Scottish PGCE

The Scottish PGCE is recognised by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) and upon successful completion of the programme, students will be eligible to apply for provisional registration with the GTCS. Full registration will be awarded once the teacher has successfully completed the GTCS probationary period.

Trainees are responsible for checking the GTCS teaching requirements in Scotland which can be in addition to the entry requirements for this PGCE. For example, those wanting to teach Modern Foreign Languages in a Secondary school in Scotland must have lived in a country where the language is spoken for a specified period of time (www.gtcs.org.uk/registration).

Trainees on this course must be in sole charge of their classes but supervised by a GTCS registered teacher at all times they are in the classroom.

Course Content

Starting every August, the PGCE is a 37-week school-based course available to those employed in a school, during which trainee teachers work under the guidance of a mentor (appointed by the school in which they work and who holds Full Registration with the GTCS). The mentor will be expected to attend an online training session in early September.

Trainee teachers are supported by a weekly programme and nine days of training across the year, (August, October, February and June) including subject-specific content. Training days are delivered both online and via attendance at residentials at which trainees will participate in lectures, workshops, seminars and discussion groups led by experts in their field. The programme also consists of guided weekly meetings and observations, termly visits by the University tutor and regular twilight sessions.

The course encourages reflective practice, focusing on the subjects being taught, the craft of the classroom and the underpinning educational values of the teacher. Trainee teachers will be assigned a University tutor.  The University tutor and the school Mentor will jointly assess the student’s competence as a teacher during and at the end of the course. There are three essays to complete, carrying a total value of 60 Level 7 (Master’s) credits.

In addition to the Buckingham ITT Curriculum, trainees have another Six Elements of Focus in line with the Scottish Curriculum:

1. To develop an understanding of the principal influences on Scottish education and develop awareness of international systems
2. Show an awareness of connections with other curricular areas, stages and sectors
3. Acquire knowledge and understanding of theory and practical skills in curricular areas, referring to local and national guidance
4. To develop an understanding of current, relevant legislation and guidance such as the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act (2000), Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, the Equality Act 2010 and Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC)
5. Gain a working knowledge of the teacher’s contractual, pastoral and legal responsibilities
6. Know how to develop realistic and coherent interdisciplinary contexts for learning, particularly in relation to sustainability.

The start date for this programme is August. This has the advantage that the whole course can be completed within one academic year.

All candidates require

• A UK Bachelor’s Degree (minimum 2:2). Certificate and transcript are required.
• National Qualifications in English at SCQF Level 6 (for example Higher Grade) or an accepted equivalent.
• National Qualifications in Mathematics at SCQF Level 5 (for example National 5) or an accepted equivalent.
• For Non-UK qualifications, a statement of Comparability will be required from UK ENIC, together with a certified translation of the degree transcript.
• To be employed in a school in Scotland.
• To demonstrate competency in Digital Technology skills (Digital Skill Accelerator – Online Assessment Tool)

For Primary candidates

• Content of degree must provide a good basis for becoming a Primary teacher. We will look for evidence of study of English and maths, as well as two of the following areas: science, social studies, expressive arts, religious studies, modern foreign languages, technology. We will consider A level study as well as content of degree.
• General Primary applicants – must be teaching the core subjects of English, maths and science for a minimum of 10 hours per week.
• In addressing the Scottish Government Languages Working Group report Language Learning in Scotland A 1+2 Approach (2012) and the STEM Education and Training Strategy, GTC Scotland would encourage candidates to have at least one SQCF level 5 qualification in either a modern language and/or a science subject. (this can be discussed with the University Admissions team).

For Secondary candidates

• Degree must be in a related subject with a minimum of 80 SCQF credit points directly related to the subject specialism.
• Secondary applicants – must be teaching their specialism for a minimum of 10 hours per week.
• If applying for the Secondary programme as a teacher of Dance, PE, Music – applicants will have to provide a copy of a digital portfolio prior to an interview that demonstrates related skills. Further information can be provided by the University Admissions team.
• If applying for the Secondary programme as a teacher of MFL, candidates must have spent a minimum of 6 months living abroad in the relevant country (e.g. as part of a study abroad programme) and will be expected to demonstrate their language skills at interview. If applying to teach two languages, the requirement is that candidates will have lived abroad for at least 3 months in each country.

Applicants will be required to attend an interview with a member of the academic team.  At interview applicants will need to demonstrate that they are:

• Committed to professional values
• Reflective and innovative
• Self-directed, resilient and have high levels of self-efficacy
• Willing to reflect on the impact of their teaching on every learner and are committed to supporting those learners with additional
• Wanting to support needs such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Tourette syndrome.
• Can develop appropriate subject and pedagogical content knowledge, and have the capability to become experts in pedagogy
• Can develop an awareness of how the study of Scottish culture can be developed within the curriculum
• Can understand the principles of assessment and are able to use assessment to monitor and enhance learners’ progress
• Will be committed to their own ongoing professional learning and can engage with and are informed by educational research and policy
• Have an awareness of educational provision across Scotland, including the particular requirements of rural schools
• Have some awareness of education’s links to other fields and are committed to working with other professionals within and beyond education.

Applicants should contact Admissions for any advice regarding permitted equivalent qualifications: education@buckingham.ac.uk.

The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering educational services. If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.

Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and so on. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.

Applicants must also pay a £275 non-refundable Registration Fee.

Fees are invoiced for in September, at the beginning of the course, and can be paid in termly instalments or in one lump sum. Termly instalments can be arranged directly with the Finance department upon receipt of the invoice.

IAPS members are eligible for a reduced fee.

Please select ‘IAPS’ on the partnership section of the application form. For further details please get in touch using the contact details above.

Bursary funding

If you need financial assistance for this course beginning, please contact Shonali Mathur at: pgce-support@buckingham.ac.uk. You will be asked to fill in a means-test form.

Please use the ‘Apply’ button at the bottom of this page; or contact The Faculty of Education on +44 (0)1280 820222 or email: education@buckingham.ac.uk.

Before we can accept you, you will need to supply:

• copy of your degree certificate and transcript
• copy of English, Maths and Science SCQF/GCSE (or equivalent) certificates
• copy of Statement of Comparability for non-UK qualifications
• copy of passport photo page (and visa/work permit where necessary)
• head and shoulder style photo for your University identity card

Closing date for applications: 24 July 2023