We place considerable emphasis on giving you opportunities to link theory and practice, and to reflect systematically and critically on your own classroom performance: we regard this as integral to your professional development.

What you study

In the autumn term, you spend the first four weeks at College where we aim to develop a deep understanding of the learning process and what we want children to learn in Geography.

As the programme progresses, you learn how to apply these theoretical understandings to practical ‘live’ teaching situations by visiting your first placement school for one day a week. After four weeks, and until the end of the first term, you then go into school on a four-days-a-week basis, coming back to College for one day to hone the skills you develop in the classroom.

The first three weeks of the spring term are College-based, and focus on developing constructive relationships with pupils, assessment, and organising fieldwork experiences for pupils. During this period, you spend one day a week in your second placement school before going in to school full-time up to summer half term. The length of this placement is designed to give you the opportunity to adjust to the whole school culture and develop your competencies over a prolonged period.

The programme places strong emphasis on collaborative learning in College-based sessions. We expect you to play an active role, in order to experience learning at a deeper level, in the same way we aim to encourage your pupils to do.

The programme covers a wide range of topics, using a variety of practical activities. Topics include: the nature of geography and its place in the curriculum; recent and current developments in the subject and its teaching; implications of issues relating to class, gender and ethnicity; the National Curriculum for Geography; lesson and unit planning; teaching methods and classroom skills; use of Information and Communication Technology, media, resources and teaching aids; creating a purposeful learning climate; monitoring and assessing pupils’ learning; examinations; the grouping of pupils; organising and running fieldwork. These are examined in relation to the National Curriculum’s requirements.

Register your interest

If you register your interest in this programme we will keep you informed about open days and send you relevant further information.