Certificate in Education

Start date: September

Course length: part time: two years, four hours per week

Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

Teaching in the further education and skills sector is a very rewarding career. You can bring all your knowledge and experience to learners in the sector and by completing the Certificate in Education you will become a fully qualified teacher and can ensure a full learning experience for your students. You will have the opportunity to discuss and demonstrate different aspects of teaching, learning and assessment with tutors and peers to develop and enhance your own skills and knowledge.

This is a nationally recognised teaching qualification that will enable you to teach in various learning environments such as further education colleges, academies and schools (post 14), adult and community education, work based learning, training providers, prisons and public services.

This course is designed to build upon your current teaching skills; both from a practical and theoretical perspective, and gives you the opportunity to complete an optional unit that suits your own needs and preferences.

Preparing to teach in FE & Skills plus

This is an introductory module to prepare you to teach in the FE & Skills sector and looks at the roles and responsibilities of a teacher in the sector, including boundaries. You will study how to effectively plan, deliver and assess and strategies to motivate and include learners. You will also look at the importance of reflective practice and will complete a reflective blog. This module includes study skills to prepare you for writing at an academic level.

Developing Practical Teaching Skills

This module builds on the practical elements of teaching from ‘Preparing to teach’ that relate to the delivery of learning. You will examine how to utilise resources effectively including the use of technology in learning. Behaviour Management and how to support learners is also studied as part of the teacher’s ‘tool kit’.

The Theory of Teaching and Learning

This module examines the links between theory and practice in order to provide a more informed overview of teaching and learning. You will examine a range of established learning theories that can provide differing frameworks to support and develop your learners. You will study behaviourism; cognivitism; humanism; social and situated learning and communication theory.

The Teaching Professional

This module examines the concept of the professionalism and the role the teacher has as a professional. It examines behaviour, rights and responsibilities and required understanding of legislation. You will also evaluate and reflect on your own personal development as a teacher and what CPD is required throughout your career. You will examine the importance of research into your own subject pedagogy and how this will enhance your practice. This module requires you to reflect on the classes that you deliver and be able to recognise when changes are needed to your practice. You will also study the role of key stakeholders who impact on your practice e.g. Ofsted.

Curriculum Development for Inclusive Practice

This module focuses on the importance of change in the curriculum offered in the sector and the modes of delivery required to meet customer needs. You will study the impact of government initiatives on curriculum design and your role in changing the curriculum to meet these demands. It also encourages you to reflect on changes and their implications for your own practice, including improving your curriculum offer.

One Optional module from the following:
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL)
Teaching in Schools
Behaviour Management for Learning
From FE to HE
The Business Culture of Education
Teaching & Learning Informed Research


Please Note: All modules can be completed as stand alone CPD modules. Please enquire for further details

You’ll need to be employed in the FE & Skills sector and have access to a minimum of 150 hours of teaching over the duration of the course.  You’ll also need a minimum level 3 qualification in the subject you are teaching and GCSE maths and English or equivalent.

£2625 per year

How you'll learn

Group activities and tasks
Group and individual research
Presentations, demonstrations
Group discussions and debates

How you're assessed

You will be assessed through your coursework and presentations. Your teaching will also be observed.

Our Initial Teacher Training further education provision was recently awarded Grade 1 for training and assessment of its trainees (Ofsted, March 2012). The inspectors reported, “Outstanding training and assessment which results in trainees being highly reflective of their practice and possessing a good understanding of their own professional development needs.”

You'll already be employed within the sector, but if you successfully complete the course you could move into a course coordinator role, management or gain other kinds of promotion.  You will need to evidence a minimum of 150 hours of teaching over the 2 year programme. 

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