Course summary

The BEd (Hons) Secondary Science and Maths Education programme’s fundamental purpose is to help trainee teachers to develop the skills of a critically reflective practitioner; that is, to help graduates become teachers who can reflect on and analyse their own practice and select effective strategies to use which will facilitate and support pupils’ learning. The programme is the first step in their continuing professional development in teaching. The design of the B.Ed Secondary Science and Maths Education degree aligns to the well-established and highly successful Secondary physical education degree which has shown that it can produce students with the relevant skills, knowledge, understanding and experiences necessary to follow a career in teaching, in a range of different educational contexts, e.g. mainstream schools, special schools, the private sector, academies, specials schools and further education. Outcomes for trainees on the SECPE are also high with excellent progression and completion rates. Both the degree classification and OFSTED grading show an increase in higher performing academic and professional performance over time, this supports the Department for Education (2011) vision of routes through initial teacher training with the nature and content of the training that is more ‘effective in preparing trainees to be successful in the classroom’. Marjon Teacher Education Partnership is a strong and highly valued partnership within South West England and beyond. The strength of partnership working through the ‘partnership agreement’ for school based training develops creative opportunities to encourage participation in University activities, for example many partnership schools bring students into the University for workshops, staff attend the college for professional development and trainees in schools act as advocates for students aspiring to move into Higher Education. Research led teaching and learning is central to the design of the B.Ed Secondary Science and Maths Education; applied research or scholarly activity underpins all aspects of the curriculum with staff and students carrying out research that impacts upon practice in school and improves outcomes for learners in schools