Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
Specific regulations for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). These should be read in conjunction with the General Regulations for all postgraduate taught programmes.
Specific regulations for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). These should be read in conjunction with the General Regulations for all postgraduate taught programmes.
1.1
Postgraduate Certificates in Education are awarded to students who have demonstrated:
1.2
Holders of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education will as a professional teaching practitioner be able to:
1.3
Holders of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education will have the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:
2.1
Applicants must meet the entry selection criteria for becoming a Qualified Teacher, as required by the Education Workforce Council for Wales and must also meet any other conditions specified by the University.
2.2
Applicants for the PGCE in both primary and secondary education are required to have achieved the following prior to admission to the programme:
2.3
Applicants for the PGCE in primary education are required to have achieved the following prior to admission to the programme:
2.4
The following also applies to applicants for the PGCE in both primary and secondary education programmes:
2.5
As part of the admissions process all applicants will be required to have a face-to-face interview and must demonstrate the personal and intellectual qualities, attitudes and values required for teaching.
2.6
A transfer of credits and accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) is not permitted and will not be considered as part of the admission process.
3.1
Student teachers may qualify for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education upon successful completion of an approved modular programme of study.
3.2
All Student teachers shall be required to pursue 60 credits at Level 6 and 60 credits at Level 7.
3.3
Student teachers must satisfy the Examination Board that they have developed the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership expected of newly qualified teachers as specified by the Education Workforce Council for Wales. To demonstrate they have met the Standards the student teachers must complete successfully all elements of the programme. That is, attain 60 credits at Level 6 and 60 credits at Level 7.
3.4
Learning outcomes are provided in the Programme Specification for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education programme.
3.5
The teaching pattern will incorporate a minimum of 60 days in a University setting and 120 days in a school setting, the latter as part of professional practice placements.
4.1
Student teachers shall be required to complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Education in accordance with the Assessment Regulations for Postgraduate Certificate in Education. These regulations are published as part of the University Academic Regulations.
4.2
The examination for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Secondary) shall consist of continuous assessment for two credit bearing modules, one at level 6 (60 credits) and one at level 7 (60 credits).
4.3
The examination for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Primary) shall consist of continuous assessment for three credit bearing modules, one at level 6 (60 credits) and two at level 7 (30 credits each).
4.4
When on professional practice placements, student teachers will be observed and are required to submit a portfolio of work to demonstrate their achievement against the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership as expected of newly qualified teachers as specified by the Education Workforce Council for Wales.
5.1
The maximum period of candidature for student teachers pursuing the full time Postgraduate Certificate in Education shall normally not be more than 12 months from the start of the programme with a minimum of 60 days in a University setting and 120 days in a school setting.
5.2
The maximum period of candidature may be extended if there are extenuating circumstances described in regulation 7 below but an extension of more than 12 months from the date of the final meeting of the University Progression and Awards Board will not be permitted.
6.1
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education programme of study time-limits, as set out in the specific regulations Section 6, may be extended, but in exceptional cases only and in accordance with the following criteria:
6.2
Applications for extensions must be made through the Programme Director to Education Services and the case will be considered administratively on behalf of the Student Cases Board.
6.3
As part of the request for the extension, a clear statement must be supplied showing that the Faculty/School concerned has evaluated the situation in which the candidate finds themselves as a result of the illness and that it considers the requested extension to be appropriate. Such a statement will, wherever possible, follow direct contact between candidate and Faculty/School.
7.1
In order to be eligible for consideration for the award of the PGCE from Swansea University, student teachers shall have:
7.2
A candidate successfully completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education shall be eligible for the award of Pass/Merit/Distinction as follows:
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Postgraduate Certificate in Education with Merit
Postgraduate Certificate in Education with Distinction
8.1
Student teachers pursuing the Postgraduate Certificate in Education may be eligible for a postgraduate certificate in higher education where 60 credits with a 50% or more average at Level 7 have been awarded and Qualified Teacher Status has not been awarded by the Examination Board.
9.1
In order to be eligible to be recommended by Swansea University for Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) to the Education Workforce Council for Wales, student teachers shall have:
9.2
Registration for Qualified Teacher Status can only be confirmed by the Education Workforce Council for Wales.
1.1
The pass mark for all Level 7 modules shall be 50%.
1.2
Level 6 modules will be passed or failed.
1.3
To be considered for the award of a PGCE, student teachers will have pursued and passed all modules of the programme.
1.4
If a student has pursued all modules of the programme and has passed the Level 6 professional placement module but has not passed the Level 7 module(s) then the University Progression and Awards Board could:
1.5
If a student has pursued all modules of the programme and has passed the Level 7 module(s), but has not passed the Level 6 professional placement module then the University Progression and Awards Board could:
1.6
Failure to submit work or redeem a failed Level 7 module by the specified date shall result in a mark of 0% being recorded for the module. The best mark for the module will be recorded as the final mark.
1.7
In exceptional circumstances and in accordance with the University’s Policy on Extenuating Circumstances, student teachers who fail to redeem their Level 7 module(s) during the re-sit period because of extenuating circumstances or who fail a module at the first opportunity during the re-sit period (i.e. as a deferral) may submit evidence of such circumstances to their Faculty/School for consideration. At the discretion of the University Progression and Awards Board, such student teachers may be permitted one further opportunity to re-sit. The reassessment(s) shall normally take place at the next assessment(s) point for the modules at the next opportunity but within the maximum period of candidature.
1.8
Failure of a Level 7 module at the second attempt shall result in the Faculty/School recommending to the University Progression and Awards Board that the candidate be required to withdraw from the University.
1.9
Student teachers may not re-sit any Level 7 module or unit of assessment for which a pass mark has been attained previously.
1.10
Student teachers who are required to withdraw from the University shall be given the opportunity to appeal against this decision through the Swansea University Accuracy of Published Marks procedures or Academic Appeals procedures.
1.11
Student teachers successfully completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education shall be eligible for the award where they have passed all modules and have attained an overall average mark of not less than 50% and not more than 59.99% for the award in question.
1.12
Student teachers successfully completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education shall be eligible for the award of Merit where they have passed all modules and have attained an overall average mark of not less than 60% and not more than 69.99% for the award in question.
1.13
Student teachers successfully completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education shall be eligible for the award of Distinction where they have passed all modules and have attained an overall mark of 70% for the award in question.
1.14
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is awarded by The Education Workforce Council (Wales) on the recommendation of the University. To be recommended for QTS student teachers must pass the PGCE programme and in doing so must achieve the standards specified in the document 'Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership (Wales) 2017' and its supplementary guidelines. They must have also met the required equivalency levels in Mathematics and/or English/Welsh.
1.15
Student teachers on professional practice placements that are not achieving competencies or are practising at a level not commensurate with expectations to meet the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership will be dealt with according to the PGCE ‘Support and Intervention’ Policy.
1.16
Concerns about a student teacher’s suitability to teach will be considered using the University Fitness to Practise Procedure.
1.17
The University’s regulations, policies and procedures for Initial Teacher Education are aligned with the accreditation requirements for the Education Workforce Council for Wales and with the requirements of the Quality Code published by the Quality Assurance Agency which is the body that monitors and advises institutions on standards and quality.