school and university-based work is important.

Modules of the Catholic Certificate of Religious Studies can be completed during your PGCE year. Trainees who successfully complete these modules achieve an additional 30 masters credits.

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Course overview

The PGCE courses address all generic aspects of teaching including special educational needs and disabilities, behaviour management, planning assessment and target setting, plus the implementation of government initiatives. The intensity of the course demands self-motivated study, although strong academic and tutorial support is readily available.

The courses are approximately 40 weeks’ duration, of which at least 24 weeks is spent in school. You will be allocated two different placements in partner schools organised for you by St Mary’s. Whilst there, you will have weekly training sessions from an experienced subject mentor and visits from a St Mary’s tutor.

For the primary PGCE course, importance is given to the core subjects of English, mathematics and science. Professional studies is integral to all subjects and courses are provided in foundation subjects of the National Curriculum including physical education. Emphasis is also given to religious education in addressing the mission of St Mary’s.

Our Secondary PGCE is organised by subject specific courses with whole cohort learning sessions for a number of cross-curricular topics. School placements are organised and coordinated centrally by St Mary’s staff. During school placements, trainees are supported both by teachers in their placement schools and their tutors at St Mary’s.

An additional 30 Masters credits can be completed as the PGCE programme finishes. This leaves our teacher trainees with a total of 90 Masters credits (45 ECTS).

Assessment through the course is continuous. Written essays and audits of subject knowledge form an integral part of assessment procedures. High standards of attendance, punctuality and participation are requirements of all course elements. The opportunity to gain 60 Masters credits is embedded within the PGCE course and in most years, approximately 95% of students successfully achieve the credits, which they can later build upon during their teaching career to gain a full Masters in Education.

We have a very successful trainee teachers’ employment record after the course with well over 95% of our teacher trainees securing posts as class teachers within six months of qualifying.We are proud to note that in excess of two thirds of our PGCE trainee teachers begin their teaching career in one of our partner schools – a record of which we are proud and which pleases our partner schools. This reflects positively on our expertise and experience in matching our trainees with our partner schools.

The minimum academic pre-requisites are GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grades C or above (or their equivalent) and an awarded degree, 2.2 or above. For primary, you will need a GCSE in Science at GCSE ‘C’ grade or above.

For applications to our secondary PGCE Course, the degree classification can vary depending on the subject and you do not always need to have a degree in line with the area you would like to teach. For Secondary applications, we strongly advise that you contact us to find the precise up to date entry requirements.

At present, St Mary’s offers the following one year full-time courses. Shortage subjects are shown below with an aterisk:

English*Geography* History*Mathematics* Modern Languages* Physical Education PrimaryPrimary with PE specialism Religious Education* Science with Biology* Science with Chemistry* Science with Physics*

Please be aware that some courses are extremely competitive and fill very quickly. Please contact us to for details of places available on each course.

8 | St Mary’s University Twickenham London

Applications to Initial Teacher Training within England are made through UCAS Teacher Training (www.ucas.com). Applications are made through UCAS from early October for courses commencing the following September.

We would encourage early applications as individual providers can close their own courses within that timescale so it is worth checking with us when you apply. A minimum of a 2.2 degree classification is required to enter the teaching profession within the UK.

FundingThe fee for our PGCE is £9,250. Student finance support this fee in the form of a loan which you will commence repaying once you have secured full time employment.

Preparation for your applicationSt Mary’s would like every applicant to have made an informed decision about entering the teaching profession. Please check the University’s website thoroughly for the particular details associated with the Course that you intend applying for – www.stmarys.ac.uk/teacher-training/pgce/overview.aspx.

In checking that you have the appropriate GCSE qualification grades, please be aware that the following equivalence exists with the Irish Leaving Certificate. Accepted Irish qualifications equivalent to C grade at GCSE. We offer equivalence tests in Ireland if required.

} Irish leaving certificate (Ordinary Level) – Grade C or above} Irish leaving certificate (Higher level) – Grade D or above

Route back to Ireland Through the St Mary’s PGCE course, you have the opportunity to complete 90 credits of a Masters degree. All Irish trainees, on completion of their course, are required by the Irish Teaching Council (ITC) to undertake their first year teaching in the country where they undertook their teacher training.

Additional modules from our Masters can be taken in order to complete your Masters qualification in full. It is possible that, by the end of your second year of teaching, you could achieve a Masters degree with St Mary’s, which will support your application to teach in Ireland, where this qualification is mandatory. There may be a requirement to ‘top up’ some aspect of your qualifications, for example, Irish Language qualifications, in order to meet the Irish Teaching Council criteria.

A three year planAt St Mary’s, we would ask you to consider looking at training to teach in England as a minimum of a three year plan.

Year One – Teacher training } Gain two qualifications (Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a

PGCE) with up to 90 Masters credits } Claim bursaries, currently in a range of £6,000-£28,000,

dependent on subject and level of qualification you have

Year Two – Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) } Begin to embed the practice of teaching in your first full time role} Look to build on your Masters credit with St Mary’s University

Year Three – NQT +1 } Complete your Masters degree} Check ITC expectations to complete any ‘top ups’

Discover morePrimary PGCE Admissions TutorSusan TaylorT +44 (0)20 8240 4367E pgceprimary@stmarys.ac.uk

Secondary PGCE Admissions TutorClive WoolgerT +44 (0)20 8240 4154E pgcesecondary@stmarys.ac.uk

PGCE Admissions DepartmentT +44 (0)20 8240 4027E pgceadmit@stmarys.ac.uk

Wellbeing Team (Learning support)T +44 (0)20 8240 4353E wellbeing@stmarys.ac.uk

Fees and financeT +44 (0)20 8240 4035/4237E feesoffice@stmarys.ac.uk

How to applyAll applications must be made through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service) – www.ucas.com.

Useful websiteswww.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher- training

Get into Teachinggetintoteaching.education.gov.uk

How to apply