The new academic year has begun in earnest at Edge Hill University’s RE department. We have once again been able to attract students keen to join us en route to becoming qualified RE teachers; we have a record number of Secondary Undergraduates with 12 year 1 students, 16 year 2s and 14 year 3s. Added to this are our 15 PGCE students. With over 50 full time students training to become Secondary RE teachers, this means that we are still the largest provider of RE Initial Teacher Education in the country. In addition to this we have a growing number of Primary trainees who choose RE as one of their specialism, currently over 50 students.
We have also re-opened our Flexible PGCE RE course. This flexibility means that students can take up to 3 years to complete the PGCE, using a blended (online and face-to-face) approach to the academic modules combined with the usual placements in school. On the other hand, teachers who have been working with an unqualified status who can show evidence of them meeting the teaching standards can gain QTS and qualify in a term. It is great that bursaries are available for suitably qualified students. Applications for Flexible PGCE remain open all year round.
This follows a hugely successful 2014-15: Postgraduates had a record breaking year with 100% gaining grade 1 on their final placement. Undergraduate QTS students had excellent results too, with half achieving a first class degree and the remainder a 2:1. Once again our QTS students all secured employment as teachers.
