University of York, PGCE, Secondary Education (English)

During the university-based part of the autumn term trainees engage in a series of method sessions designed to teach them how to apply their subject knowledge in the classroom; these sessions are tracked against the requirements of the statutory national curriculum for English; additionally, trainees are given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with post-16 provision and to explore the links between English and drama; key generic issues such as differentiation and assessment are threaded throughout the method sessions; this work is followed up and consolidated in placement schools where students have practical training in the skills needed to teach English; aspects of the course give students the opportunity to pursue particular areas of interest; for instance, a small-scale research study in their placement school; tutors and mentors work closely throughout the course to make sure that strong links are established between university-based method work and its classroom application; in the summer term trainees have the opportunity to refine their expertise in the light of the block placement by, for example, working alongside specialist guest tutors; organising English conferences and workshops for local schools; or during the professional enrichment phase of the course, exploring the teaching of English within and beyond the school context;