Entry Requirements

• Hold GCSE Maths and English at grade C / 4 or above, or hold an equivalent numeracy or literacy qualification at Level 2, such as Functional Skills – evidence of this will be required during the application cycle
  • An overseas qualification in English language will need to be deemed equivalent to GCSE grade 4 by ENIC. If this is not the case, you will need an IELTS qualification with a minimum score of 7 in each element.
• A 500-word written piece, prescribed following application and returned to the ITE team prior to or at interview
• A completed Teaching and Mentor Hours form from your workplace to confirm your mentor and organisation
• It is a legal requirement that you complete a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced check. The process for this will be discussed at interview.

Additional Entry requirements – Part-Time

• You must be working in a paid educational position.

Additional Entry requirements – Full-time

• You must secure a suitable teaching placement. Whilst the ITE team will give advice on how to apply for positions we do not provide you with teaching placement. It is the responsibility of the prospective trainee to arrange their own placement.

Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Bursary

• See the "Course Cost" section below for details on elgibility and further information

Course Structure

The Open University (Resources and Regulations)

As a student studying at South Essex College you have joined a community of over 40,000 students studying on programmes validated by The Open University and delivered by our network of partner institutions worldwide. When you're studying on a OU Validated programme your primary relationship is with the institution you have registered, which means you have access to their resources and facilities.  Did you know that in addition to this you can use the Open University's free online resources and tools. Follow this link to Regulations for validated awards of The Open University.

Structure of the Course

A variety of teaching strategies are used, such as group interaction, paired and individual work, one-to-one seminars, guest speakers, support from subject specialist mentors and regular tutorial input. A range of interactive technologies are taught and are available for use by trainees.

Part-time programme

• Study four modules per year, eight modules across the two year programme
• One evening per week in college

Full-time programme

• Study eight modules in one year
• Two days in college, two on placement

Modules

• Principles of teaching and learning
• Developing inclusive practice
• Behaviour management
• Enabling learning by assessment
• Theories and principles in pedagogy
• Digital pedagogy
• Professional development project
• Wider professional practice

Assessment & Feedback

Link to Open University Student Handbook

Assessment dates fall in both semester one & two. Trainees complete a variety of assignments including portfolios of teaching practice, presentations, case study, seminar and research project. There will also be formal observations of your teaching practice across the programme.

Course Cost

Adult, full_time: £8,250
Adult, part_time_evening: £4,125 per year

Fees are per academic year for Home/UK students.

Additional course costs can be found here

Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Bursary

If you have English and Maths at a Grade 4 or equivalent and a subject specialism at L3 or above you may be eligible to apply for the ITE Bursary. For more information please visit the Government website here.

What Next...

After completion of the course you will be able to apply for Qualified Teacher: Learning and Skills status (QTLS). QTLS is equivalent to but distinct from QTS (Qualified Teacher Status).

Success Stories...

Success story: Monique Warburton

Course studied

Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

Throughout my time at South Essex Colleges Group, the tutors were incredibly supportive and always encouraged me to keep going, even during difficult times.

View full story

My name is Monique Warburton, and I studied Level 6 Professional graduate Certificate in Education (PgCE) at South Essex Colleges Group. 

Before studying my PgCE, I worked in special needs care, supporting young people in my local community and giving their parents valuable respite. Helping young people gain independence inspired me to pursue a career in teaching. 

I began with an Access to Teaching course, which helped me build confidence in academic writing and prepare for university-level study. I then completed four years of Special Needs Studies before taking a break. Having spent many years at South Essex Colleges Group, I chose to return to complete by PgCE in 2023 because I already felt comfortable and supported by the staff. Staying local at the Southend City College campus gave me the confidence to continue my education after being out of learning for a long time.

Studying for my PGCE was a huge achievement for me. The course taught me valuable skills including lesson planning and how to use digital technology in teaching, such as Kahoot and Blooket. Throughout my time at South Essex Colleges Group, the tutors were incredibly supportive and always encouraged me to keep going, even during difficult times.

Since graduating, I have been working at the college as a part of the Adult Workforce Skills team. I previously worked as an iPrep tutor teaching employability skills, including health and safety, money management, and mental health first aid. I also taught counselling skills and support work before progressing into teaching Business Administration and IT. 

I now help learners develop skills in Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Cyber Security, something I genuinely enjoy because I continue learning new skills myself while helping others achieve their goals.

My time at the college massively helped prepare me for the workplace and also built my confidence personally. Completing both my degree and PGCE are among my proudest achievements, alongside raising my children and working full-time as a teacher.

The best thing about further education is working with learners who genuinely want to be there and achieve their qualifications. I would absolutely recommend South Essex Colleges Group because of the support available from staff, the welcoming environment, and how accessible the campuses are locally.

Looking ahead, my ambition is to open a small cooking school for students with learning disabilities, helping them develop life skills while also working towards maths and English qualifications. I want to continue supporting others to gain confidence and independence, just as I was supported throughout my own journey.

Find out more information about our teacher training courses