Tasks to be completed before you start the Secondary PGCE course
NOTE: the Offer-holders site will be updated for 2021-22 entry shortly. If you are holding an offer for 2021-22 entry, our PGCE Admissions team will email you when the site is ready (this isn't likely to be until early May 2021)
There are a number of tasks described below that you are asked to complete prior to starting the course that form part of the taught course during the first few weeks of term. Please complete everything that is asked of you in readiness for the first week of the taught course. Download the following checklist to help you with this:
Anticipating Practice Tasks
An Anticipating Practice Tasks document will be uploaded to this section on 01 September. Please complete these tasks during the Anticipating Practice two weeks in September (14-25 September). We ask you to do these tasks during this fortnight so that when you start the taught course on 28 September these tasks are fresh in your mind. Note: these tasks do not require you to be in a school setting. Our normal structure where new trainees arrange 2 weeks of preliminary experience in school settings is not taking place this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated difficulties of arranging such placements so early in the new school year.
These tasks should be well presented as they will contribute to the evidence required for the award of your PGCE and will form the basis of group and individual discussions with your tutor during the first weeks of the taught course. Once you have completed the tasks you should email them to your tutor along with a completed Formative Reflection on Achievement & Progress - Anticipating Practice form by the deadline indicated on the form. The tasks won't be marked or assessed but are a demonstration to your tutor of your early engagement with the course and will help them make a formative judgement about your engagement and progress so far.
Secondary PGCE Anticipating Practice Tasks
Fundamental Skills Audits
All trainees need to demonstrate a certain level of English and mathematics by the end of the course before QTS can be awarded. This is a DfE requirement. To start this process, please download the following two audit documents and spend as much time as you can developing and improving your English and mathematics skills before the course starts.
Fundamental Skills English Audit
Fundamental Skills Maths Audit
Your tutor will discuss the outcomes of your audits with you in the first weeks of the taught course and there will be plenty of opportunities during the course for you to work on any areas you identify as needing improvement.
Trainee Information Form
Please download and complete the Trainee Information Form and return it to the Partnership Office via exeterpartner@exeter.ac.uk before the start of the course. This form will be shared with your placement schools in the autumn term to help them plan for your placement. (Note: School Direct trainees do not need to do this).
Subject Leaders also have their own additional tasks, reading lists and general information to impart relating to their individual subject. Please click on the relevant link below to access the subject-specific pre-course information relating to your subject:
Secondary English Information and Tasks
Secondary History Information and Tasks
Secondary History - Progression in History under the 2014 National Curriculum
Secondary Mathematics Information and Tasks
Secondary Mathematics Subject Knowledge Audit
Secondary MFL Information and Tasks
Secondary MFL - Eurydice explanation of the English education system
Secondary MFL - History of Education in England part 1
Secondary MFL - History of Education in England part 2
Secondary MFL - Key Stage 3 Framework for Languages
Secondary MFL - GCSE subject level conditions for MFL (Feb 2017)
Secondary PE Information and Tasks
Secondary PE - Appendix A
Many trainees ask for advice on useful reading prior to beginning the course. Your main subject tutor will advise you on subject-related reading. The following books have been suggested by tutors and represent a range of views on educational issues. The list includes some more accessible texts, while others are quite ‘heavyweight’. All are relevant to the course that you are about to follow. Select from these titles, depending on your interests. Most of these books are more recent publications, but the list includes a few older texts that are still significant.
Alexander, R. (2008) Towards Dialogic Teaching: Rethinking Classroom Talk. Dialogos: UK
Capel, S., and Leask, M. (Eds). (2016) Learning to Teach in the Secondary School: A companion to school experience 7th Revised Edition. Taylor & Francis Ltd.
Ellis V (2013) Learning and Teaching in Secondary Schools, 5th Revised edition. Sage Publications Ltd. Learning Matters Ltd.
Fisher R (2005) Teaching Children to Learn. Nelson Thornes
Fisher R (2005) Teaching Children to Think. Nelson Thornes
Flutter J and Rudduck (2004) Consulting Pupils: What's in it for schools? RoutledgeFalmer.
Fox R (2004) Teaching and Learning: Lessons from Psychology. Blackwell
Kyriacou, C (2007) Essential Teaching Skills. Nelson Thornes Ltd.
Petty, G. (2009) Teaching Today: A Practical Guide. Fourth Edition. Nelson Thornes
Pollard, A. (2008) Reflective Teaching. 3rd Revised edition. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Sewell, K. (2012)(ed). Doing Your PGCE at M-Level: A Guide for Students. 2nd Revised edition. Sage Publications Ltd
Wells, C.G. (1999) Dialogic Inquiry. Toward a Sociocultural Practice and Theory of Education. Cambridge University Press
Wilson, E. (2013) School-based Research: A Guide for Education Students (2nd Edition). London, Sage.