PGCE Primary 5-11 with Lead Programme Partners / Course details

PGCE Primary with Lead Programme Partners will train you to teach children aged 5 to 11 and gain recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status. You will develop the practical training, subject knowledge and professional understanding needed to become a primary school teacher.

You will follow a PGCE course structure, with a modified timetable that includes school-based learning through your Lead Programme Partner alliance.

This means that Lead Programme Partners deliver agreed parts of the University’s PGCE curriculum, including National Curriculum subjects and professional studies. Training takes place across school locations within the three alliances, with delivery shared between partners so trainees benefit from specialist expertise in each subject area.

You will spend significant time in school, with all your teaching placements arranged through your Lead Programme Partner alliance. During your placements, you will be supported by university tutors, trained school-based tutors and a nominated Lead Programme Partner representative.

The University maintains a quality assurance and training role throughout the course, while working with Lead Programme Partners across Greater Manchester to offer this collaborative LPP partnership route into teaching. Lead Programme Partner schools recruit and select their own trainees using the University’s PGCE recruitment criteria and systems.

Many trainees gain employment in Lead Programme Partner schools after the course, although this is not guaranteed.

Completion of the course leads to a postgraduate qualification and recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status. The University remain the accrediting provider for the PGCE with QTS qualification and therefore ratify all outcomes at exam board.

• We work with three different Lead Programme partners across Greater Manchester, giving you access to school-based training and expertise within a local partnership network
• Our leading experts in education have trained more than 5,000 teachers in the last 15 years.
• Our students come from all over the globe and are from a variety of backgrounds - from recent graduates to mature learners.

Important notice: factors affecting fieldwork and placements

The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork and placements. However, the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our priority.

The School will assess on a regular basis the viability of any travel and fieldwork and communicate any significant changes to our students at the earliest possible opportunity.

The role of SEED

• changes to the rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments;
• a risk assessment conducted by or on behalf of the University identifying unmanageable risk;
• changes that enhance the educational value and student experience of the activity;
• changes to the situation of a placement provider (for example, which cause them to be unable to accept students);
• the unavailability of appropriate insurance cover;
• the unavailability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs;
• where fieldwork and placements are a compulsory element of the Programme, they will be replaced with something academically similar;
• where a trip or placement is not a compulsory element of the Programme, it may not be replaced.

We will consult with affected students at the earliest possible opportunity and explore the options available to them.

The duty of students

Preparation, attendance and conduct

Attendance at preparatory classes is a compulsory pre-requisite of the fieldwork and placements to ensure safety and learning outcomes are met.

Students who do not attend the compulsory preparatory classes may be prevented from participating in the fieldwork or placement. It is the duty of students to discuss any attendance issues with the field course or placement convenor.

Students are representatives of the university during their fieldwork or placement. Behaviour deemed by the convenor to be unacceptable may result in students being sent home.

Where a student is unable to attend or complete the fieldwork or placement (e.g. due to mitigating circumstances), is prevented from attending due to absence from compulsory preparatory classes, or returned home due to poor conduct:

• a suitable alternative assessment will be offered (as appropriate) to ensure that the programme ILOs are met, and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
• the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.

Immigration, passport and visa requirements

It is the responsibility of the individual student to ensure they have:

• a valid passport to enter the destination country (including sufficient months prior to expiry);
• a valid visa (where required) and comply with its requirements.

The School cannot guarantee that visas required for fieldwork or a placement will be granted by the relevant authority. Please note that countries may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice.

Where a student is unable to attend fieldwork or a placement because they do not have the required visa or passport:

• a suitable alternative assessment will be offered to ensure that the programme ILOs are met and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
• the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.

The course is taught by the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) with most PGCE University days based in the Ellen Wilkinson building, centrally located on the University's Oxford Road campus, close to the Main Library, Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and the Students' Union.