Course summary

The BA is a full-time academic and professional programme, broadly comprising university-based provision and at least 24 weeks based in school. Across our suite of ITE programmes, we have a newly accredited and innovative core curriculum which includes: • Compulsory modules • Research skill development • Professional pathway for Qualified Teacher Status • Welsh Language Development Pathway • Bridging – activities which bring together theory and practice • Electives – a school-based experience following a chosen area of interest • Alternative setting – an opportunity to experience non-school education settings As we work in a collaborative partnership, we offer you a wide range of opportunities from a variety of schools, including primary and special schools. We also offer an opportunity to participate in our well-respected Athrofa Professional Learning Partnership: Aiming for Excellence Conference, write blogposts and benefit from one of our centres of research. You can find out more here: http://athrofa.cymru/ Your time in university focuses on learning high-quality pedagogy that makes a positive impact in the classroom. Working with teacher educators who are experts in their field of education, you will become skilled in understanding how children and young people learn and how they can become ambitious and capable learners. Our teaching philosophy is one of engaging our student teachers in lively debate and active learning that develops your critical thinking and engagement. This will prepare you to be a research-informed and research-active teacher, ready to make a difference to young people’s lives. Your personal skills of literacy, numeracy and digital competence are enhanced in a variety of ways, including workshops, lectures, tutorials, visits, guest speakers, discussions, problem solving activities and forums. We also offer the opportunity to discover the educational opportunities of museums, galleries and other contexts. Additionally, in the third year through the electives experience you will be able to follow and research a theme from within the education sector that is of personal interest – giving you a unique insight to a specific aspect of education. Your Professional Teaching Experience (PTE) will take place over 24 weeks in school, with three substantive teaching placements. These will be in an APLP network consisting of a Lead school and a number of partnership schools where experienced mentors and university tutors will support you in achieving QTS. Each teaching experience is in different settings to give you a range of experiences and the opportunity to engage with a variety of approaches to teaching and learning. During your school-based experience, you will be supported to integrate theory and practice so that you can develop the reflective skills needed to become a highly successful teacher. You will have a graduated introduction to teaching to give you time to develop your confidence, knowledge of the curriculum and skills of classroom organisation. This will include working with small groups of learners before moving to being responsible for the whole class. Seminars hosted in school and delivered by mentors and university staff will give you the opportunity to meet with other students in your network and engage in collaborative discussion. Such shared reflection is a powerful tool in moving your practice forward. Our partnership of networks offers urban and rural placements as well as placements available in either English or Welsh-medium schools.

Course details