Subjects on Offer

Click a subject for more information

There are 12 places in

• Science

10 places in

• English
• Mathematics
• Design and Technology

8 places in

• Creative and Media Diploma

7 places in

• Modern Foreign Languages

and 6 places in

• Music
• ICT

Subject Knowledge Enhancement Courses

Subject Specific Requirements

Details of the 11-16 national curriculum syllabus can be found at www.nc.uk.net and www.qca.org.uk/diploma

English
The subject specific training for the ENGLISH programme is rigorous but fun. It offers practical methodology supported by the necessary pedagogy.

Typically, the training is 80 hours throughout the year. You are based in school for the session with your subject leader. You will be given the chance to reflect upon your Education and Professional Studies lectures the previous day and consider how this informs your English teaching. You will be encouraged to share your SCHOOL BASED experience with the other trainees. There will then be a grammar session followed by the main training that day.

Our aim is to improve and develop your subject knowledge both theoretical and practical. Simultaneously we will explore the best teaching methodologies! It's bang up to date, too. You will leave the course totally confident about new initiatives - most recently the Every Child Matters agenda, the RENEWED curriculum and framework and the SEAL initiatives - but the course is updated every year as the educational ground shifts beneath us.

We also allow you to present to your peer group anything that you've found that interests you as a developing practitioner in the classroom, and of course there will be surprises and challenges along the way:

• Love drama and Shakespeare? We give you a whole day devoted to it.
• Like to work under pressure and solve problems? you'll do that too.
• Interested in developing your own teaching ideas and lessons? you'll be given the opportunity to work, as a team, on an idea that you'd like to teach - from inception to developing the materials you'll need to teach with!

The English subject specific course will prepare you in becoming the total teacher of English!

Mathematics
Mathematics is about thinking and describing, analysing and creating – it has changed the world.

It can stimulate moments of awe and wonder as learners notice a connection or pattern for the first time.  It encourages independence and the ability to make decisions based on evidence, reasoning and logic.

The language of mathematics is international: it transcends cultural boundaries and is the result of human endeavour over thousands of years.

No wonder it has such an important place on the school timetable.

The course aims to produce reflective teachers who are able to evaluate and further develop their own subject and teaching skills.

Throughout the course you will:

• Work with others to solve mathematical problems, reflecting on your own work and the nature of mathematical activity
• Consider how best to provide an environment for effective learning of mathematics
• Focus on issues related to the mathematics classroom e.g. misconceptions, rich tasks, dynamic computer software and how children learn
• Develop the ability to innovate creative ways of exploring traditional areas of mathematics
• Critically evaluate resources for the teaching of mathematics
• Examine what the mathematics teaching community is saying, doing and writing
• Work at enhancing your own knowledge and understanding in mathematics
• Prepare a master class for gifted and talented pupils and present it to them.

For those without the depth of subject knowledge required for direct entry to the course, we work in partnership with Plymouth University to provide a 6 month, funded, Mathematics Enhancement Course running from January to July. Entry to this is subject to a conditional offer from a training provider. Further details can be found on the TDA website www.tda.gov.uk

Science
This course is based on teaching science for the Twenty First Century, incorporating all 3 science disciplines in accordance with National Curriculum expectations. This includes separate sciences of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Applied Science and Science to GCSE.

1. A relevant degree in an appropriate scientific field is a requirement of the PGCE course.
2. Trainees are expected to have a strong interest in science together with a sound scientific background since it will be expected that they teach all three sciences at Key Stage Three, and in some smaller schools at Key Stage four also. 
3. Trainees wishing to teach 'A' levels will require appropriate scientific understanding of their chosen speciality subject(s).

The Subject Specific Course will enable trainees to demonstrate:

1. secure subject knowledge;
2. the ability to plan lessons and sequences of lessons, that embody learning objectives and meet the needs of all students, encompassing a variety of personal learning styles. 
3. experience in the use of a variety of teaching strategies and resources;
4. the use of a range of techniques to monitor, assess, record and report  pupil progress and achievement and use this to inform planning;
5. successful use of classroom management techniques and organisation, in order to promote good behaviour and a positive climate for learning;

Students will develop and record their personal skills, knowledge and attained Q Standards through a structured Science Subject Audit and a reflective diary.  This will be used to help establish areas of expertise and areas for personal development.  There will be an opportunity to attend subject knowledge Booster Workshops throughout the course.  As with other aspects of the PGCE programme, the materials used will be progressive and build upon the skills of each student and their experiences in two school placements.

There will also be opportunities to link learning to local businesses and workplaces through educational visits.

The SCITT Science course aims to produce motivated, reflective practitioners, capable of developing their own subject and teaching skills whilst contributing to sharing good practice.

Design and Technology
The programme offers an exciting and developmental model of training to teach Design and Technology with an emphasis on developing trainees' professional competence alongside ensuring a high level of knowledge, skills and understanding in the chosen specialist areas. This is also underpinned by a clear understanding of the philosophy of teaching Design and Technology across the specialist areas, and supported by work with young people in classrooms, workshops and other specialist rooms.

This course recruits to, and develops trainees' specialist skills, in one of the areas below up to KS4:

• Resistant Materials
• Electronics (Systems & Control, ECT)
• Food
• Textiles

A secondary area is also chosen to develop for KS3.

Candidates are required to bring a portfolio or sample of their design work to the interview, to demonstrate the quality of their practical craft skills and abilities. Health and safety certificates would be desirable but training can be provided during the course.
The subject specific course gives the opportunity to experience:

• Group workshops to enhance, acquire and apply subject knowledge and skills.
• Training for the National Curriculum: design and technology.
• Training in assessment and standardisation, class management, and legal and contractual responsibilities.
• A Design and Technology Workshop in a primary school (awareness of transition between Key Stages 2 and 3).
• Training and experience in a special educational school
• Training in CAD/CAM.
• A 10 day subject knowledge booster course.

Design and Technology prepares pupils to participate in tomorrow's rapidly changing technologies. They learn to think and intervene creatively to improve quality of life. The subject calls for pupils to become autonomous and creative problem solvers, as individuals and members of a team. They must look for needs, wants and opportunities and respond to them by developing a range of ideas and making products and systems.

They combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues, function and industrial practices. As they do so, they reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and effects. Through design and technology, all pupils can become discriminating and informed users of products, and become innovators.

Modern Foreign Languages
The Cornwall SCITT Modern Foreign Languages Programme will enable you to enter an exciting and challenging new career teaching young people to communicate in French, German and Spanish.
                                      
Whilst developing your competences as a classroom teacher, you will also need to constantly update your subject knowledge. This includes:

• the practice and improvement of your own skills in the target languages
• updating your knowledge of the culture of the target language countries
• updating your knowledge of the MFL National Curriculum; National Strategies and progression routes as shown in the National Qualification Framework

You are strongly advised to spend regular time on this and are welcome to use the excellent facilities and resources at Truro College including the Languages Workshop. Furthermore, many trainees find friendships with Foreign Language Assistants both helpful and enjoyable.

Trainees will be expected to offer one but preferably two languages from French, German and Spanish. They are expected to be fluent in their first MFL having studied it to Degree level (or equivalent) and to be competent in their second MFL having studied it to at least A2 standard (or equivalent). This will provide trainees with the best possible chance of gaining employment as an NQT at the end of the course.

The Subject Specific Learning Sessions will:

• apply subject-specific knowledge to the content of the Education and Professional Studies lectures
• recognise and implement good practice in your placements
• use the National Curriculum, National Strategy and Programmes of Study to focus on pupil-centred teaching and learning in MFL

The course will provide trainees with a diverse range of strategies and approaches for use in the classroom, assuming an inclusive stance, focussing on pupil-centred learning and raising self-esteem, and the course will enable trainees to demonstrate:

• competent subject knowledge of the Modern Foreign Language(s) in order to teach across the full ability and age range (11-16 or 11-18);
• experience in the use of a variety of teaching strategies and resources (including ICT) selected appropriately to include differentiation across the ability range;
• ability to plan lessons effectively within schemes of work taking into account the National Curriculum and Key Stage 3 Strategy;
• use of classroom management techniques and organisation in order to promote good behaviour and a positive learning environment;
• use of a range of techniques to monitor, assess, record and report pupil progress and achievement and use this as a basis for planning;
• understanding of the role of MFL in the wider curriculum;
• the personal qualities necessary to make a successful teacher including the ability to accept and react to constructive criticism;
• consistently high expectations and professional values;
• an awareness of personal professional development needs.

Music
The principal aim of the SCITT PGCE music course is to enable confident and enthusiastic musicians to become successful and inspirational music teachers.  Trainees explore the unique contribution that music can, and does make, to every child’s development by considering teaching and learning both in the context of the National curriculum, the National KS3 strategy for music and the wider educational context.

The Cornwall SCITT music course is designed to teach trainees how to develop children’s musical skills and understanding through performing, composing, listening and appraising across the 11-16 age range, with enhancement to post-16 education.  The underlying assumption of the course is that music is for everyone.  To this end, we will provide a diverse range of techniques and methodologies for the classroom, with focus on pupils’ musical learning and the raising of self-esteem and confidence. 

The course takes a highly practical approach to the understanding of how to teach music, with a high degree of participation expected from trainees.  The course also aims to enhance subject knowledge, with lectures and practical workshops in:

• using Music Information Technology;
• World music,
• Composition;
• creativity;
• singing;
• conducting;
• performing;
• listening skills
• conducting. 

Specialist workshops include Steal pans, Ukuleles and using recording studios.  There is also the opportunity to request specialist training and tailor the course to suit the trainees emerging subject development needs.

We are very fortunate to have a highly dedicated and experienced team of music mentors who will support and guide you during your school placements, and further contribute to your subject knowledge development. 

ICT
The Cornwall School Centred Initial Teacher Training ICT course aims to develop committed ICT teachers who are reflective, self-critical and informed. It is envisaged that students will join the course from a diverse range of academic and industrial or commercial backgrounds, with a wide range of IT skills.

The ICT course is designed to teach trainees to become familiar with the many forms of ICT in schools and how to develop pupils’ ICT capability.  ICT capability involves information gathering, presentation and technical processing skills, underpinned by understanding of key concepts related to the nature of information and of technology. It includes, but is much broader than, a set of technical competences in common software applications. The underlying assumption of the course is that ICT is for everyone.  To this end the ICT course will provide a diverse range of approaches for the classroom. It will focus on pupils’ ICT learning across the 11-16 age range, with enhancement to post-16 education. 

Trainees are expected to have reached a high level of proficiency with a range of software applications and experience of using a variety of different types of software including: word-processing, desktop publishing, databases, spreadsheets, control software, web design and presentation programmes.   These skills will provide trainees with the best possible chance of gaining employment as a Newly Qualified Teacher at the end of the course.

The Subject Specific Course will enable trainees to demonstrate:

• secure subject knowledge of ICT;
• understanding the importance of ICT in the secondary curriculum both as a discrete subject in its own right and one which pupils can develop further in other subjects and use to support their learning;
• the ability to plan lessons effectively within schemes of work, taking account of the National Curriculum and Secondary National Strategy;
• experience in the use of a variety of teaching strategies and resources;
• the use of a range of techniques to monitor, assess, record and report  pupil progress and achievement and use this to inform planning;
• successful use of classroom management techniques and organisation, in order to promote good behaviour and a positive climate for learning;
• understanding that  ICT is an area of rapid development in schools which is transforming teachers’ repertoires and traditional pedagogies;
• awareness of e-learning and issues related to it.

The course aims to produce reflective teachers who are able to evaluate and further develop their own subject and teaching skills.

Creative and Media Diploma
The PGCE in Creative and Media is an innovative and exciting programme which has been introduced in response to the Creative and Media 14-19 Diploma. As well as taking part in a comprehensive range of professional educational studies, you will be given the opportunity to specialise in a particular pathway within the Creative and Media Curriculum and further develop your experience by taking part in the following:

• Working with practitioners from a range of creative and media backgrounds.
• 14-19 Diploma, BTEC and other vocational training and practice.
• Assessment, monitoring and standardisation procedures.
• Industrial links.
• Experience of planning and delivering Levels 1, 2 and 3, including SEN.
• Teaching a second related curriculum subject at Key Stage 3 and to GCSE level.
• Use of ICT and related creative technologies to enhance teaching and learning.

The PGCE in Creative and Media is a 36 week, full time course leading to a Postgraduate or Professional Graduate Certificate in Education with QTS.

The aim of the PGCE in Creative and Media is to train graduates from a professional background to deliver the 14-19 Creative and Media Diploma to Level 1, 2 and 3 students as well as Key Stage 3 and other vocational, GCSE and A Level courses related to the subject. This course would suit graduates who have a degree in media, performing arts or creative arts and also have some relevant industrial or commercial experience. You will be flexible and enjoy working collaboratively as part of a team in a range of contexts.

The diplomas are delivered in partnerships which include secondary schools and FE colleges to provide the full range of levels and expertise to students aged 14-19 who are interested in working within the creative and media industries. The content is tailored to students’ personal development as well as their specialist areas. There are strong links to industry, with professionals and practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds used to enhance the teaching and learning experience. You will work with a curriculum area mentor in each placement and they will provide guidance and opportunities for you to plan, manage, deliver and assess aspects of the diploma. In addition, you will also choose a Key Stage 3 creative and media related curriculum area to support and extend your 14-19 experience.

More information about the Diploma is available on these websites:
http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/explore_more/media_centre
http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/where_to_study

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