The School Direct PGCE (QTS) programme with Illuminate Minds Trust has three distinct modules. These are:

•School Experience

• Studies and Professional Issues in Education

•Curriculum Studies

School Experience

The programme brings together a combination of in-school learning with study at Goldsmiths University.  You will spend approximately 6 weeks of the programme in university and the remainder of the time in school.  Your school-based time will be spent in two schools with the bulk of your experience spent in your main school, and an alternative 6 week placement in another local trust school.  As our schools work closely together, there is seamless transition between the two schools, although they offer very different experiences and cater for cohorts with their own flavour and characteristics.  We also ensure that the experience you have is contrasting in order that we give our trainee teachers a rounded training package.You will spend approximately 6 weeks of the programme in university. In this time you will experience a mixture of lectures and small group seminars to support you in developing a strong and confident knowledge of the subjects you will be teaching in the primary classroom. Underpinning the programme is the Professional Studies element of the course which is designed to prepare you fully for the wider roles and responsibilities of the teacher.

We ensure that your 6 week alternative placement provides you with a contrasting context so that you develop a broader range of professional skills and knowledge.

The Primary PGCE (QTS) Programme is taught and assessed at Masters Level. In addition to are commendation for QTS, if you pass all academic elements of the programme you will also leave with Level 7 credits, which is equivalent to one third of a master’s degree. Full academic support is provided to ensure you are fully prepared for assessment regardless of your prior experiences.