Certificate in Education (Lifelong Learning) In-Service Part Time

Core Modules: 

Year 1

• Research Informed Teaching, Learning and Assessment
• Becoming a Subject Specialist Teacher (Practice Based)

Year 2

• Being a Subject Specialist Teacher (Practice Based)
• Curriculum and Context

Work-Based Practice:

You should normally be in employment as a teacher or trainer at a recognised training or educational establishment. The course is particularly suitable if you have work experience and/or qualifications in industry, including business and administration, hair and beauty, health and social care, uniformed services or armed forces, construction, engineering and many other vocational areas. As well as studying at your DN College Group site, you’ll learn the practical skills of teaching through your work-based practice in an appropriate educational institution.

The work-based practice hours for each practice-based module should be at least 125 hours in duration, (totalling 250 hours) of which at least 75 hours should be teaching practice. The balance constitutes your professional practice hours and can include a range of activities, including team meetings, planning, interviews, assessment meetings, observations and/or provider wide CPD sessions. These activities should be supported by reflection and self-evaluation. A minimum of 10 hours of remote synchronous delivery should be included per practice-based module, (totalling 20 hours) alongside a minimum of 40 hours face to face delivery.

To improve your range of experience in the sector, your work-based practice across the year must include experience in another teaching location. Cumulatively, this must come to 20 hours across the year. The 20 hours experience can include observation of practice, CPD activities, etc rather than teaching practice. If it is not possible to source a second work-based practice/ placement, we could include observation of a different subject area and/or venue (e.g. alternative provision, 6th form) in the same provider. The 20 hours of experience in another work-based practice/ placement will be logged in the teaching portfolio that you will submit as part of the assessment requirements for the module titled ‘Being a Subject Specialist Teacher’.

The primary way of delivering this programme is on Campus.

On this course you’ll have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and understanding needed to teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, and the ability to identify your ongoing needs for professional development. The course helps to prepare you for playing a full part in the teaching, administrative, and curriculum development activities in colleges and in other education and training organisations.

As part of the course, you’ll complete a subject specialist module and will be able to attend the culminating conference at the University of Huddersfield. You’ll be informed of the exact dates during the first year of the course.

The focus of this course is on practical teaching. You’ll have the opportunity to gain experience of learning and teaching alongside other professionals with support from tutors and work-based mentors. You’ll be supported to gain competence in planning, teaching and learning; and in working with students; with assessment of your progress taking place in formal classrooms and in student-centred learning situations.

In addition, you’ll be taught through a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and interactive workshops and you’ll have a personal tutor who’ll be assigned to you throughout your studies to support your ongoing wellbeing and ensure that you have a positive learning experience.

Assessments vary and include essays, the creation of resources to support learning, seminars, and presentations.

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

• qualifications at Level 3 or above, for example HNC, CGLI Advanced, NVQ level 3/4 or other recognised professional qualification
• ability to demonstrate appropriate work experience in the area you wish to teach
• GCSE English C Grade/4 or Level 2
• GCSE maths C Grade/4 or Level 2

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent.

In addition, you must also:

• provide confirmation of a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• provide one satisfactory reference
• complete a satisfactory professional discussion
• identify a work-based mentor who can support you in your subject specialism

We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups.

We are committed to creating educational opportunities for people from a variety of backgrounds and situations. If you have been out of formal education for some time, and/or you do not have the qualifications stated, we might still be able to consider your application and offer you a range of support. We are here to help. Please get in touch to find out more.

Upon successful completion of your undergraduate studies, progression onto the following programmes may be of interest:

BA (Hons) Education Studies

Upon successful completion of this course, you may be eligible to proceed, following a process of professional formation through the Society for Education and Training to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status. This is the full professional status for teachers in the Lifelong Learning Sector.