PGCE in Design and Technology

The PGCE Design and Technology (D&T) programme prepares Associate Teachers to teach in Secondary schools.

The course offers Associate Teachers to work across the Design and Technology Association's fields of knowledge.

D&T Associate Teachers will study the Core Skills area along with two of the four other fields of knowledge.  One would be to KS3 and 4 with enhancement at Post 16, and the second area to KS3.  Associate Teachers would need to determine their main field of knowledge at interview and the second area no later than the Autumn half-term.  Each cohort of Associate Teachers consists of a range of subject specialists and this helps provide a strong group dynamic which enables all participants to gain a wide understanding for the nature of teaching D&T in today’s National Curriculum.

All Associate Teachers follow a range of modules focusing on the generic skills, knowledge and concepts related to teaching D&T.  They will also further develop their own specialist knowledge within their chosen areas in order to become able and confident teachers at Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and beyond.  Associate Teachers will have opportunities to use and evaluate a wide range of subject specific resources and materials including, for example, ICT aspects such as CAD/CAM where there are excellent facilities and equipment.  Teaching is led by specialists in each of the Design and Technology Association’s fields of knowledge drawn from across the West Midlands Consortium and visiting lecturers.

All Associate Teachers will carry out a Skills Audit at the beginning of the course and future training will be based on individual needs in order to maximise on the time available during both school placements and centre-based activities.

The programme also ensures that its Associate Teachers are appropriately trained and certificated in Health & Safety.