Mathematics Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE)

To be ready for the challenges of teacher training, not to mention the classroom, your subject knowledge and understanding has to be of a sufficient standard.

If your degree subject is not close enough to the subject you want to teach, you can take additional training before your initial teacher training (ITT).

Who is the course designed for?

The new Subject Enhancement Course replaces the two-year and 18-month PGCE routes. Pre-initial teacher training enhancement courses are intensive programmes for graduates who need to develop a greater depth of subject understanding prior to training for qualified teacher status. Enhancement courses are suitable for graduates with experience of the subject to at least A-level standard. The School of Education has specifically developed two courses which give will equip you with the necessary skills and subject knowledge to teach mathematics across the 11-18 age range.

If you think you need to go on an enhancement or extension course, you should first apply to an initial teacher training (ITT) course. All applications have to be done through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry and the process starts in September/October each year. Though there is no official closing date for applications, once the course has reached its quota of places we will have to close that particular course to further applications. We recommend that you apply as early as possible to stand the best chance of getting a place. You can visit their website at www.gttr.ac.uk or telephone them on 0870 1122 205.

If we consider you to have the attributes to make a good teacher, you will be offered a conditional ITT place and referred to the appropriate enhancement course. If you are applying for a PGCE, you can indicate on your application form that you are interested in doing a subject enhancement course.

How does the training take place?

At the University of Southampton you can take either the 24 week or 36 week mathematics enhancement course. These courses are for graduates who are interested in teaching but who need to develop their subject knowledge to teach secondary pupils. University based teaching is run over three days with the remainder of the week allocated to directed and private study.

The 36 week course begins in September, with on-line activities and some school-related work. Teaching sessions, based in the School of Education, begin in October, with further on-line support.

The 24 week course begins in February with on-line activities and some school-related work. Teaching sessions, based in the School of Education, begin in March, with further on-line support.

Assessment for both courses is through portfolios of evidence, presentations and written assignments focusing on children’s learning of Mathematics.

Are there any particular features of the course?

The main focus of both the mathematics subject knowledge enhancement courses is to update subject knowledge and understanding. There is strong continuity throughout the course as successful completion will enable direct progression onto the secondary mathematics PGCE.

Central to your success on this course is the support you receive from tutors in the University and from mentors in partner schools. Year-on-year, trainee teachers on our PGCE courses evaluate highly the support received from both tutors and mentors. Mentors undertake regular training within the University, so that all school placements are of a consistently high standard.

Upon your successful completion of one of these courses, you are expected to go straight into an initial teacher training course leading to qualified teacher status (QTS).

If someone is interested in this course, how would you recommend them prepare for the course?

We recommend you spend some time in one or more secondary schools, observing Mathematics teachers and working with pupils. Try to visit a range of different types of school. Reflect on what makes a ‘good’ lesson. Broaden your understanding of some of the underlying principles in Mathematics and the interconnections that exist between them. Broaden your Mathematical knowledge, especially some of the areas with which you are less familiar.

Ruth Edwards

Mr Keith Jones
Ros Hyde
Dr Julie-Ann Edwards

Our aim is to produce teachers who are effective, reflective and will make a positive contribution to the profession. By the end of the course you should have an understanding of appropriate professional attributes and strong subject knowledge.

The 36 week mathematics enhancement course at the University of Southampton starts by recapping the ‘tricky’ bits of the Higher level GCSE mathematics and GCSE statistics syllabuses. Working as part of a group, including through the University’s Virtual Learning Environment and through personal study, you practice and deepen your understanding of the Mathematics taught in secondary schools and post 16. Topics include geometry and measures, statistics, algebra and number and mathematical processes and applications taught at key stages 3 and 4 In addition, time is spent studying some areas of the statistics encountered at Advanced level. Teaching sessions mirror methods of good teaching and learning found in secondary schools including active learning, themed approaches and mathematical applications and processes. Graduates who successfully complete the first twelve weeks of this course automatically join the students on the 24 week course.

The 24 week mathematics enhancement course is an intensive programme which covers all the Pure mathematics covered at Advanced level as well as some of the Further Pure. You spend time at the University working with a specialist tutor to update your subject knowledge on topics such as the algebra of polynomials, graphing functions, calculus, matrices and complex numbers. Decision and Discrete mathematics and Mechanics are also studied during this time. As with the 36 week course teaching sessions mirror methods of good teaching and learning found in secondary schools including active learning, themed approaches and mathematical applications and processes.

During the course you will have the opportunity to spend two weeks observing lessons in schools. By the end of your second week of observation you will have the opportunity to deliver a topic to a small group of pupils. Throughout the course you will be able to develop your subject knowledge in mathematics through a range of approaches: we offer workshops, micro-teaching activities, independent and group research, and the opportunity to use some of the wide range of teaching resources currently available; published schemes, worksheets, calculators, interactive whiteboards and software packages.

Each topic covered is assessed through completion of subject knowledge questions relating to that area of mathematics. These are usually questions taken from past GCSE and Advanced level examination papers. In addition, there are open ended tasks and weekly written assignments relating to the mathematics that has been studied or activities that have been observed in school.

Careers Prospects:

Teaching is a rewarding profession in more ways than one, offering fantastic career prospects and development opportunities. The variety of potential career paths available can see you enjoy all kinds of experiences, roles and responsibilities. In secondary schools, you can move up and across the management structure to gain responsibility as a head of department, faculty or pastoral group. You could then progress to a senior management position such as deputy or assistant head and, ultimately, headteacher - at which point you would have overall responsibility for the management of a school and the education its pupils receive. There are also opportunities for you to specialise allowing you to become a Lead mathematics Teacher, a mathematics advisor to schools and local authorities or a career mathematics education researcher.

Fees and Financial support

You will not have to pay any fees to complete an enhancement or extension course. While on the course you will receive a bursary of £4800 for the 24 week course or £7200 for the 36 week course. The funding arrangements for your subsequent initial teacher training are the same as for all trainees on one year PGCE courses whereby fees are payable but there is an enhanced bursary of £9000.

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