Prep PGCE with Qualified Teacher Status

The Prep Postgraduate Certificate in Education with QTS is a formal teacher training course tailored to teachers in independent preparatory schools (ages 7 to 14) in England. You must be employed as a teacher in a preparatory independent school and be teaching the 3 core subjects at key stage 2 and a chosen subject at key stage 3 for a minimum of 50% of a full timetable.

Trainees will be expected to undertake a teaching placement in a second school which must be a non-selective state school. The duration of this teaching placement is determined upon the interview and is usually for 30-solo teaching hours over a minimum period of three weeks (15 days).

On our PGCE programmes, all teachers are encouraged to be inclusive practitioners e.g. to know about SEN and ways of promoting and maintaining good behaviour with an awareness of the importance of emotional regulation. We want to help you develop your confidence and resilience in order to be able to assuredly teach different Key Stages and across different age ranges.

You must be employed as a teacher in a preparatory independent school in England and be teaching the 3 core subjects (English, maths and science) at key stage 2 and a chosen subject at key stage 3 for a minimum of 50% of a full timetable, across four consecutive school years.

Every year, some of our applicants arrange to work in a prep school for the specific purpose of gaining this training, others have worked in the school for a year or more already.

You will be expected to have the following qualifications:

• UK degree (2.2 or above). For equivalent qualifications, contact education@buckingham.ac.uk to confirm that your qualification meets the University entry requirements
• GCSE in English Language, Maths and Science at grade C/4 or above or equivalent. For equivalent qualifications, contact education@buckingham.ac.uk to confirm that your qualification meets the University entry requirements.

In addition, you must:

• Attend an interview.
• Demonstrate competence in literacy and numeracy
• Provide a reference from your headteacher supporting your application to undertake a PGCE.
• Obtain the commitment from your school to release you for the second school placement and to provide a suitable mentor.
• Provide a satisfactory criminal record check and 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 Teachers’ Standards across the full age and ability range of training, and cannot be graded as inadequate.

The Prep curriculum is informed by the Core Content Framework; trainees will gain experience in both core and foundation curriculum subjects as well as development in your specialist subject, in order to give you the confidence, tools and knowledge to be a fully informed and evidence-based practice teacher in a school.

The Prep PGCE is a 37-week school-based course during which time you will work under the guidance of a mentor and receive weekly tutorials to review your progress and to set targets.

There are nine days of training across the year, (August, October, February and June) and during them, Prep trainees will study Primary Curriculum topics as well as be able to access subject specialisms for key stage 3 subject knowledge development.  The Buckingham 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. If successful, trainees will be qualified to teach in both independent and maintained schools in England.

For teachers undertaking their first year of teaching we highly recommend your participation in our Ab Initio course as an addition to the PGCE. This will provide you with some basic knowledge and skills to start teaching.

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.

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 a course, please contact Shonali Mathur at: pgce-support@buckingham.ac.uk. You will be asked to fill in a means-test form.

Accommodation for all residentials will be arranged by the Faculty of Education staff. If you have any questions, please contact us: education@buckingham.ac.uk

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
• copy of your English, Maths and Science GCSE (or equivalent) certificates
• 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: 17 July 2022 (September 2022 entry)