Department of Education
Brunel University, Uxbridge,
Middlesex, UB8 3PH, UK
Telephone+44(0)1895267141
Fax +44 (0)1895 269805
Dear PGCE Student Teacher,
Congratulations on your successful application to the PGCE (Secondary) Biology with Science/ Chemistry with Science, Physics with Mathematics/ Physics with Science course at Brunel University London. Prior to beginning the course, we would like to inform you about the arrangements for the start of your course in September and recommend a number of tasks. These include familiarising yourself with key educational texts and websites for the course, if you could kindly start with the following:
Readings:
Millar, R., Leach, J., Osborne, J., Ratcliffe, M. (2006) Improving Subject Teaching: Lessons from Research in Science Education, Routledge London and New York
Toplis, Rob, (2015) Learning to Teach Science in the Secondary School: A Companion to School Experience, Routledge London and New York
Hollins, Martin (ed), (2011), ASE Guide To Secondary Science Education, Association for Science Education
Watts, M. (ed) (2014) Debates in Science Education Routledge London and New York
Government websites:
Department of Education website-
School Curriculum-
Exam board websites (Exploration of these will help you to understand the requirements of the Science syllabuses at GCSE and A‐level):
Edexcel:
AQA:
OCR:
Familiarise yourself with the following key organisations and school educational computing websites asinformation on these websites will help you to understand the current debates in Science education, changes in curriculum and assessment, and the implications for teachers. They are also a source of valuable teaching materials :
Association for Science Education:
Institute of Physics:
Royal Society of Biology:
Royal Society of Chemistry:
You will also need to observe a minimum of three days in a Primary School local to yourself in order to enable you to appreciate the transition from Years 6 in Primary to Year 7 in Secondary schools. This should be arranged independently, with the Head teacher of the school and it is important that you make these arrangements as soon as possible before schools break up for the summer holidays. There is a letter for the Head teacher in the ‘Primary School Reflection’ document – please note, this will need to be dated accordingly. This observation period must take place prior tothe start of the course.Two documents on the website relating to Primary School observations are: The Primary School Experience Reflection and The Primary School Observation documents.
You need to complete the PGCE SecondaryStudent Information Form.This information is used in order to arrange your school placements. This form can be found at the following link and can be submitted online to the Partnership Development Unit:
As a condition of entry onto the PGCE Secondary programmeyou are required to pass the Professional Literacy and Numeracy Skills Testsprior to enrolment. Information on how to go about accessing support materials and how to book to take these tests is available via the DfE’s ‘Get into Teaching’ website and at the link below. We would encourage you to begin practising and take these tests as soon as possible.
We look forward to welcoming you to the start of the 2017-18PGCE Secondary Mathematics course at Brunel on Monday 18th September 2017. You will be notified of further details nearer the time. Please ignore any documentation received from the Central University or elsewhere which suggests that your start date is anything other than 18th September 2017. If in doubt, please contact the Department of Education Taught Programmes Office (contact details at the end of this letter) and they will be able to clarify things for you.
If you do not intend to take up your place, or will not be able to meet the conditions of your offer, please let us know immediately. There are candidates who need to be notified promptly if a place has become available. Please contact Admissions (contact details at the end of this letter).
Yours faithfully,
Helen Gourlay
Secondary Science subjecttutor
Taught Programmes Office: Telephone: 01895 267019
Education Admissions Team: Telephone: 01895 274000