CertEd (Education and Training)

This University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) approved Certificate in Education (Education & Training) is a pre-service teacher training course leading to a professional qualification that will allow you to teach in Further Education Colleges, Sixth Form Colleges, adult education and a wide range of other training and educational settings. You can study this course full-time for one year, or part-time over two years.

The course is approved by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and has run for a number of years. The course mixes theory with teaching practice and satisfactory achievement of all modules is required. If you are offered a place on this course we will have agreed a teaching practice placement for you before we confirm this offer. This can depend on your subject specialism and the availability of a suitable and supportive placement for the duration of your studies.

If you study the course full-time, you will be in College for 2 full days a week and will also undertake 3 days a week of work placements.

This a 6 module University award and each module carries 20 credits.

If you choose to study the course part-time you will study over two years.

ITE Bursaries

If you’re a full-time or part-time applicant, you could be eligible for an ITE (Initial Teacher Education) bursary depending on your relevant qualifications or professional experience and your intention to teach a designated priority subject in the Further Education sector. Priority subjects applicable to Blackburn College include Science, Engineering, Computing and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Other eligibility criteria applies. 

The programme is delivered through a variety of methods, which encourage those on the course to link theory and practice. Learners are encouraged to become reflective practitioners and you will be required to keep a journal which records your own development. You will explore educational theories, learn how to plan, deliver, assess and evaluate and consider teaching & learning for a range of groups and individuals.

If you study the programme full-time a minimum of 150 hours of teaching practice is integral to the programme. Your placement will be over 3 days per week and through this you demonstrate how your own understanding of the principles of teaching and learning is developing.

If you study the programme part-time you will need to undertake a minumum of 75 hours of teaching practice per year of the course - ensuring the miniumum of 150 hours is achieved over the course of both years.

This course, as such, requires a teaching commitment and teaching placement throughout the course of the year. During the programme you will also undertake observations of experienced teachers and evaluate their lessons – highlighting areas for improvement as well as best practice examples. Throughout the programme you will be assigned a mentor who will be there to guide you, offering their experience and support to enable you to achieve the qualification.

Modules include: This a 6 module University award and each module carries 20 credits.

• Preparation for Education and Training
• Developing Teaching, Learning and Assessment
• Curriculum Design and Assessment
• Teaching, Learning and Assessment
• Practitioner Research: an Action Research Approach
• Wider Perspectives in Education and Training

Please note all modules run parallel to teaching practice and the teaching practice is undertaken in addition to the taught modules.

Don't have the right qualifications? Consider our Step into Teaching qualification and progress to a CertEd.

You will need a Level 3 qualification in the vocational area that you wish to go on to teach in.

All applicants will need to have at least 5 GCSEs (Grades A-C) including at least a Grade C in English Language and at least a Level 2 (GCSE equivalent qualification) in maths. You are expected to have the ability to communicate fluently, accurately and effectively in professional spoken English (IELTS 7.5 or equivalent). You will be expected to have a keen interest in teaching and learning.

In order to undertake this qualification you will need to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check. These cost around £45.

Once you have applied for the course you may be invited to an interview. The interview will be assessed and will require you to produce a short task of about 500 words. You will also need to conduct a 5 minute presentation in which we will assess your skills in presenting and organisation as well as ICT Skills and confidence levels. Full details of the interview will be sent to you once we have received your application.

If you teach English, there is an additional pre course initial assessment and also an English Entry Assessment at Level 3. This is because potential teacher trainees who are intending to teach Literacy, ESOL, Functional Skills or GCSE English must demonstrate content knowledge and skills in English at Level 3. These assessment tasks are designed to provide evidence of an appropriate level of English. The pre-interview task with the entry criteria against which you will be assessed, and resources are to help you prepare. This additional assessment should take about 2 hours.

Care Leavers or Young Carers

We want students from all backgrounds to have the opportunity to go to University. If you have spent three months or more in local authority care OR are a young carer, you will be eligible for a contextual offer. This is a grade reduction of 1-A Level grade below our standard entry requirements. For example, a standard offer of CCC, would become CCD. MMM at Level 3 Extended Diploma would become MMP. To apply we advise that you tick the box on your UCAS application which identifies you have spent time in care and to help identify you as eligible for our contextual offer.

Throughout the course you’ll be assessed by Essays, Presentations including Group Presentations, Portfolio Building as well as Self-Assessment and Peer Assessment methods. You will also undertake assessments of your teaching practice during your placements. The assessments are designed to showcase the opportunities within the sector and help prepare you for teaching roles.

Formative and summative assessments enable lecturers or tutors to monitor the learning that has/is taking place. Formative assessment is not always noticeable by the student as it is a continuous process; lecturers or assessors may observe participation and responses to class discussions and group work, a student’s response to question and answer sessions, participation in workshop practical and engagement with demonstrations. Each module is formally assessed through, for example, individual and group presentation, essay, observation of practice, assessment of course work e.g. written report, reflective practice and portfolios of evidence.

Students receive both formal and informal feedback. Formal feedback is through assessments, is usually in writing and given within 3 weeks following the submission date. However, some lecturers will provide group feedback, for example, following an assessment they may choose to work through this in a tutorial. It should be noted that feedback is part of the ongoing learning cycle which is not limited to written feedback. Other forms of feedback include one-to-one meetings with a personal tutor, dissertation and project supervision meetings, a lecturer responding to learner questions or responses during topic or situation discussions.

The learning environment and facilities include lecture theatres, classrooms, technology suites, laboratories and workshops, library and skills labs, art and photography studios, small group and quiet zones. Learning methods will vary according to the programme of study but will include lectures and group tutorials. In addition, seminars, field trips, work placements, role play or scenario activities, laboratory and workshop practical, demonstrations, guest lectures, discussions and debates all contribute to the learning experience to support the acquisition of subject specific skills and knowledge and the development of transferable and employment related skills.

After completion this course, you will be ready to embark upon your teaching career. Some students receive offers to work at the institution where they have conducted their teaching placements, following an application process.

Alternatively, you may wish to top up to a BA (Hons).

Going to University is not as expensive as you think. There are no upfront fees to pay if you take out a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance England. Don't forget to apply as early as possible to secure your fees before you start your course. 

Please note, course costs may change. You can find the latest fees in the link below.

Other Costs

Through the Looking Glass: The Partnership produces an annual professional journal of trainees’ Action Research reports for those undertaking the Cert Ed or the PGCE (full teaching qualification route). As this is a valuable opportunity for trainees to have their work published, it is also a useful learning resource for trainees to see the standard of work produced. It costs approx. £10. 

DBS requirements: Placements will require trainees to have an up to date DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate. The current cost of this is £44 for an enhanced check.  Those already employed as a teacher should already have had a DBS cert completed by your employer.

Travel to and from placements and observations of peers and other teachers is at trainees’ own cost. 

Teaching materials: Trainees having their own laptop/computer and stationery is essential for this course.