About the course

Teaching is a challenging and rewarding career, and it’s not limited to schools. Further education and sixth form colleges, adult and community education, the prison and probation services, pre-employment training and work-based learning are also environments where talented teachers are needed. This is a pre-service Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course – you don’t need prior experience of teaching or current employment in education. Through a combination of traditional study and work-based learning, you’ll be able to explore the key theories and techniques of teaching, learning and assessment. We’ll support you as you discover how to apply them in practice, how you can mould them to the teaching of your trade and how they link into current research in education. We’ll guide you as you learn to plan lessons, deliver classes, assess your students’ performances and provide constructive feedback. Our expert and supportive tutors will work to help you become an expert, engaging and inclusive teacher with high standards of professionalism.

Professional recognition:

The University of Bolton’s Certificate in Education 14+ programme meets the requirement of the FE-specific Diploma in Education and Training (DET). All new FE and Skills teachers must complete a teacher education qualification as the first step in obtaining QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills).

The course does not lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to teach in schools. However, QTLS does legally have equivalence to QTS and is recognised by some head teachers in schools.

Start Date/s

15/09/2025

Cost Information

Years 1 and 2 (delivered at Burnley College): The standard full time tuition fee rate per year for this course in 2023/24 for UK students is £4000

Entry Requirements

For the Generic pathway the entry requirements depend on the subject area you wish to teach. You must have the highest vocational qualification relevant to that subject area. For some subject areas this means a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 3, and for others it may be an NVQ level 4 or a Higher National Diploma (HND). You are also required to have maths and English GCSE at grade C or above / equivalent you will also need to evidence these before enrolment.  

You'll be required to attend an interview as part of the application process. This will involve written diagnostic tests for English/literacy and mathematics/numeracy, a short oral presentation, and a face-to-face interview.

This course involves working unsupervised with children and/or vulnerable young people and adults and you must gain an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting your studies. Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online Update Service.

You'll need to provide satisfactory references, a satisfactory health declaration and a satisfactory student agreement prior to enrolment on the course.

If English isn’t your first language you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.

Modules

Modules include • Preparation for Teaching and Learning • Curriculum, Innovation and Assessment • Subject Specialist Teaching Part 1 and Subject Specialist Teaching Part 2

Assessment

We take a blended approach to teaching and learning, using a combination of face-to-face sessions, work-based learning and electronic resources and communications. You can expect timetabled classes and lectures, along with workshops, small group and individual practical activities, and structured exercises and discussions. Individual support will be given in tutorials. We’ll encourage you to take part in online discussions with your peers and tutors, to make full use of ICT as a source of information and support, and to maintain a digital portfolio of evidence. In most cases, work-based placements will be arranged for you in situations that meet the requirements for becoming a qualified teacher in the FE and Skills sector. They may involve daytime or evening teaching, or both. In most cases, our placement partners will expect you to have several years’ work experience so that you can bring this wider experience into your teaching. While work experience is not one of our listed entry requirements, it is strongly recommended as we may be unable to find you suitable placements without it. During your placements, your teaching practice will be assessed according to Ofsted guidelines and documented through session planning, observation reports and reflective journals. You’ll receive informal feedback on your performance, to help you assess your progress and improve your practice, as well as formal assessment that will contribute to your overall grade for the course. Additional formal assessment will be based on coursework. You’ll be expected to produce written work that demonstrates your understanding and ability to apply the course content. You will also be required to undertake 150 hours of teaching and complete 10 formal teaching observations with your link tutor/mentor.  You’ll also receive informal peer and tutor feedback on individual and group activities. Your tutor will guide you towards areas of appropriate research and background reading that will help you to complete your coursework. To be awarded your PGCE 14+ qualification, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’ve met all the learning outcomes for the course. Our highly experienced and dedicated staff will guide and support you in this, but a significant amount of personal and independent study is essential and you’ll need to take responsibility for managing your own learning.

Careers & Progression

The Certificate in Education 14+ is a teacher education course for practitioners who wish to teach in the Further Education and Skills sector of education; for example in adult and community education, further education, sixth form colleges, the prison and probation services, pre-employment training and work-based learning.

This sector offers opportunities to work with further education learners who range in age from 14 years old to adult. These students come from different backgrounds and experiences and may enter further education from local schools, the community, industry or local businesses.

What can I do with this qualification?

In addition to working in FE colleges, sixth form colleges and schools there are significant opportunities to work in a range of other educational sectors. The work-based learning sector ensures people are ready for work and have the latest skills. It includes working with apprentices, young people who are not yet ‘job ready’, and employed adults who need to update their skills. Job opportunities in this sector are often with training providers in the private sector, but can also be within the work-based learning units in colleges.

The adult and community learning sector delivers a range of community-based courses, including practical and creative, basic skills, language and computer courses. The justice sector involves working in prisons and youth offender institutions teaching basic skills. Some offender institutions offer vocational preparation courses. Much of this work is sub-contracted out to local FE colleges who then provide relevant staff.

Alternative career options

PGCE M 14+ holders can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and/or further postgraduate study may be required. Some of these careers include:

• Higher education
• Education officer
• Mentoring
• Family liaison
• Educational psychology
• Education administration
• Student services advice
• Student liaison
• Educational writing and journalism
• Examinations
• Counselling
• Careers guidance
• Training
• Quality standards