teaching

Teacher Training Courses

This 2-year part-time university course is offered in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University. It leads to the Diploma in Education and Training (DET Level 5) or Professional Graduate Certificate of Education (Level 6). Both qualifications are full, recognised teaching qualifications for the FE, adult and voluntary learning sectors. Year 1 will run on Tuesday and Year 2 will run on Thursday.

Successful completion of this course will allow you to apply for Qualified Teacher, Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, which qualifies you to teach in secondary schools.

Specialist pathways are  available for specialist teachers of ESOL, Literacy, Maths and SEN. Please note that you will attend generic modules at West Thames College and specialist modules  at another partner college (venues to be confirmed).

Fees for the course are £3540 per year. Student loans are available.

For more information please contact Tracy Jackson on 020 8326 2189 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

  • About the Course

    The course aims to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding of teachers of students aged 14+  in colleges (FE), adult and community settings, prisons and probation service, secondary schools and private training providers.

    The course consists of 6 modules, 20 credits each, taken over 2 years.

    In Year 1, you will study:

    • Introduction to Teaching and Learning
    • Applying learning theory to practice
    • Assessment and barriers to learning (with specialist focus for pathways)

    In Year 2, you will study:

    • Reflecting on Practice (with specialist focus for pathways)
    • Curriculum
    • Policy and Professional Practice

    If you are interested in a specialism route, we can discuss these options further.

    Please note that you will need to attend generic studies at West Thames College and specialist studies at another college - venue to be confirmed.

  • Entry Requirements
    • You will need to be teaching or training, either paid or voluntary, while the course is running. All teaching must be in an appropriate FE and Skills provider, Sixth Form College, School/Academy, Public or private training organisation. You must have responsibility for the group that you are teaching (planning and assessing the learning). You will need to complete a minimum of 100 hours teaching over the two years with at least 40 hours in the first year.Please note that you are responsible for securing your own teaching practice; the college does not provide teaching placements.
    • You will need to have a work based mentor to provide subject knowledge guidance and to assess your teaching.
    • Successful completion of a pre course test and an interview.
    • Applicants for the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (ProfGCE) are required to have a degree.
    • You should possess at least a Level 3 qualification in the subject area you want to teach or considerable professional experience as well as a good level of literacy and numeracy skills.
    • IT skills to word process assignments and prepare teaching materials.
    • A successful Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

  • Progression

    Successful completion of the course will qualify you to teach in the FE and adult sector. You may go on to apply for QTLS, which will allow you to teach in secondary education.

    For employed, unqualified teachers and trainers, successful completion of the course may lead to increased responsibilities, new roles as programme leaders/managers within the sector or further teaching opportunities.

    For those completing DET at Level 5, there may be an opportunity to progress to the BA in Education and Professional Training.

    For those completing the Professional Graduate Certificate of Education at Level 6, there may be an opportunity to progress to the MA in Professional Learning and Education

  • Assessment Method

    You will be assessed through module assignments, mentor and tutor observations of your teaching, peer observation tasks and through keeping a Professional Development Journal (PDJ) that maps your 'journey' through the two years. In year 1 all work is assessed at Level 4 and in year 2 the Diploma is assessed at level 5 and the ProfGCE is at level 6.

    Please note that tutors will need to travel to your workplace to observe you teach, so your work needs to be within reasonable traveling distance of West Thames College.

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