Certificate in Education in Post Compulsory Education & Training (PCET)

The Certificate in Education (PCET) is the main professional qualification for the Post-School sector, covering post-compulsory education and training.

A valuable professional development programme designed for adult trainers, those working in Adult and Community Education, Health and Social Services, Armed Forces, Police and Emergency Services. The PCET is the essential qualification for those teaching and/or training, full or part time, in further education, public or private sector organisations.

This new and revised Programme has been established to meet the changing needs and demands of the sector. These revisions are also fully consistent with the requirements of FENTO (LLUK), OFSTED, Higher Education Academy (HEA), the Basic Skills Agency (BSA) and the QAA subject benchmarks for Education Studies. The course has received FENTO endorsement and students successfully completing will be recognised as having met all appropriate FENTO standards.

What is LLUK and why is this course important for me?

Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) is the new sector skills council responsible for the professional development of all those working in the field of lifelong learning. It will support learning providers in meeting the challenges of the current skills and education agendas.. Successful completion of the Certificate in Education (PCET) accredits you to the necessary LLUK (FENTO) standard for teaching in the Post-Compulsory and Learning and Skills sectors of education.

Alan Harding

Tom Taussik
Jayne Maddock
Sue Liddon
Gail Maddison
Louise Toone

The new course has been mapped out against SVUIC and other appropriate teaching standards and is presented and assessed in six key areas of study including Identification and Support of Learners’ Needs, Planning and Design, Delivery of Teaching and Learning, Assessment of Learning, Professional Practice and Evaluation, and Issues in Post Compulsory Education.

In Year One you will concentrate on practical teaching and planning skills, development of teaching resources, and identifying and supporting the needs of individual students.

Year Two puts more emphasis upon research and critical analysis of teaching and learning activities, course planning, and the management of teaching in PCET.

Duration

2 years part-time

Attendance

Attendance in both years is equivalent to one evening or half a day release commencing in September. Normally you will attend for 4 hours one day a week.

Assessment is entirely through coursework. There is no final examination. There are 6 individual assignments in the first year and 5 in the second. Tasks are designed to help you develop skills and understanding in both your own subject specialist area as well as the wider context of PCET. Your teaching will be observed on a minimum of 5 occasions in Yr 1 and 4 in Yr 2. At least one observation every year will be by a subject specialist in your own area. Upon successful completion of the CertEd you should be able to progress on to the University’s two year, part-time BA(Hons) in PCET.

Is there anything else I need to know?

You will receive friendly support, guidance and high quality tuition from a group of dedicated and well qualified academics. The University of Southampton is one of the UK’s leading research-driven universities and our tutors have many years experience at local, national and international levels. Inspections by both OFSTED and the Higher Education Quality Assurance Agency have identified our teaching, support and QA systems as being of the highest quality. We look forward to you joining us.

Where can I attend?

• University of Southampton (Yrs 1 & 2)
  
  Tel: 023 8059 3477
  Year 1 Thursday 1.30 - 5.30 Highfield
  Year 2 Monday 5-9 pm Cosham
  Year 2 Tuesday 1.30 - 5.30pm Highfield
  Year 2 Wednesday 5-9 pm Highfield
  
  
• The Bournemouth and Poole College (Yrs 1 & 2)
  
  Tel: 012 0220 5964
  Contact the centre directly for details.
  
  
• The Isle of Wight College (Yr 1 & 2)
  Tel: 019 8352 6631
  
  Year 1 Wed 1- 5 pm
  Year 2 Wed 5-9pm * subject to confirmation. Check with centre directly for more details.
  
  
• Sparsholt College (Andover) (Yrs 1 & 2)
  
  Tel: 01264 360090 or 01264 360107
  Yr 1 Tuesday 5-9 pm
  Yr 2 Monday 5-9 pm
  
  
• Totton College (Yr 1)
  
  Tel: 023 8087 4874 ext 897
  Yr 1 Wednesday 2-6 pm
  
  
• Alton College (Yr 2)
  
  Tel: 01420 592200
  Yr 2 Monday 5-9pm
  

How do I qualify for entry?

We seek applications from all those who are teaching, instructing and assisting learning whether in public or private organisations in the PCET sector. In order to gain full LLUK approval you must have sufficient opportunity to teach or train for a minimum of 150 hours over the two year period of the course. You will also need to show evidence of your existing qualifications and these should include Literacy and Numeracy or their equivalents at Level 2. Experienced applicants may be able to enrol directly on Yr 2 if they meet certain criteria. Please check with your local provider to see if you qualify.

Application Procedure

Applications should be made direct to your local participating college and your place will be confirmed by the University of Southampton. Application forms are obtainable from the appropriate Centre, from the PCET office at the University of Southampton or you can download it here.

For guidance notes on completing your PN1 Form, please click here.

Details on how to apply for the Post Compulsory Education and Training PGCE and Certificate in Education are available here...

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