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Our programme is aimed at enabling trainees to achieve a PGCE alongside the recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
To gain a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education with recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status or a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education with recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status all elements of the programme have to be passed at the appropriate standard. All participants undertake the same assessments with the Certificate part of the final award determined by the written work associated with the modules.
Whilst our programme trains you to become a General Primary Practitioner, we are also delighted to offer specialisms across all routes.
3-7 Primary Programme
Our Early Years Primary Programme (3-7) will provide you with a placement in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and in Key Stage 1. On Specialism Days, your sessions will enable you to become familiar with the requirements and expectations of both the Early Years phase and Key Stage 1. You will come to recognise that Key Stage 1 is also a distinctive and important part of a child's educational experience. More information about these specialisms can be found here.
5-11 Primary Programme
Our Primary Programme (5-11) will provide you with a placement in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Your specialism choice can be a subject area that you have experience in or are passionate about. On specialism days, you will delve deeper into your chosen subject area and collaborate with other trainees who have different subject specialisms to compare and contrast in various areas such as subject leadership, curriculum planning and assessment. More information about these specialisms can be found here.
SEND Primary Programme
Our SEND Primary Programme will provide you with placements in both Key Stages 1 and 2, one practice will be in a SEND school and the other will be in a mainstream setting. This will allow you to explore and critically reflect on the opportunities of multi-disciplinary learning. You will be introduced to the expectations of the Primary Curriculum as well as inclusive practice and adaptive teaching. More information about these specialisms can be found here.
Programme Content
KNSTE foregrounds evidence informed practice and recognises that our trainees come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and have already completed degree level study or higher, and are in a position to learn from each other.
Our programme involves:
| Placement | SCITT Days |
| 120 days on professional placement - takes place in 2 different schools | 70 days of taught centre-based sessions - led by school based colleagues. |
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Overseen by a school-based General Mentor (GM) and supported by a SCITT Based Lead Mentor (LM) |
Include lead lectures, seminars, group activities, individual and group tutorials, practical workshops, as well as directed activities in professional contexts. |
| Placement schools are carefully selected, and may involve some travel - expected to travel for up to 1 hour 15 minutes from where you live during the course. | Sessions take place in one of our teaching classrooms. The rooms are fully equipped and you will have access to an extensive set of resources to support all curriculum areas within early years, primary and special needs education. |
| Undertaking observations and study alongside a teaching timetable that increases as the placement progresses. |
Upon successful completion of all of our programmes, you will gain QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). If you are on the QTS & PGCE route, you will gain QTS together with a Sheffield Hallam University PGCE Academic Award worth 60 Master’s Level credits.
Reflecting on Professional Practice and Development
This module enables you to critically reflect on your developing practice with reference to pertinent theory in relation to your specialist area and/or age phase. Using the vehicle of classroom talk, we will ask you to explore underpinning principles of practice relative to specific pedagogical approaches and which lead to effective adaptive teaching and learning as well as ensuring practice is inclusive for all.
Exploring and Developing Professional Practice
The module enables you to collaborate with colleagues on a chosen aspect of pedagogy, with a view to improving learning and teaching conditions and experiences. You should choose an aspect of pedagogy that is an area of discussion at either class, phase/department or school level with regards to improving the immediate learning experiences of a particular community of pupils and which has the overarching objective of potentially improving outcomes.
KNSTE are pleased to continue to offer a QTS only route. Please see the table below for a comparison of the two options below may help you in making the decision about which route might be best for you.
Keele and North Staffordshire Teacher Education is pleased to offer a 2 year flexible training route for all its primary courses (including the SEND pathway). This is a part time route, directed particularly at career changers, or those with caring responsibilities and will offer the opportunity to phase in your Initial Teacher Training and Education (ITTE) programme, combining it with other commitments. Whilst this route will appeal to many and it is a great opportunity, it is a demanding option and one that will draw on your organisational skills and capacity to prioritise how you use your time.
How does it work?
On the part time, 2 year flexible route, you will receive blocks of core, professional and subject knowledge training during your first year and blocks of school experience. These will be on a Thursday and Friday. The proportion of time that you spend in school will increase in the Summer Term of Year 1, but never exceed two days. You will be in one school throughout the year. The course runs from the end of August through until the beginning of July. During your second year you will spend three days per week with us, during the Autumn and Spring Terms, two of these will be school based (Wednesday and Thursday) and Fridays will be SCITT based. In the Summer Term of Year 2 you will then need to commit to spending 6 weeks full time in a school. You will be in a different school in Year 2 to that which you were in for Year 1. The reason for being full-time during your final term is so that you can assure yourself and ourselves that you can sustain the demands of full-time teaching. This will enhance your employability as well as develop your passion for the profession. You can opt to complete your Early Career Teacher (ECT) Years on a part-time basis following your successful achievement of your ITTE programme.
What qualifications will you achieve?
At the end of the two years of ITTE you will gain QTS, together with a Sheffield Hallam PGCE Academic Award worth 60 Master's credits. This comprises of two written academic assignments of approximately 5000 words. Additionally you will be required to complete school based professional enquiries. Details of these will be provided at the start of the course. You will receive the same amount of SCITT Tutor and academic tuition visits as the full time trainees, but spread across the two years.
You can apply for our 2 year flexible route via the DfE Apply system. For any additional advice please contact us. You are welcome to attend one of our open days or back to school days that are advertised on our website. These are available regularly throughout the year and we will be offering a hybrid of online and face to face events.