SCHOOL OF EDUCATION TEACHER EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM INSPIRING LEARNING @UOBTEACH WWW.BIRMINGHAM.AC.UK/ITE TRANSFORMING LIVES 2 SchoolEnglish ofLanguage Education and Applied Linguistics Welcome to the School of Education Our Primary and Secondary initial teacher education pathways in Birmingham prepare top graduates for a career inspiring learning and transforming lives. Our highly acclaimed programmes have been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and offer the supportive professional and academic education needed to enable both recent graduates and career changers to succeed. Ranked 5th in the Times Good University Guide 2020, the School of Education has a long-standing reputation as an international centre of excellence for teaching and research. You will be taught in a school which is doing pioneering research in diverse specialisms from character education and race inequities, to innovative technology for children on the autism spectrum. The School of Education is continually expanding and developing, with new provision for teacher education at the University of Birmingham Dubai. The School also benefits from multiple links with the University of Birmingham School. English Language and Applied Linguistics 3 CONTENTS Becoming a teacher 4 School Direct 6 Life as a student teacher 8 Entry requirements and fees 11 Careers and support 12 Be part of something special 15 Studying in Birmingham 17 What to do next 19 4 School of Education Becoming a teacher Consecutive inspections by Ofsted have graded our teacher education courses as ‘Outstanding’, making the University of Birmingham the destination of choice for initial teacher education. Post Graduate Diploma in Education n Evidence of strong Mathematics knowledge with many past students completing (PGDipEd) QTS is required – a grade A or B in Mathematics the MA Teaching Studies, becoming A level, or equivalent Geography mentors, or going on to Our highly acclaimed PGDipEd is delivered subject department leadership in the in partnership with an extensive partnership Secondary PGDipEd first five years of their careers of schools in the region. We are one of the few universities that awards the Postgraduate English History Diploma in Education (PGDipEd) which UCAS code: Q3X1 UCAS code: V1X1 leads to QTS and offers the equivalent of www.birmingham.ac.uk/teach-english www.birmingham.ac.uk/teach-history 120 credits, at Masters level. For those who n This rigorous and challenging course works The course is committed to developing successfully complete their induction year there with a very diverse range of school partners History which is: is an opportunity to transfer credits to the MA and provides an excellent preparation for a n Inclusive; you will explore how factors Teaching Studies course, which is awarded career as an English teacher such as social class, gender, ethnicity on completion of a 60-credit dissertation. n Become a well-informed and critical teacher and sexuality can impact on individuals, with the opportunity to further develop your communities and societies both past Primary PGDipEd (QTS) understanding of a specialist area of the and present. English curriculum through the MA in n Challenging; the course encourages Primary (3–11 years) Teaching Studies both teachers and pupils to explore UCAS code: X100 n University sessions will explore different misconceptions about the past and present. www.birmingham.ac.uk/teach-primary aspects of English teaching and will include n Empowering; you will explore concepts of n Develop your understanding of the elements of both theory and practice identity; personal, local, national and global classroom and whole-school issues n To be considered for this course, at least through the analysis of past and present- n You will be fully supported by school half of your degree should be in an English day events, trends and individuals. You will mentors and University tutors course which reflects content of the current explore how progressive change can take n The Primary programme covers the National Curriculum place in a society and the role of the citizen curriculum for pupils aged 3 to 11 and in enabling such change to take place. includes the option to specialise in Early Geography Years, including placements in this phase UCAS code: F8X1 Mathematics www.birmingham.ac.uk/teach-geography UCAS code: G1X1 Primary Mathematics Specialist n A strong focus on high-quality www.birmingham.ac.uk/teach-mathematics UCAS code: X00G Geography education throughout all n There is not one way to teach Mathematics www.birmingham.ac.uk/teach-primary-maths aspects of the course – you will develop as a reflective Mathematics n You will learn to teach all the primary n You will work with a truly diverse range teacher able to make informed choices curriculum subjects and will develop specialist of partnership schools, fully embracing n Transform pupils’ experiences of learning expertise in Mathematics, which lays the the personal geographies of both Mathematics in a wide range of partner foundation for you becoming a future leader learners and teachers schools across the region n You will be prepared for employment in a n Strong links with subject associations n Many excellent teachers without a generalist role at the start of your career, such as the Geographical Association Mathematics degree come via our where you will ‘champion’ mathematics and RGS-IBG, including recipients of highly regarded Subject Knowledge n You will be fully supported by school RGS scholarships Enhancement route mentors and specialist tutors, and you n A very strong regional network of n A full-time mathematics subject knowledge will teach in Key Stage One and Two Geography teachers and mentors, enhancement programme, based at our Edgbaston campus, is available ‘Such is the confidence of schools that trainees from the University of Birmingham are of high quality, employment rates for both primary and secondary phases exceed national averages by some margin.’ THE 2013 OFSTED REPORT School of Education 5 Modern Languages: French, German n Strong links with subject associations Science: Physics and Spanish including NATRE, RE Council, HET, and RS UCAS code: F3X1 UCAS code: French (alone or with Spanish Exam Boards. In addition, student teachers www.birmingham.ac.uk/teach-physics or German): R1X1; German (alone or with are part of a very strong regional network n An emphasis on deepening Physics subject French or Spanish): R2X1; Spanish with of RE teachers and mentors with many knowledge and increasing awareness French: RX41 completing the MA Teaching Studies or of particular learning issues relating to www.birmingham.ac.uk/teach-languages gaining department leadership in the first Physics, including challenging students n Develop your skills to become a well- five years of their careers. prior conceptions of Physics and exploring informed, critical and adaptable Modern n A strong emphasis on subject knowledge issues relating to gender balance in the Languages teacher. development and creative and experiential study of Physics. n Key themes include grammar teaching, pedagogy. This supports student teachers n Develop skills, knowledge and pedagogy integrating literature and cultural awareness. from a variety of degree backgrounds to for Physics teaching and practise these n Graduates with at least 50% of their degree become outstanding, religiously literate attributes for teaching across the wider in their chosen language will be considered. practitioners. science curriculum. Native speakers with alternative degree n Become a reflective teacher practitioner subjects will also be considered. Science: Biology through a variety of school-based and n The course has an outstanding employment UCAS code: C1X1 University activities, learning to adapt and record, with the course laying the www.birmingham.ac.uk/teach-biology refine practice as necessary. foundations for students to develop their n Develop skills, knowledge and pedagogy n Strong links with subject associations expertise not only as a teacher, but also for Biology teaching throughout the course including the Institute of Physics and the as a Modern Languages specialist, and n Practise these attributes for teaching across Association for Science Education. Also as a postgraduate student. the wider science curriculum strong regional links to local networks of n Become a reflective teacher practitioner Physics teachers. Physical Education through a variety of school-based and UCAS code: X9C6 University activities where you can adapt Mathematics Subject Knowledge www.birmingham.ac.uk/ and refine your practice as necessary Enhancement (SKE) teach-physical-education n Graduates with at least 50% of the their n You will cultivate a deep understanding of first degree content relevant to the National www.birmingham.ac.uk/ issues and complexities which surround the Curriculum for science will be considered secondary-mathematics-ske teaching and learning of Physical Education for the course. This leads to students with n The SKE course is a full-time, campus- n University sessions will explore different a variety of backgrounds and prior learning based conversion course for those who wish aspects of teaching and will involve a experiences learning collaboratively. to teach Mathematics but have a degree balance of theoretical and practical activities with relatively little Mathematics content. n You spend some time on residential Science: Chemistry n The course helps develop a deep activities and, where possible, take part