Primary Catholic Partnership-criteria

CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION OF TRAINEES

Applicants will indicate their desire to study for a PGCE with a Roman Catholic provider. Entrants of other faiths and beliefs will be considered as long as they are in sympathy with the aims and mission of the Partnership. The successful completion of the course will enable the teachers to teach in both Catholic and non-Catholic schools.

Academic Qualifications:

An emphasis is placed on the minimum academic qualifications of entrants, as these will be central to their ability to successfully meet the intellectual rigour of the course. The DfES document “Qualifying to teach” 2/02 identifies the academic requirements that candidates must meet to be eligible for admission to a PGCE (Primary) programme.

The circular requires that:

All entrants have the capability to meet the required Standards by the end of their training and that they possess appropriate personal and intellectual qualities to be teachers.
All entrants are able to read effectively and are able to communicate clearly and accurately in spoken and written standard English;
All entrants have attained a minimum grade C in the GCSE (or equivalent) examinations in English, Mathematics and Science;
Entrants hold a degree from a United Kingdom university (or Higher Education Institution), or a degree from the CNAA, or a recognised equivalent qualification. For entry onto the Primary Catholic Partnership we will be looking for a second class Honours Degree, as the minimum requirement.
All candidates have taken part in a group or individual interview.
All entrants show that they possess the physical and mental fitness to teach.
All entrants will go through a rigorous police checking system in order to ascertain that they have no criminal background which might prevent them from working with children.
ALSO
Experience in an English Primary School is required, this may be in the form of a voluntary or paid position.

If you have quaifications from another country and want to know if they are equivalent to British qualifications then contact NARIC, National AcademicRecognition Information Centre, Oriel House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham, GL50 1XP, telephone: 0870 990 4088 or visit their web site on www.naric.org.uk

Previous experience in schools

Experience has shown that the PGCE is a very pressurised year with a lot to learn. We have found that those candidates who have had some previous experience in schools, particulary an English Primary School, find it a lot easier to come to grips with the heavy demands of the course. If you are offered a place there is a requirement for you to arrange for at least a further two weeks experience in primary school prior to the start of the course, you will be given certain tasks to do during these two weeks to focus your observations and time.

The Interview

This will take place over half a day. You will be invited along with approximately six other people.

Document check:-

Entrants are asked to bring to the interview the relevant certificates which verify the academic profile described on the application form;
The document check is made by members of the Admissions Committee and provides an audit for registration purposes at the commencement of the course;
Entrants are also expected to submit to the Programme Director a Curriculum Vitae.
Entrants are also asked to bring their birth certificate and marriage certificate, where appropriate, to verify their identity.
Entrants are also asked to bring original documentation as listed on the Criminal Records Bureau information sheet.

Presentation:-

You will be asked to give a five minute presentation to the group.

Personal Interview:-

You will take part in a personal interview.

Tasks:-

There will be some tasks of an English and Mathematical nature to complete. Which will give us the chance to assess your current abilities in these areas.

Physical and Mental Fitness to Teach

Entrants are required to satisfy interviewers that they possess the physical and mental agility necessary to meet the strenuous demands of teaching as detailed in the relevant DfES Circular.

This does not preclude entrants with disabilities from applying who give every indication of becoming competent and valued members of the teaching profession.

All applicants who are offered a place on the Primary Catholic Partnership PGCE are required to submit a SCC Occupational Health form. All placement offers are subject to successful completion of this.

In addition, entrants are required to sign a declaration that they have not previously been excluded from teaching or working with children.

Criminal Record Bureau - checking procedure

All applicants who are offered a place on the course need to go through a Criminal Record Bureau Enhanced Disclosure procedure for which there is a charge of £37 payable by the applicant. All place offers are conditional until an enhanced disclosure is received.