The most important quality that all student teachers on our course possess is a passion for both English Language and English Literature, and sharing this passion with young people. Many graduates who consider teaching English hold a 2:1 degree or higher in the subject. Trainees typically come from areas such as English Literature or Language, Journalism, Creative Writing, Media Studies or Drama, and all of these are valuable starting points for training to teach English. It is, however, essential that all applicants possess a substantial study of literature as part of their educational background.

If you have had a break from studying your specialist subject, have developed your subject knowledge within the workplace, or hold an A Level in English but have an unrelated degree, then you may require a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course prior to starting the training programme. SKE courses require 25 hours per week of study and, due to the nature of SKE in Design and Technology, you may be required to attend a course outside of Cornwall for face-to-face support. The amount of SKE required will be determined at interview, and it is important to apply as early as possible in the application cycle if you are hoping to enrol on an SKE course in the event that you are offered, and accept, a place on the course. Find out more about SKE courses on the Department for Education’s Get into Teaching website.

Experience working with young people is always particularly beneficial, particularly experience in a UK comprehensive school observing and participating in a range of lessons, including your own subject. Being able to reflect upon recent classroom observations often strengthens interview discussions. If you have been out of the classroom for a few years, having one or two days’ of school observation prior to interviews might help boost your confidence.

The course reflects the realities of teaching today: it is wide-ranging, covering everything from teaching Shakespeare to developing pupils’ creative writing, from the theories underlying reading development to analysing non-fiction texts, from studying grammar to learning how to use drama in the classroom, and much, much more!

You will learn about current developments in the teaching of English and its place as a core subject. The course encompasses all aspects of English teaching: English Literature, English Language, Media Studies, Drama and using ICT to support your teaching of English. You will have the opportunity to develop your subject knowledge across these areas both in the subject sessions and during self-study periods. Trainees are encouraged to research current approaches to teaching English, but also to be inventive and innovative in producing teaching materials, engaging pupils and making this core subject lively and relevant.

The main focus is on teaching the 11–16 age-group, but some trainees have an 11-18 placement too, and develop their skills in teaching at ‘A‘ level.

The course will also explore the following issues from a subject-specific perspective:

• Knowledge of literature and language, including prose, poetry, drama, children’s literature, key texts for GCSE preparation and non-fiction
• Aspects of media and drama
• Lesson planning and sequences of lessons
• Meeting the needs of all pupils in the classroom
• Teaching and learning strategies and resources
• Techniques to support monitoring, assessing, recording and reporting pupil progress
• Promoting good behaviour and a positive climate for learning