An undergraduate course in Education and Mathematics and Statistics.

Our Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) offers you a path to becoming a secondary teacher (for 12–18 year olds), incorporating a Teaching Qualification (TQ) and a PGDE. It is designed to meet the needs of people who cannot enter teaching by conventional routes and who need part-time or full-time study patterns. You will take a carefully planned route through a modular programme and school experience in partner schools, with training, support and assessment by OU tutors and school mentors.

This course is only available in Scotland in the subject of mathematics.

This is a complex course with clearly defined entry requirements. Please also read the guidance in the PGDE application pack available by emailing The Open University in Scotland.

Register for the course

What you will study

The PGDE is a programme of Initial Teacher Education (ITE), complying with the regulations set by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). You will begin by completing a needs analysis, that helps you to record evidence of your prior experience. The training programme, following needs analysis, is a progression through three levels, each supported by web-based study modules and audio-visual materials on CD-ROM. School experience is integrated with the study materials. The three levels are:

• familiarisation, including a four-week secondary school placement
• consolidation, including six weeks in the same partner school and one in a linked primary school
• autonomy, including six weeks in a different secondary school.

Entry

At present you must:

• be able to attend school placements in Scotland
• have a degree from a UK university or an equivalent qualification that is clearly and substantially relevant to the Mathematics PGDE. The minimum entry requirement to qualify to teach a particular subject is 80 SCQF credit points, 60 of which must be as part of your degree, and 40 must be at SCQF Level 8 or above.

You must have (or expect to have by the time you begin the course) one of the following:

• a national qualification in English at SCQF Level 6 or an accepted alternative: Higher in English at band C or above; OR National Qualifications at SCQF level 6 (for example, Higher); OR National Qualifications at Higher in English and Communication at C or above; OR National Units – Communication at Higher and Literature 1 at Higher (see note below).These used to be known as National Certificate Modules Communication 4 and Literature 1; OR Higher in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); OR GCSE English Language and English Literature – passes at C or above (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
• evidence in your application and at interview that you can communicate clearly and grammatically in written and spoken standard English.

If you have an overseas qualification please read further guidance in the PGDE application pack.

Please note that entry requirements may change as a result of government regulations.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact The Open University in Scotland at Scotland@open.ac.uk.

More information about teacher education can be found on our website.

Preparatory work

An important aspect of beginning to train as a teacher is being sure that this is the right career for you. We therefore recommend that you make yourself familiar with today’s educational issues by undertaking a period of work experience in the classroom, and by reading the Times Educational Supplement (Scotland) and the education sections of newspapers. You can also find further information in the Curriculum for Excellence or the Scottish Government websites.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability or additional requirement

You will need to make use of a personal computer and the internet. Some parts of the course are presented using audio-visual materials on a CD-ROM. If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Study materials

What's included

Printed handbook and Web-based study materials, audio-visual materials on CD-ROM.

Computing requirements

You will need a computer with internet access to study this course. It includes online activities – you can only access using a web browser with Flash and Java – and some course software provided on disk.

• If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer running Windows since 2006 you should have no problems completing the computer-based activities.
• If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
• If you have an Apple Mac or Linux computer – please note that you can only use it for this course by running Windows on it using Boot Camp or a similar dual-boot system.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a subject-specialist tutor who will visit you during each period of school experience to assess your progress, provide online support during each level of the course you study and assess your coursework.

During each School Experience period you will also be supported by a school-based subject mentor, who will train, guide, manage and assess your work in school. Further support will be provided by a school coordinator, a senior member of the school staff and a subject leader based at the University.

You will also have the opportunity to attend Saturday day schools.

Contact The Open University in Scotland by email if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

Your progress towards the standards for full registration for Teaching Qualification (TQ) will be assessed. The Open University PGDE will be monitored closely and your assessment for the course as a whole will take account of:

• reports prepared by the school at the end of each school placement
• assessments at each level of the course linked to module- and school-based training marked by your tutor.

The assessment process involves detailed discussion between you, your Tutor and your school-based mentor, with other staff in the school and the OU participating when appropriate.

At the end of the course you complete an assessed school placement of at least six weeks and present a portfolio of school and module study to the University.

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in August 2012. The closing date for an August start is in the previous February. To find out the exact closing date you can email the OU in Scotland. We expect the course to be available once a year.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• Optimization (M373)
• Graphs, networks and design (MT365)
• Using mathematics (MST121)
• Pure mathematics (M208)
• Working together for children (KE312)

How to register

When to apply

The next presentation of the PGDE Mathematics is in August 2012. The closing date for applications is 16 March 2012 and applications cannot be accepted beyond this date.

How to apply

If you would like further information, or to apply, please contact The Open University in Scotland, to request a PGDE application pack: by email: scotland-education@open.ac.uk, or by phone: +44 (0)131 2263851.

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information about distance learning at the OU read Study explained.

Study explained

Time

– find out how much time is required to complete OU study. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.

Costs

- find out how much you can expect to pay.

Study explained

- all you need to know about studying with the OU.

Your questions

We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.

Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90 +44(0) 845 366 60 35

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