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Dear future PGCE FE trainee

I hope you are well and we look forward to welcoming you to the PGCE FE course on Thursday September 4th September 2025.  We are now in full swing planning for the start of the course in September. We are working with everyone involved both within and beyond the University, including placements.

Course Calendar

I attach a draft course calendar – there may be minor changes but this is generally finalised.

Attachment 1: Course Calendar 25-26

Pre-course reading and reflection – Part 1

Below are details of some pre-course reading to get you started thinking about learning and teaching in FE. These activities should be completed before the start date of the course.

Article 1

Susan Wallace’s article – Confidence and Self-Esteem

The attached  article is written by Susan Wallace, a great champion of the sector; she reflects on confidence and self-esteem. As pre course preparation please complete the following tasks:

·       read and annotate the article

·       write a brief response to the article which explains the difference between these concepts and provide an example of when confidence or self-esteem has helped or hindered your learning.

Attachment 2: Wallace’s article

Article 2

Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction

Here is a link Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ971753.pdf

This article explores principles of learning including theories of cognition which are relevant across all phases of learning.

Task:

·       Read the article and annotate the article

·       Think of a simple learning objective within your subject, for example, from English, how to use apostrophes. Prepare a sequence of activities to teach your objective and show where you have applied Rosenshine’s principles.

Link provided

We will pick up these tasks when we meet at induction in September.

I will be in touch in early July to update you on developments, signpost some further resources and, in late August, I will send the course induction programme.

Do contact me if you have any queries or concerns in the meantime.

Note: This Newsletter content is also available in the PGCE FE Welcome course Padlet.

We are very much looking forward to working with you.

Best wishes

Mike Tyler and Team

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Hello!

PGCE FE Newsletter 3  -

Hello everyone!

I hope you are well and looking forward to your course in September- we look forward to welcoming you on your first day Thursday 4th September, 9:15 AM at St John’s Campus. This email updates you on course developments and provides some further reading with tasks to complete. Please use this link to the course Welcome Padlet  to access all previous emails and  all Welcome resources.

Course updates

Mike and the team have been reviewing the course and preparing for September. For example, evidence-based principles are included in course induction and placements have been drafted.

Health Questionnaire

Please ensure that you have completed and returned the health questionnaire.

DBS

A gentle reminder that you must have an enhanced DBS for your teaching placement. You can apply for this independently or through UW – AdmissionsB@worc.ac.uk. They can advise you on your individual application and can put you in contact with Atlantic, the university’s recommended DBS company.

Enrolment

You will be invited to enrol from mid-August onwards. Please complete enrolment processes at your earliest convenience. You can contact AdmissionsB@worc.ac.uk with any queries on the process.

Induction

You will receive the PGCE FE course induction programme next week. The programme includes teaching room details and details of induction activities.

Studying at Level 7

Task: explore the Studying at Masters Level in the section below.

We will be in contact with more details on Induction in late August. Enjoy the rest summer and see you soon!

Best wishes

Mike and the course team

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Hello again!

I hope you are well and looking forward to your course in September- first day of course is Thursday 4th September. This email updates you on course developments and provides some further summer reading with tasks to complete.

Course update

We are currently reviewing the course in preparation for next year – we have had an excellent success rate (100%) and all former trainees have taken routes into employment or further study, for example, full-time permanent teaching posts in Colleges .

We are also in contact with placement partners in preparation for next year. Your placement options will have been discussed at interview. If there has been a change in your circumstances or you would like to update your placement preferences, do email Mike Tyler, m.tyler@worc.ac.uk

Applications

Document upload link

You should have received an email with a link for uploading certificates. Please ensure all requested documents are uploaded. This includes GCSE English and Maths at 4/C or above (or equivalent) .

Self-declaration suitability certificate

You should also have been sent a suitability form to complete and upload. This is an essential step in safe recruitment practice for professional training courses. If you have not received a suitability  checklist  and/or have queries, please contact AdmissionsB@worc.ac.uk

DBS

A gentle reminder that you must have an enhanced DBS for your teaching placement. You can apply for this independently or through UW – AdmissionsB@worc.ac.uk. They can advise you on your individual application and can put you in contact with Atlantic, the university’s recommended DBS company.

Enrolment

You will be invited to enrol from mid-August onwards. Please complete enrolment processes at your earliest convenience. You can contact AdmissionsB@worc.ac.uk with any queries on the process.

Summer Course Preparation Tasks

See tasks 1 and 2 in the sections below.

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Susan Wallace’s article – Confidence and Self-Esteem

The article below is written by Susan Wallace, a great champion of the sector; she reflects on confidence and self-esteem. As pre course preparation please complete the following tasks:

·       read and annotate the article

·       write a brief response to the article which explains the difference between these concepts and provide an example of when confidence or self-esteem has helped or hindered your learning.

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Here is a link Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ971753.pdf

This article explores principles of learning including theories of cognition which are relevant across all phases of learning.

Task:

·       Read the article and annotate the article

·       Think of a simple learning objective within your subject, for example, from English, how to use apostrophes. Prepare a sequence of activities to teach your objective and show where you have applied Rosenshine’s principles.

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Task 1: Reflective writing – task – personal reflective writing crib sheet.

The course a highly reflective element to it – this includes reflecting on experiences, reflecting with peers and critically reflecting as part of professional development.

Refresh your understanding of reflective writing by viewing this animation and prepare a crib sheet containing hints and tips for reflective writing which you can use as a resource to get you started with reflective writing. This should be A4, text or images – be creative. You will share your resource with peers at course induction.

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Masters Study resource

The Open University has developed a useful resource which explains key concepts linked to studying at Level 7, for example, reflective writing and critical thinking. Here is the course link for you to explore further. You can dip in and out and we can discuss how you got on with the course at Induction.

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Task 2: Course page. Task and resource link

Use this link to the course page below. Make a note of key course details – module codes and titles, Assignments and placement information . There will be a friendly quiz on this at Induction!

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Writing your “about me” profile

When you start the course, you will set up a digital portfolio (PebblePad). The opening page is called ‘about me’. In preparation, please find an image and write between 150-300 words about you.

An example from last year is shown below:

I graduated from Loughborough University in July 2018 with First Class Honours in Geography. From then, I went to pursue a career in the aviation industry. I joined EasyJet as a member of cabin crew hoping to get to know the industry and eventually take the next steps to pursuing my dream job as a pilot. Although still interested in flying, the lifestyle of the industry was not for me and therefore I decided to change my plans and get into teaching. Geography has always been a passion of mine and through my positive and creative teaching and learning experiences from when I was at school, sixth form and university, I would love to be able to inspire students in a similar way.

As an alternative, you could produce a very short film/media clip that covers the same information. This is your chance to be creative and develop your digital skills before the course starts. The format is up to you.