The Training Programme

School-led PGCE

What is a School-Led PGCE?

Starting from September 2024, the School-Led PGCE program replaced the School Direct route for initial teacher training (ITT). This program is similar to the School Direct route as it is operated by a partnership of a lead school, other schools, and an accredited training provider. For the Rural Schools Alliance, the lead school is Swanmore College, and the University of Winchester is the accredited training provider.

Trainees, like you, will be recruited by us instead of the University of Winchester. Upon successful completion of the interview process, you will be enrolled by the University and begin your training at the start of the Autumn term, joining the school community. In comparison to university-based PGCEs, you will spend more time in school, gaining practical experience and becoming familiar with day-to-day life, ultimately becoming a confident and competent member of the school community. 

Your training

There are 7 key elements to your training:

  • Core training days
  • ITAP weeks
  • University days
  • Formative placement
  • Placement 1
  • Placement 2
  • Assessments

Core training days

During the initial phase of the program, you will undergo rigorous training aimed at immersing you into the teaching and learning experience. This induction will involve building on your existing knowledge and introducing practical concepts and applications that you can apply in the classroom to prepare you for your school placements.

These training days will continue every Friday throughout the duration of your course, while you are not at the university.

Areas covered will include:

  • Understanding the curriculum
  • Subject knowledge development
  • Planning
  • Assessment
  • Differentiation
  • Behaviour Management
  • Safeguarding
  • Managing workload and strategies for efficiency

ITAP weeks

During your course, you will have 4 Intensive Training And Practice (ITAP) weeks. These are focused on particular areas of pedagogy and are a mix of training, research, observation, practice and reflection.

University days

University days provide a valuable opportunity to study and learn your craft – both subject specific and pedagogy – through collaboration with trainees within and beyond the Alliance.

Formative placement

Based at your home school, you will begin with collaborative work and observation, and teaching will range from 25% to 50% by the end of this placement, combining collaborative and solo training. September through to December (Autumn term)

Placement 1

You will join a second school for 9 weeks and during this placement, collaborative and solo teaching will increase to up to 60% by the end of your time there.

January to mid-March (Spring term)

Placement 2

Back at your home school, you will continue with collaborative and solo teaching, increasing your time to 70% teaching.

Mid-March through to early July (mid-Spring 2 and most of the Summer term)

Assessment

An assessment of the training programme is through written academic assignments and the successful completion of the teaching placements.

The programme operates under the Postgraduate Regulatory Framework which sets out the full regulations for passing modules, grading of modules, retrieving failed modules, progression from one academic level to the next, requirements for awards, and how the award is classified.

The PGCE counts as 60 Master’s credits, equating to 1/3 of a Masters.

Examples of written assignments:
Assignment 1 – Current issues related to Subject Specialism
Assignment 2 – Professional Studies: Behaviour for Learning
Assignment 3 – Professional Studies: Inclusion

Your training will be divided into 4 parts: Core Training Days, University days, Placement 1 and Placement 2. If you are offered a training place, specific information will follow about your timetable, but here we offer general guidance about what you can expect the timetable to entail.

Core Training Days

At the start of the programme, you will experience an intensive, immersive induction into the world of teaching and learning with Core Training Days. Both by developing your existing knowledge, and introducing you to practical concepts and applications in the classroom, you will be encouraged to establish and develop solid foundations in readiness for your school placements.

Here is an example of the programme we offer:

» Professional Training Programme

Areas covered will include:

  • Understanding the curriculum
  • Subject knowledge development
  • Planning
  • Assessment
  • Differentiation
  • Behaviour Management
  • Safeguarding
  • Managing workload and strategies for efficiency

University Days

University days provide a valuable opportunity to study and learn your craft – both subject specific and pedagogy – through collaboration with trainees within and beyond the Alliance.

Placement 1

You will begin with collaborative work and observation, and teaching will range from 25% to 50% by the end of the first placement, combining collaborative and solo training.

Placement 2

During this placement, collaborative and solo teaching will increase to up to 60% by the end of your placement