The Certificate in Education is aimed at those who do not have a degree and who wish to acquire knowledge and develop skills that required to work in teaching in the lifelong learning sector, outside of schools.
The Pre-Service pathway is for those with no experience of teaching and a willingness and opportunity to complete 250 hours of teaching on a placement, which must be arranged prior to starting the course. If you are already teaching within a training or education setting outside of the schools’ sector, the In-Service pathway is appropriate.
Successful completion of the course will provide students with a route to professional status for teachers in lifelong learning, Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status.
The course is particularly suitable if you have work experience in an industry relevant to the further education curriculum. For example, business and administration, hair and beauty, health and social care, childcare, construction, engineering, computing and digital. There is a strong focus on the practice of teaching, which you will undertake and demonstrate either through your employment or placement, working alongside your tutors, mentor and professional colleagues. This is of course accompanied and underpinned by academic study over the duration of the programme.
In the first year you will complete the Research Informed Teaching, Learning and Assessment module which aims to develop your understanding of how people learn in the Lifelong Learning Sector. The role of assessment, theories and principles of learning and assessment are explored, and students will apply research-informed approaches to the design of effective teaching and learning strategies. You will study positive approaches to the management of group and individual behaviours, and the role of key transferable skills of English, maths and digital.

You will review your practice as a trainee teacher and explore your teaching values and knowledge of your subject specialism. The Becoming a Subject Specialist Teacher module will also address how to identify and respond to students’ individual needs and how to develop inclusive teaching and learning environments. Evaluation of your teaching effectiveness and development as a reflective practitioner forms an integral part of this module.

In year 2 you will build on your previous generic and subject specialist development. In the Being a Subject Specialist Teacher module you will develop more advanced strategies and methods for promoting learning and focus on subject specialist areas and the critical analysis of subject specialist pedagogy. Students will be encouraged to identify and recognise curriculum and professional challenges and develop their ability to respond to these in innovative and creative ways.

2 years part time or 1 year full time
4 hours per week part time plus 125 hours placement
8 hours per week full time plus 250 hours placement (for pre-service only)

Progression to an undergraduate degree such as BA (Hons) Education and Professional Development.
This course will prepare you a teaching role in the Lifelong Learning Sector. This may include roles such as:
· Further and higher education lecturer.
· Trainer in private training organisation.
· Adult education tutor.
You will also be eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, the full professional status for teachers in the Lifelong Learning Sector.

For further information please contact us by visiting the contact page on the college website.

Although every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained within this document is accurate, there may be changes to this programme and provision. We will endeavour to keep prospective and current students updated where appropriate and when the information becomes available.