UCB scores high in 2010 Good Teacher Training Guide
University College Birmingham (UCB) has been recognised in the recently published 2010 Good Teacher Training Guide as a top quality provider of Initial Teacher Education for its Post Graduate Certificate in Education programme (PGCE).
The Guide ranks primary education training providers according to their Initial Teacher Education OFSTED grades. UCB gained ‘Grade One Outstanding’ for its Initial Teacher Education provision and so was placed in a select group of five which included universities such as Reading and Warwick.
In an exceptionally complimentary OFSTED report, the School of Childhood and Education were praised for a number of areas including quality of training, strong links with partnership schools and effective management and quality systems.
The PGCE prepares trainees to teach Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage One pupils. A key feature of the one year, full time course is the three key strands of Special Educational Needs, English as an Additional Language and ICT, which are integrated and interwoven through all aspects of the programme.
Recruitment to the course continues to be successful with some trainees continuing on from the UCB Early Childhood Studies Degree and others joining the course with childhood or related degrees.
Dr Marjorie Jeavons, Assistant Dean, School of Childhood and Education, UCB said: “Consistent challenges and changes in the Early Years sector require us to maintain a robust and current PGCE that gives every student the best possible opportunity to succeed. Gaining such an outstanding report for our Initial Teacher Education provision demonstrates not only the professionalism of our staff but the great support we get from local schools in giving students varied and valuable placements to help develop their experience. It is wonderful news and we are all delighted.”
Other key strengths outlined in the OFSTED report include the excellent college and school based training which fully equips trainees to teach in an ethnically diverse community and to teach pupils with special educational needs and the high quality of mentors in partnership schools.
Full details of the OFSTED report can be found here
Follow this link for further information on the PGCE