Teaching and Training

Train to Teach at South Essex College

This course is suitable if you are aged 19 plus and want to get back into studying to gain the first step towards becoming a teacher whilst improving your study skills and academic writing to prepare for university.

Past students have gone on to undertake degrees in Early Years Education, Special Educational Needs and Disability Studies, English and even Music Production. Upon graduating with a degree there is the option of doing a Professional graduate Certificate in Education (PgCE) or School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) depending on the type of teaching desired. *Entry requirements apply.

• 90% of graduates strongly agreed that they would recommend this course to a friend
• 100% of our graduates from the past three years received offers from universities of their choice

This short, ten week introductory course to teaching gives you an insight into the roles and responsibilities of being a teacher or trainer, covers planning and delivery of inclusive teaching/training sessions and how to assess and give constructive and developmental feedback.

It is suitable for many entry level training careers in businesses, charities and local authorities. It is ideal preparation for an ITE programme such as the PgCE or L5 Diploma in Education and Training. Past students have included those in the armed forces and emergency services, prison service and hobby & leisure trainers. *Entry requirements apply.

Many of our trainees come from vocational backgrounds and have trained and worked in the beauty, construction and technology industries amongst others and may not hold a degree to study on a SCITT programme or PgCE. This part-time course (one evening a week, over two years) allows you to continue to work while you study. Your teaching practice hours can be in a paid or voluntary position. To assist you in developing your core skills you may be eligible to study your Level 2 qualification for free in English or Maths should you not already hold them. The Level 5 Diploma fulfils the professional requirements for becoming a teacher in the education and training sector teaching students aged 14+, however many of our graduates go on to apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status (QTLS) allowing them to teach in secondary and some primary school settings, please see below for more details. *Entry requirements apply.

• 47% of graduates saw career progression within 3 months of completion
• 100% of volunteers are now in teaching roles
• 100% of graduates agreed that they received feedback that helped them improve and that they were encouraged to have high standards of behaviour & work
• 86% of graduates agreed that being in placement helped them develop skills and behaviours for employment

“The course enabled me to put the skills developed through training into place in the classroom environment. I also learnt new skills through different teaching techniques through my colleagues and tutors.”

Our Higher Education Initial Teacher Education courses are validated by the Open University.

This course is ideal if you are new to teaching or training in the further education and skills sector and are looking for comprehensive training to support you in your development as an educational practitioner.

On completion, successful trainees will be able to take an analytical and practical approach to all aspects of planning, delivering and assessing inclusive teaching and learning. They will also be prepared and able to implement technology-enhanced learning that supports the evolving digital world we live in. Trainees will embed theories and principles in education & training and demonstrate them in their practice. They will also carry out research into professionalism in education & training policies and consider their impact on their role and their accountability as a teacher/trainer.

We offer both “Pre-Service” and “In-Service” pathways for our Professional graduate Certificate in Education. Further and higher education institutions require teachers with specialist subject knowledge who can teach people who want to explore a wide variety of subject areas, including those not traditionally offered in school settings. Past trainees have included those holding degrees or masters in subjects such as English, Business Studies, Costume and Media Make-up, Sport, Forensic and Crime Scene Science, Rehabilitation Studies, Illustration. The structure of the course, assignments and observations cover the fundamental skills within Education that any individual would need to work in the Further Education Skills Sector. *Entry requirements apply.

If you have just completed your degree or have been working professionally in your subject field our Full Time, one year “Pre-Service” PgCE is for you. You will study for two days a week and work in a voluntary teaching placement working with students age 14+. If you have a degree in English or Maths you may be eligible to apply for a government bursary. Many of our graduates go on to be employed by their placement.

“The programme provided on hand, continued support from highly advanced practitioners, who gave honest and reflective feedback. Within the first term studying the PGCE programme I was appointed my first teaching position as an Associate Lecturer for the Evening and Weekend Provision at SEC. I am current working as the Course Team Leader for a new course within Foundation Learning working with pre-16 learners that have been home educated. I would highly recommend anyone to start a journey into teaching and take the steps to complete a PGCE programme with South Essex College. It is one of my achievements that I am very proud of and I love teaching!”

Our “In-Service” two year, part-time programme is perfect if you are already working in a college, university or even secondary school with age 14+ learners, either as a student support role or as a tutor/teacher.

• 83% of Full Time trainees achieved a high grade
• 100% of Full and Part Time learners were deemed to be “good” in practice upon completion of Programme
• 69% of Part Time learners were deemed to be “outstanding” in practice upon completion of Programme
• 88% of graduates saw career progression during or directly following completion of the Programme
• 95% of graduates are in full time teaching roles ****
• 100% of trainees rated the observation and feedback process as “Highly Effective”

What our PgCE PT Graduates say...

“The support given by the teaching team was fantastic! Tutors always made the time to support me and explain the assessments at a pace that suited me.”

“My experience was that the Course Lead (both as CTL and lecturer) demonstrated excellent teaching and learning experiences and stimulated and challenged me.”

“By completing the PGCE I have now moved into a full time teaching role, which has been my ambition.”

 “We had a very good tutor that’s guided and helped us achieve all outcomes and was always there for help when needed.”