POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION (PGCE) IN FURTHER EDUCATION AND SKILLS SECTOR

London South Bank University

United Kingdom, London

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Home/United Kingdom/London /London South Bank University/POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION (PGCE) IN FURTHER EDUCATION AND SKILLS SECTOR

London South Bank University

United Kingdom , London

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Southwark

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake Deadlines24-Sep-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 15,500 / year(s)

Next Intake 24-Sep-2026

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION (PGCE) IN FURTHER EDUCATION AND SKILLS SECTOR

About

Teaching in the Further Education and Skills Sector is rewarding and unique. You will work in a vibrant environment whereby you will inspire and make a difference in the lives of students from diverse backgrounds in a wide range of contexts. You will pass the knowledge and skills you have developed during your degree and/ or industrial experience to the next generation to prepare them for the world of work or higher education.

Our full-time one-year Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Further Education and Skills Sector will equip you with the knowledge, skills and values needed to meet Occupational Standards for the Further Education and Skills teacher role. This will enable you to facilitate the learning of a diverse range of students, including young adults aged 14-19 and mature students, and help them to achieve their goals. You will also be able to apply for the Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status (QTLS) via the Society for Education and Training, after the completion of the course.

You will develop a deep understanding of the main principles for teaching, learning and assessment in your subject specialist area, as well as of the Further Education context. You will engage in hands-on activities so that you can effectively transfer educational theory into your own teaching practice. LSBU has a particular focus on social justice and inclusion, so we will help you adopt innovative inclusive practices to meet the diverse needs of students in a variety of further education settings.

You will be encouraged to develop your critical reflection skills and undertake original practitioner research to improve your own practice and offer the best learning experience to your own students. You will have the chance to critically analyse current policies and practices and adjust them to meet the needs of your students regardless of their educational, social, cultural and economic background.

Our PGCE develops reflective practitioners whose teaching practice is underpinned by evidence-informed pedagogies, and who are committed to inclusive practice and continuing professional development.

Why study Education at LSBU?

comments: You will gain the necessary knowledge, skills and values to meet the Occupational Standards.
heart: You will engage with effective evidence-informed pedagogies and will have the opportunity to apply those into your own teaching practice.
check-circle: You will gain experience of face-to-face and remote synchronous teaching and of shadowing more experienced teachers.
laptop: You will develop your digital skills and your understanding of sustainable development.
smile: The course will be offered on a blended learning basis to create a flexible physical and digital environment.
user: You'll be allocated a university-based mentor to support you during your course.

link: LSBU is part of a wider group which includes South Bank colleges, Sixth form college and Academies.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Entry Level Requirements

Need further information? Call us on 0800 923 8888 to discuss entry requirements.

To enrol on the course participants must meet the following criteria:

Hold an undergraduate degree with is considered comparable to a UK honours degree.
Have GCSE in Maths and English at Grade 4 (C) or above*. Applicants who have not yet met this requirement are welcome to apply but will not be able to start the course until they have met this requirement.
2 Satisfactory references.

*We accept only the following as GCSE equivalent:

English

O Level English (Language or Literature) any pass grade (grades A-C)
A/AS Level English Language at grade C or above
CSE grade 1 English (Language or Literature)
Functional Skills in English Level 2 and above (OFQUAL approved)
Northern Ireland Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills – Communication
Equivalency Testing for Career Development (GCSE equivalent) L2 English - Grades 9 – 4
A2/AS-level in English Language (but not an O-level pass achieved at A-level sitting)
Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA)
Irish Republic awards
International Baccalaureate (Higher or subsidiary level in English language at grade 4 or above)
European Baccalaureate (A score of 60% (6/10) or higher with English indicated)
IGCSEs Cambridge in English (First Language grade C, 4 or above)

Maths

Level Mathematics any pass grade (grades A-C)
CSE grade 1 Mathematics
Equivalency Testing for Career Development (GCSE equivalent) L2 Maths - Grades 9 – 4
A2/AS-level in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics (but not an O-level pass achieved at A-level sitting)
AEB O/A-level in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics
A-level in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics
A2/AS-level in Statistics (Passed at grade C or above)
Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA)
Irish Republic awards
International baccalaureate (Higher or subsidiary level in Mathematics at grade 4 or above)
European baccalaureate (A score of 60% (6/10) or higher with Mathematics indicated)
IGCSEs Cambridge in Mathematics grade C, 4 or above

We do not accept the following as GCSE equivalent:

English

Level 2 Key skills/Functional Skills in communication
Access to Higher Education qualifications
Certificates in adult literacy
Modules in Foundation Degrees (or any other degree course except those outlined below)
City and Guilds
University of Cambridge English for speakers of other languages Certificate of English language skills
OCNW/OCN Level 2 GCSE equivalent in English
Key Skills Communication Level 2 and above
Professional Skills Test in Literacy (DfE)
ESOL Skills for Life examinations at Level 2 (full qualification)
Certificates in Essential Skills (3800)

Maths

Level 2 Key skills/Functional Skills in application of number
Access to Higher Education qualifications
Certificates in adult numeracy
Modules in Foundation Degrees (or any other degree course except those outlined below)
City and Guilds
OCNW/OCN Level 2 GCSE equivalent in English
Key Skills Application of Number – Level 2 and above
Professional Skills Test in Numeracy (DfE)
Associated Examining Board (AEB) Proficiency Test in Arithmetic
City & Guilds Certificate in Mathematics Skills (14 credits)
City & Guilds Certificate in Mathematical Techniques (13 credits)
Essential Skills Wales in Application of Number Level 2
NCFE Certificate in Basic Maths Level 2

IELTS: If your first language is not English, you will need IELTS 7.0 overall, with no element less than 6.5. This is an additional requirement to GCSE equivalence.

We require an ENIC or NARIC statement of comparability for all overseas qualifications.

To access the DfE Bursaries, you need to have GCSE English and Maths grade 4 (C) or above.

All applicants who meet the entry requirements will be invited to an interview to determine whether they will be offered a place.

All entrants to ITE courses are required to undergo both an enhanced criminal record check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), formerly known as the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), and an Occupational Health check (OH). LSBU pays for both of these checks. Once you accept an offer from us, we will provide you with guidance on how to apply for your DBS check, and your OH check will be completed once you have started your course.

An applicant with a criminal record is not automatically prevented from becoming a teacher. For more information on the DBS and their enhanced checks call them on 0870 90 90 811 or visit the Gov.uk website. You will also need to be able show the certificates from your relevant GCSEs and your degree (if awarded) before enrolment – statements or letters are not applicable, so if you do not have the original certificates this must be sought from the awarding body. This can take some time and so must be done in good time before the course starts.

Career

Careers

Placements

Placement experience will be integral to the PGCE, and your progress on placement will be assessed as part of the course. You are required to spend at least 250 hours on placement, of which 150 hours would be direct teaching. Of the 150 teaching hours, at least 120 hours must be in your subject area. The placement requirements include a minimum of two placements (the second placement will be at least 20 hours), so that you can gain experience from different settings.

You will be supported by a subject-specialist mentor and a university-based mentor when you are on placement. You will gradually build up your teaching responsibility. Initially, you will shadow experienced teachers from different subject areas and then move on to small group before whole class teaching. This will be decided in collaboration with your mentors. Your mentors will meet with you weekly to encourage you to reflect upon your practice and provide professional advice. Your university-based mentor will support you throughout your placement and monitor your portfolio of practice.

Employability

This practical qualification supports you with the development of Occupational Standards required to teach and work in Further Education and Skills Sector. The sector is made up of a variety of contexts, such as Further Education colleges, sixth-form colleges, adult learning colleges/ centres, community learning colleges/ centres, prison education, and youth offending services.

You will be able to progress onto MA in Education and EdD Professional Doctorate in Education.

Professional Link

The Level 7 PGCE meets the specifications outlined by the ‘Qualification framework for the full teaching qualification for the further education and skills sector’ (2022) and follows the Occupational Standards. This means that you will develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to work in the FE sector and apply for the QTLS offered by the Society for Education and Training.

The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. The PGCE is delivered in collaboration with South Bank colleges, South Bank University Sixth Form and Academies.