Certificate in Education (CertEd)

Location

Applicant Type

University Level

Level

Level 5

Subject

Teaching & Training

Course Overview

This award is validated by The Open University.

This teacher training programme is for individuals who wish to gain a nationally recognised Level 5 teaching certificate in the sector.

Part Time: 2 years (one evening per week in college)
Full Time: 1 year (two days in college)

The Certificate in Education (Further Education and Skills Sector) is a Level 5 teaching qualification which has a teaching/training practice requirement.

This course is ideal if you:

Work or want to work as a teacher or trainer in the further education and skills sector
Are in or want to start a career in a teaching or training role
Are a teacher or trainer who is seeking career progression in your area of work

This programme is a recognised Full Teacher Training qualification, eligible for QTLS application on completion.

Across the programme, you will be required to complete a minimum of 250 hours in placement, including at least 150 hours of teaching practice during which you have full responsibility for planning, delivering and assessing specific area/s of the institution’s provision. The placement should be within a local sixth-form teaching post-16 learners or a local college teaching post-16 or adult learners.

Alongside organisation of a placement and to support your studies, you will also be required to ensure you have a mentor in the workplace who is a qualified teacher/lecturer (ie: PgCE) and where possible is a subject specialist in the same area as the trainee teacher. Where the mentor is not a subject specialist, the trainee teacher will require the support of a named subject coach.

Key Highlights

As a student studying a programme validated by the Open University, you will be joining a community of over 40,000 students. When you're studying on a OU validated programme, your primary relationship is with the institution you have registered with, which means you have access to South Essex Colleges Group's resources and facilities. In addition to this you can use the Open University's free online resources and tools.

Course Structure

A variety of teaching strategies are used, such as group interaction, paired and individual work, one-to-one seminars, guest speakers, support from subject specialist mentors and regular tutorial input. A range of interactive technologies are taught and are available for use by trainees.

Part-time programme:

Study four modules per year, eight modules across the two year programme
One evening per week in college

Full-time programme:

Study eight modules in one year
Two days in college, two on placement

Modules:

Principles of Teaching and Learning
Developing Inclusive Practice
Behaviour Management
Enabling Learning by Assessment
Theories and Principles in Pedagogy
Digital Pedagogy
Professional Development Project
Wider Professional Practice

Entry Requirements

To study this course, you will need the following:

A Level 3 qualification in your chosen subject specialism
GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4 or above or an equivalent numeracy or literacy qualification at Level 2, such as Functional Skills - evidence of this will be required during the application cycle
An overseas qualification in English language will need to be deemed equivalent to GCSE grade 4 by ENIC. If this is not the case, you will need an IELTS qualification with a minimum score of 7 in each element
A 500-word written piece prescribed following application and returned to the ITE team prior to or at interview
A completed Teaching and Mentor Hours form from your workplace to confirm your mentor and organisation
It is a legal requirement that you complete a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Check. The process for this will be discussed at interview

Additional Entry Requirements:

Part Time: You must be working in a paid educational position in which you would be able to lead at least 150 hours of teaching and undertake at least 100 hours of placement activity (e.g. planning, marking, tracking, meetings, training).

Full Time: You must secure a suitable teaching placement where you would be able to lead at least 150 hours of teaching and undertake at least 100 hours of placement activity (e.g. planning, marking, tracking, meetings, training). Whilst the ITE team will give advice on how to apply for positions we do not provide you with teaching placement, It is the responsibility of the prospective trainee to arrange their own placement.

Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Bursary: See Fees & Funding below for details on eligibility and further information.

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment dates fall in both semester 1 and 2. Trainees complete a variety of assignments including portfolios of teaching practice, presentations, case study, seminar and research project.

There will also be formal observations of your teaching practice across the programme.

Fees and Funding

The cost of this course for 2027 entry is:

£4,250, part-time study
£8,500, full-time study

Fees are per academic year for Home/UK students.

If you have English and Maths at a Grade 4 or equivalent and a subject specialism at L3 or above you may be eligible to apply for the ITE Bursary. For more information please visit the Government website here.

Future study/career options

After completion of the course you will be able to apply for Qualified Teacher: Learning and Skills status (QTLS). QTLS is equivalent to but distinct from QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) for ages 5-11 or 11-18 in schools.

Study Commitment

Part Time: 2 years (one evening per week)
Full Time: 1 year (two days in college)

Additional Information

Part Time: 2 years (one evening per week)
Full Time: 1 year (two days in college)