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Teaching and Education

Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) (Further Education and Skills) (Part-Time) – 2026 Entry

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Teaching is a challenging but rewarding profession, where your passion and expertise have the power to shape learners’ lives and open new opportunities for them.

The Level 7 PGCE course is designed for those aspiring to teach in the Further Education and Skills (FES) sector. This Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programme supports your professional development as a reflective and effective practitioner, equipping you with the skills to plan, deliver and evaluate high‑quality teaching, learning and assessment within the Further Education and Skills Sector (FES Sector). The course is fully aligned to the Learning and Skills Teacher (LST) Occupational Standard.

Successful completion of the course will mean that you are a qualified teacher for the FES Sector. The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) can lead to QTLS status, which would enable you to also work in the secondary education sector.

More information

The course will start in September and will take two years, part-time to complete.

You will be required to attend one college session each month at our Town Centre Campus, Water Street, St Helens, WA10 1PP.

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You should have achieved:

  • A level 6 qualification in a vocational or academic subject area that you will be teaching
  • GCSE English at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent)
  • GCSE Mathematics at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent)

If English is not your first language:

  • You must demonstrate the ability to communicate fluently, accurately and effectively in professional spoken English

Have IELTS with an overall band score of 7.5, with no element lower than 7.0 (or equivalent).

Prior Learning and Experience

You can apply to transfer from another of the University of Lancashire partner colleges at any time throughout your studies.

Additional Entry Requirements

You will need to be either a practicing teacher (in-service) in a post 16 setting or a acquire a voluntary placement (pre-service) across two institutions, to include:

  • a minimum of 150 hours of teaching practice (including 20 hours online synchronous teaching)
  • a minimum of 100 hours of non-teaching practice
  • a named subject specialist mentor in your main placement location
  • a named pastoral mentor in your main placement location

As part of the application process, you will also need to complete an interview with the ITE team and a subject interview (pre-service).

You will also need to provide confirmation of an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and two references.

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Approved By: University of Lancashire Logo
Campus: St Helens Town Centre
Entry Requirements: Please see entry requirements section for more information.
Programme Leader: Pinar Gumus | pgumus@sthelens.ac.uk
Dr. Emma Walters | Ewalters@sthelens.ac.uk
YEAR 1 Year 2
Teaching, Learning and Assessment in the Further Education and Skills Sector | TS2000 Advancing Subject Specialist Practice | TS3000
Developing Subject Specialist Practice | TS2001 Research Informed Practice | TS2004
Designing and Developing an Inclusive Curriculum | TS2002 Policy and Professionalism | TS2005

All trainee teachers on the course are required to have a secure teaching placement for the duration of your course in a Further Education and Skills Sector setting.

This course consists of one session (afternoon) per week of centre-based training/study at St Helens town centre campus and at least 1-2 teaching sessions per week in your placement setting, where you will be supported by a subject specialist Mentor.

As part of your placement days, you are required to take full part in the life of the educational setting by attending staff meetings, taking part in student inductions, assessments and tutorials, and observing both your placement classes and a wide range of different teachers, so that you gain a full picture of working life as a teacher.

All trainee teachers on the course are required to have a secure teaching placement for the duration of the course in a Further Education and Skills Sector setting.

This course consists of one session (afternoon) per week of centre-based training/study at St Helens town centre campus and at least 1-2 teaching sessions per week in your placement setting, where you will be supported by a subject specialist Mentor.

As part of your placement days, you are required to take full part in the life of the educational setting by attending staff meetings, taking part in student inductions, assessments and tutorials, and observing both your placement classes and a wide range of different teachers, so that you gain a full picture of working life as a teacher.

For 2026 entry, tuition fees for part-time study are £4,250 per year.

Additional Costs

Course-Related Travel (Placements/Work Experience/Voluntary/Site Visits Variable dependent on the distance travelled and the method of transportation.
Equipment and Materials Trainees will need access to their own laptop or one provided by their placement.
Trips Estimated cost is £50 per year for various travel and entry costs to performances/shows, and trainees are strongly encouraged to attend relevant activities to enhance their ITE journey.
Volunteering Opportunities for Personal Development Variable depending on the type of activity, but trainees are actively encouraged to undertake what is reasonable in line with teaching commitments.

Subject to eligibility, students can apply for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England to cover the full cost of tuition fees, which means you don’t have to pay anything upfront and there’s nothing to pay back until you’re qualified and earning over £481 a week, £2,083 a month or £25,000 a year. You may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs. Visit our finance support page for more information.

Study Enhancement Gift

All new, first year (level 4), full-time undergraduates studying a qualifying Foundation Degree, Bachelor’s Degree or Higher National Diploma at University Centre St Helens, will receive a non-repayable Study Enhancement Gift up to the value of £400. This could be a specific gift, such as a laptop, or subject specific equipment, extra qualifications or trips and visits.

For more information, visit our study enhancement gift page.

Successful completion of this Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualification enables trainees to progress into teaching in a variety of organisations in the Further Education and Skills sector such as:

  • Further Education College
  • Sixth Forms and Sixth Form Colleges
  • Adult and Community Learning
  • NHS
  • Private Training Organisations
  • Qualified trainees may progress onto the MA Education at the University of Lancashire or other Higher Education study
  • University or other HEI setting

You could also choose to progress on to a Master’s in Education at a University of your choice.

 
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