PGCE Physical Education Partnership

Is this what you want from your PGCE course...

• to be at a University which has an internationally acclaimed reputation for academic and sporting excellence?
• to work with a team of highly qualified and experienced experts in physical education, who are totally committed to maximising the potential of every student within a totally supportive structure?
• to be exposed to the most up-to-date initiatives and developments in the teaching of PE in the secondary age range (11-16 with post-16 enhancement)?
• to acquire numerous National Governing Body awards and qualifications?
• to work in an environment of outstanding beauty, full of culture and history?

If it is, then the University of Durham's PE PGCE course is certainly one you should consider. The University has a total commitment to achieving excellence in teaching and research in PE and Sport.

The Course

Integrated into the PE PGCE Course are university sessions, school experiences and residential OAA components. An undoubted strength of the Course is the excellent partnership that exists between the university and schools. The course has been devised by the University Tutor and Physical Education specialists in local schools to prepare you to teach Physical Education to the full secondary age and ability range.

Approximately two-thirds of your time on the PGCE course will be spent in two placement schools. Whilst in University you will follow a structured PE programme which will involve sessions reflecting good practice. Sessions, therefore, feature discussion, collaborative work, experiential learning, the examination and analysis of materials and especially the active participation of members of the group. There will be an obvious focus on all of the National Curriculum activity areas (games, gymnastic activities, dance, athletic activities, swimming and outdoor and adventurous activities) throughout the programme.

The design of the PE course also takes into account the simultaneous delivery of the QTS lectures programme. It therefore complements and reinforces the generic and subject specific principles, skills and techniques required of the competent teacher. Through critical reflection on current teaching practices, as well as your own teaching and research, you will be given the opportunity to develop into a more effective PE teacher, progressively improving the quality of your preparation and classroom practice, to become a physical educationalist for the future.

Facilities

Playing facilities at Durham are excellent, with sixty-two acres of beautiful and well-maintained playing fields on two sites:

The Graham Sports Centre, covers about forty-four acres. Here there is a sports hall, squash courts, multi-gym, physiotherapy centre, athletics track, Astro-Turf floodlight pitches, tennis courts, numerous soccer, hockey, rugby and cricket pitches, as well as a lacrosse pitch. These playing facilities have also been used as the site of the World Cross-Country Championships. Two further gymnasia are situated on the Leazes Road site and these are used for both training and teaching.

The Racecourse playing fields are situated close to the City centre and cover about twenty acres. These include a cricket ground, rugby pitch, football and hockey pitches, as well as two fives and two squash courts in the Racecourse pavilion. The Racecourse cricket ground has been used by Durham County Cricket Club for first class fixtures and also hosted the Australian tourists.

Assessment

You will be required to submit three assignments. These will relate to your professional standards and will inevitably have a strong practical emphasis. However, you will be expected to supplement this analysis of your work in school, by interrelating relevant research and literature. Additional formative assessment includes microteaching and oral presentations which is peer assessed.

Entry Requirements

Understandably there is a great deal of competition for places on the course. A desire to teach, a commitment and enthusiasm for working with adolescents and a love of physical activity and sport need to be essential qualities of the applicant.

Success Criteria for PGCE Physical Education

• 2:1 or above degree of which at least 50% MUST be in a sports specific
• A well written personal statement that illustrates knowledge of the contemporary issues facing practicing PE teachers
• Representative honours at a high level (town, county, regional, national)preferably in more than one sport
• Experience of working with young people in a 11-16 school setting.
• Experience of working with young people (11 -16) in a coaching situation
• Evidence that the prospective candidate has been pro-active in developing their subject knowledge through NGB awards or via teaching courses.

Developing subject knowledge:

Candidates are advised to audit strengths and areas for development.

If they have played a sport to a high level they are advised not to concentrate on that sport in gaining qualifications.

They would be advised to gain experience across the National Curriculum activity areas. (See table below)

Course Tutor

The course tutor is Julie Armstrong (0191 334 8414)