PGCE for International Trainees (fully online)

“Although I had been teaching for 8 years previously, the PGCE had a significant impact on my practice, especially engaging with the weekly programme of readings. By the end of the course, the training hadn’t just impacted on me, it had improved practice in my department and the wider school!” – Ezzat Ali, PGCE 2020.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education for International Trainees offers teachers based in schools outside the UK, who have not undergone a period of formal training, the opportunity to participate in a structured programme of professional development.  It is the leading course of its kind available in the UK.

Starting every September, the International PGCE is a 37-week school-based course available to teachers who already have a job in a school, during which trainee teachers work under the guidance of a mentor (appointed by the school in which they work) and receive weekly tutorials to review progress and set targets. The course is available in most subjects and age levels. It is also possible for Primary teachers to specialise in a subject area.

Six one day ‘live’ training sessions plus two induction days (in late August) run by the university will be delivered online. Attendance at all these days is mandatory.

“Who dares to teach must never cease to learn. Personally, this PGCE course through The University of Buckingham has enriched my teaching and was one of the best decisions I made to increase my professional development.” – Belinda Orlandini, 2020 International PGCE Students.

Course content

All International trainees will be assigned a University of Buckingham tutor who will meet online with trainee and mentor throughout the course, to assess their progress, guide their development and support the mentor. For example, the tutor will attend one mentor meeting per term and discuss a lesson plan with the trainee termly.

Your University tutor will be a subject specialist. Our subject specialists this year include: Art, Music, Design Technology, Food Technology, Business Studies and Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Computer Science, English, Drama, Classics, Modern Languages, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Psychology, and Physical Education.

There will also be some content specifically about working in international schools.

“…the time and effort she (University tutor) offers to my mentor and I is outstanding. She has been a pleasure to work alongside and to have as a supporting body throughout. Thanks to her lovely feedback during our meetings, I am at a stage where I feel confident and comfortable in my classroom.” Aishlin O’Rourke, PGCE for International Trainees (Primary)

Trainees are assessed in a number of ways:

• you will have a mentor in your school who will arrange for your lessons to be observed and assessed so that you can improve week by week.
• you will record evidence of your teaching on an online form.
• trainees are assigned a University of Buckingham tutor who will be in touch regularly. You will have termly calls to assess your progress and guide your development.
• you will write three academic essays.

For the additional QTS qualification (needed to teach in a state school in England), it is possible for a teacher who has been teaching for two or more years to apply for the Assessment Only to Qualified Teacher Status. A trainee may begin the application process in the term following the one-year International PGCE.

• UK degree (2.2 or above). For equivalent qualifications, contact education@buckingham.ac.uk to confirm that your qualification meets the University entry requirements
• You must be employed as a teacher in an international school abroad that teaches English National Curriculum or the International Baccalaureate (IB) and be in sole charge of a full-size class for a minimum of 10 hours a week.

In addition, you must:

• Obtain a commitment from your school to provide a suitable mentor.
• Show the physical and mental fitness to teach.

The employing school must be able to fully support a candidate through the course, enabling them to demonstrate all of the English Teachers’ Standards.

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

Fees are invoiced at the beginning of the course.  Instalments can be arranged directly with the Finance department upon receipt of the invoice.

All staff at COBIS member schools get a 5% discount on course fees. To ensure the discount is applied please select ‘COBIS’ from the partnership box on your application form.

If you would like a tutor to travel from the UK to observe lessons in person, this is possible for an additional fee. Please contact: stephen.cook@buckingham.ac.uk

Applicants from China should apply through the Buckingham International School of Education, please click here:  https://bise.openapply.cn/

Please use the ‘Apply Now’ 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:

• a copy of passport photo page (and visa/work permit where necessary)
• copies of your qualification certificates
• a head and shoulder style photo for your University identity card

Closing date for applications: 17 July 2022 (September 2022 entry)