School of Society and Culture

CertEd Certificate in Education (incorporating the Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills))

UCAS course code 7747
Institution code P60
Duration

1 year

(with placements)
Course type

Full-time, Part-time route available

Study location Plymouth

If you want a career in further education colleges, adult and community education, work-based training, and public sector organisations, our programme helps you develop the required skills, knowledge, and professional values to achieve this. With a large proportion of your time on this course spent on placement, you have the chance to gain real-world experience, preparing you for a fulfilling and rewarding career.

On completion of this course, you can apply to undertake the professional formation process to achieve Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status.

Key features

  • Benefit from highly skilled and qualified tutors with many years’ experience in the further education and skills sector. Spend at least two days a week on placement in a further education and skills setting.
  • Take advantage of opportunities to network with potential employers. Follow in the footsteps of many of our trainees and possibly go on to find employment within the organisations you work with during your placement.
  • Demonstrate innovation, creativity and enterprise throughout your time on the programme and benefit from the way education for sustainable development is embedded in the programme. Work closely with your fellow trainees, learning together and from one another, with peer-support is an important part of the programme’s philosophy and organisation.
  • This qualification is tailored for applicants who hold a level 3 qualification or substantial vocational experience. The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is available to those have a bachelors or masters degree one of these qualifications.
  • We work with the local General and Specialist Further Colleges and would invite applicants with a range of qualifications and relevant experience. On completion take your qualifications to the next level – after completing this course you'll have the option to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status with the Society for Education and Training (SET).

Course details

  • Year 1

  • You are expected to complete four 30-credit modules and ten teaching observations. As a full-time trainee you are committed to a Monday-to-Friday week of academic and professional study, consisting of two full days per week of on-campus study, a minimum of at least two days per week of professional practice placement (arranged by the University) and one day per week of independent study and research. You work closely with your colleagues on the programme, learning together and from one another, with peer support an important part of the programme organisation and learning. Your teaching observations are carried out by university tutors and subject-specialist mentors in an atmosphere of professional evaluation and support.

    Core modules

    PCET401
    Learners, Learning and Teaching 30 credits

    This module, taken at the start of the course, addresses legal, policy-based and theoretical understandings of practices in Further Education and Skills Sector (FE&S). It prepares teachers for practice and helps them to reflect and respond to the needs of learners, utilising a range of approaches to teaching and assessment, while ensuring they understand the need for compliance with regulatory systems. It also inducts the teachers into the processes and approaches of the teacher training course that they will engage with throughout their studies.

    PCET502
    Subject Specialist Teaching and Managing the Learning Environment 30 credits

    This module supports a trainee teacher’s investigation into and application of subject specialist pedagogy. Trainee teachers will analyse and critically evaluate theories and principles of inclusive/adaptive practice, identifying ways to improve practice, with reference to the Occupational Standards. Through ongoing experiential learning and reflective practice, trainee teachers will be evidencing their creativity, resilience and flexibility as practitioners. Trainees will work with their mentor to engage in the full range of teaching activities.

    PCET503
    Teaching and the Curriculum 30 credits

    This module explores the development of subject specialist curricula and associated pedagogies. Trainee teachers demonstrate the ability to make and justify choices made in curriculum design. Trainee teachers will show an holistic awareness of EMD, EDI, ESD and SEND in relation to inclusive curriculum design. Trainees will also critically analyse and evaluate the use of digital technologies and how they can and will shape educational practices. Trainees will work with their mentor to engage in the full range of teaching activities.

    PCET504
    Professional Practice 30 credits

    This module focuses upon notions of professionalism and wider professional practice roles and responsibilities associated with the learner journey. Concepts and systems of quality assurance and quality improvement will be critically analysed. Trainee teachers will demonstrate engagement and competence with all the Occupational Standards and consolidate their enactment of the range of teacher roles and responsibilities. The module will also look forward to future practices, CPD, and the gaining of Professional Status. Participants reflexively evaluate their professional and personal progress and plan future development to take them in to their first year of teaching post qualification.

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Entry requirements

Contextual offers: Typically, the contextual offer for this course is 8 points below the advertised tariff. A contextual offer is an offer to study at university that takes into account individual circumstances that are beyond your control, and that can potentially impact your learning and your exam results, or your confidence in applying to university.

Check your eligibility for a contextual offer

Academic Requirements

  • A level three qualification (or be able to demonstrate suitable subject expertise and specialist knowledge) in the subject area you wish to teach.
  • GCSE: level 2 equivalent in both English and Maths.
  • Good information and communications technology (ICT) skills.
  • For a full list of all acceptable qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.
Applicants with overseas qualifications can check their compatibility with Ecctis, who provide an advisory service.
If English is not your first language, you require:

Non-academic Requirements

  • An interview is a pre-requisite for entry onto this programme. The first stage interview is conducted by a member of the teaching team. If successful there will be a second interview with a subject specialist tutor from the placement college. This interview is to ascertain your level of subject knowledge in the areas that you might reasonably be expected to deliver whilst on your teaching placement. Find more information about interviews in the Institute's interview pages.
  • You’ll be required to complete a satisfactory enhanced DBS (formerly CRB) Enhanced Disclosure , register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority and complete a criminal convictions self-declaration form. Find all of the important documentation you'll need when applying for this programme
  • You must be deemed fit to teach.
All appropriately qualified candidates will be given equal consideration during the selection process. The University does not tolerate discrimination on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, colour, disability, religion, nationality, age, sexual orientation or any other irrelevant distinction.
You’ll normally be pre-service and your entry onto the programme will be conditional upon the University identifying a suitable placement and mentor in the subject specialism.

Fees, costs and funding

Student 2024-2025 2025-2026 *
Home £9,250 £9,250
International £17,100 £17,600
Part time (Home) £770 £770
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.

* UK Government announcement on tuition fees

On Monday 4 November 2024 the UK Government announced a proposal to increase tuition fees for home undergraduate students from £9,250 to £9,535 per annum from September 2025 onwards. The University of Plymouth intends to apply this new fee from September 2025. However, implementation of this increase will be subject to Parliamentary procedure. The University will give further details to both prospective and current students as soon as more information becomes available.

Additional costs

This course is delivered by the Faculty of Health and more details of any additional costs associated with the faculty's courses are listed on the following page: Faculty of Health additional costs .

How to apply

To apply for this course, please download, complete and return the application form .
Guidance notes are available to enable you to complete the application form.
Please contact our Admissions Office should you require any further information:
Central Admissions
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth
PL4 8AA
Tel: 01752 585858 Fax: 01752 588050
email: admissions@plymouth.ac.uk
To apply for this course, please download, complete and return the application form .
Guidance notes are available to enable you to complete the application form.
Please contact our Admissions Office should you require any further information:
Central Admissions
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth
PL4 8AA
Tel: 01752 585858 Fax: 01752 588050
email: admissions@plymouth.ac.uk
Tom Rooney

Lecturers