Business Education (14 - 19) GTTR code: N1X1
Business Education courses (Business Studies and Economics) now occupy a central place in the curriculum of all but a small minority of schools and colleges. The PGCE Secondary Business Education programme aims to prepare you for a leading role in the teaching of A-level, GCSE, and Key 14-19 vocational business courses..
PGCE work in Business Studies and Economics helps you to make the transition from subject expert to teacher. This involves recognising the contribution you can make to the education of students aged 14-19 of all abilities and relating your practical skills and knowledge to your wider education and pastoral responsibilities.
"Trainees are well prepared for their block placements."(OfSTED report, Business Studies and Economics)
The content
In cooperation with school/college mentors, your learning experiences are designed to underpin and balance the varying demands of school and college practice. These include individual tutorials and working in small groups as well as seminars, workshops, demonstrations and self study - placing an emphasis on your reflective as well as practical skills. You'll actively engage in professional discussion regarding such methods with tutors, mentors and other trainee teachers.
It's the intention that University-based and school/college-based experiences complement each other, enabling you to pursue problems identified as the course progresses and to take account of continued developments and the changing interests of trainee teachers. Our detailed programme is thoroughly reviewed on an annual basis.
While you are school/college-based, it is our aim to help you develop your practical teaching capabilities by providing you with a wide range of experiences in three main contexts: classrooms; department; whole school or college.
Support and resources
You will benefit from the support of your subject mentor. Responsible for trainee teachers' timetables and other school/college based professional experiences, your mentor observes, advises and supports you during your placement. Together with the University tutors, they play a vital role in monitoring and assessing your practical teaching competencies.
" The partnership is very well managed to ensure that training and assessment are of a high quality" (OfSTED report, Management and Quality Assurance)
The University teaching team has a national reputation for research, teaching and publications in Economics and Business Education. The tutors are responsible for supervising the work of trainee teachers in the University and for working closely with the school/college mentors.
You will be given the opportunity of individual tutorials for personal as well as academic reasons.
We have our own dedicated teaching and resource rooms that contain audio-visual, textbook and software, and other learning materials.
This programme consists of a variety of learning experiences designed for those wishing to teach Business Education in secondary schools. It prepares graduates to teach applied GCSEs, applied GCEs, GCSE, AS and A2 level. The programme leads directly to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and ultimately membership of the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE). The programme prepares participants to teach business education in a range of secondary schools (including 11-16 and 11-18 both maintained and independent) and sixth form colleges. Employment rates are consistently very high.
Course Leader: Dr Carlo Raffo
carlo.raffo@manchester.ac.uk
What our trainees say
'Support from my personal tutor was very beneficial and provided me with self confidence. Excellent course structure where the workload was manageable and achievable. A brilliant year's experience.'
'Excellent support, help and guidance throughout the course. Good interview process.'
'Excellent placement - good guidance and support given by mentor, senior coordinator and departmental staff.'
'Excellent whole school experience where I was able to develop further with full support from a range of experienced staff.'
Quotes from Business Education trainees 2006-07