Course Overview
Student teachers on this programme complete either a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) of 120 M level credits or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) of 60 credits. Both the PGDE and PGCE are awarded alongside a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Our vision is to develop highly skilled, motivated and informed teachers, with a passionate commitment to ensuring that all their learners access the high- quality education to which they are entitled. The Curriculum we offer is discussed and co-delivered in Partnership with our schools. It is designed to be purposefully integrated and sequenced across a wide range of settings. It is carefully considered, in order to support our student teachers in gaining expertise in the subject(s) they are learning to teach. We focus on high quality subject teaching to all pupils, adapting learning (where necessary) for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL) whilst maintaining high expectations for all: equality of opportunity is central to our partnership, and we work closely with a diverse range of schools and their communities. The curriculum for all LJMU student teachers includes and extends the entitlement set out in the ITT Core Content Framework.
Assessment on the Postgraduate Primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) courses is continuous with module and teaching assessments spread over the year at intervals appropriate to the phases of training. All trainees must pass the 7118EBEC Becoming a Professional Teacher Module and pass Phase 3 at Triangulation, in order to be recommended for QTS.
Formative assessment, by both school-based and university-based staff, is an important element of the Postgraduate Primary courses. This includes formal lesson observation, analysis and feedback, which support on-going evaluation, review and target setting by the trainee. The Weekly meeting and Target setting document is completed each week during the placement experience, to capture training and review and set targets. Five Review Forms are completed during placement experiences, by the ITT Mentor in conjunction with the trainee and Professional Mentor. The QTS Training and Development File contains a record of the school-based curriculum, along with trainees' Placement Experience File(s) The LJMU ITT Tracker audits evidence that they are meeting the Teachers’ Standards by the end of their programme. Trainees are NOT required to collate a separate QTS file/portfolio, and are discouraged from doing so, as part of LJMU’s commitment to reducing teacher workload.
All LJMU ITE Programmes operate a ‘phased’ approach to curriculum design and placement experience. The focus of the curriculum and expectations for each phase are as follows:
Phase 1
Centre based Training | School based training | Expected Outcomes |
The ITE curriculum in Phase 1 focuses on the foundational knowledge student teachers need, with a particular focus in induction on the professional values, responsibilities and statutory duties of teachers (including child protection.) The Phase 1 curriculum includes principles for effective classroom management; an understanding of how pupils learn and its impact on lesson design and the auditing and development of appropriate subject knowledge. The Phase 1 curriculum includes a focus on:
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The centre-based Phase 1 curriculum will be extended and contextualised within school placements. Student teachers will observe and discuss teaching and learning in action with expert practitioners and consolidate their knowledge through making connections with centre-based learning. They will observe, reflect on, and discuss how expert practitioners manage the classroom environment and behaviour of pupils. Mentors will guide them in unpicking how experienced teachers use knowledge of their pupils and of the curriculum to plan and prepare ambitious lessons. They will consider the application of their emerging subject knowledge, skills and understanding within the school’s curriculum framework, and begin to identify and address gaps. During Phase 1 all student teachers will be engaged in team teaching, teaching parts of lessons and some solo lessons (appropriate to programme requirements) under the guidance of the ITT Mentor or classroom teacher. This provides opportunities to practise emerging skills. They should be responding to advice and feedback and be able to evaluate and reflect, so that they improve their understanding and practice. |
The End of Phase 1 review is completed by ITT Mentors in schools. At the end of Phase 1 we expect student teachers to:
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Phase 2
Centre based Training | School based training | Expected Outcomes |
The ITE Curriculum in Phase 2 further develops a critical, research-informed understanding of pedagogy, curriculum planning and class management, alongside broadening and deepening subject knowledge for teaching across the curriculum. There is an increased focus on understanding the role of assessment to improve learning, and on adapting teaching to meet a range of individual needs. The Phase 2 curriculum includes a focus on:
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During Phase 2, the centre-based curriculum will be extended and contextualised within school placements. Students will spend Phase 2b in an alternative placement, gaining experience of a contrasting school context. During Phase 2 student teachers have an increasingly independent responsibility for planning and teaching lessons which are well matched to the needs of groups and individuals, and for planning sequences of lessons as part of an ambitious curriculum. Expert colleagues will support student teachers’ planning skills; helping them learn how to; take into account pupils’ prior knowledge, decide how much new information to introduce and break down complex material into smaller steps. Mentors will provide a model for and guide students in sequencing learning; balancing exposition, repetition, practice and retrieval of critical knowledge and skills, and explaining key concepts to reduce misconceptions. There will be a very specific training focus on Subject Knowledge for teaching and on appropriate Subject specific pedagogies. Student teachers will understand the key concepts, knowledge, skills and principles of subjects and how these are built into curricular progression models. Mentors will develop student teachers’ skills in assessment, including questioning, strategies for identification of knowledge gaps and misconceptions, effective feedback and school recording policies. Mentors will develop student teachers’ skills in supporting pupils with a range of additional needs, including how to use the SEND Code of Practice. They will learn how to adapt learning, whilst maintaining high expectations for all, working with other adults as appropriate. |
Mid-point and end of Phase reviews are completed by ITT Mentors in schools. At the end of Phase 2 we expect student teachers to:
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Phase 3
Centre based Training | School based training | Expected Outcomes |
The ITE Curriculum in Phase 3 further extends student teachers’ critical engagement with research and practice, within the relevant subject(s) and age phase(s). Most of Phase 3 is school based, as the student teacher completes their final placement, extending their knowledge and skills in order to achieve a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The Phase 3 curriculum includes a further focus on:
For those students following a PGDE Route – the following are also included:
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During Phase 3, the ITE curriculum will be extended and contextualised within school placements. Training will enable student teachers to successfully demonstrate a range of teaching approaches, appropriate to subject, age and individual needs, and contribute to the development of curriculum thinking, drawing on evidence from research. Whilst we expect the ITE curriculum to be increasingly personalised during Phase 3, in order to meet individual areas for development and school priorities, it is likely that student teachers’ understanding and experience of working with other adults (including parents), and of assessment and adaptive teaching will need deepening during this final period, supported by expert colleagues. During Phase 3 student teachers have more independent responsibility for planning and teaching lessons which are well matched to the needs of groups and individuals, and for planning units of work as part of an ambitious curriculum, with a positive impact on pupil progress. |
Mid-point and end of Phase reviews are completed by ITT Mentors in schools. In Phase 3, these reviews assess progress against the Teachers’ Standards. By the end of Phase 3 we expect student teachers to:
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Liaison Tutor Support
During the placement experience the University Liaison Tutor (LT) for the placement institution will make contact with the ITT Mentor and trainee(s). Liaison Tutors will facilitate a fortnightly 'keeping in touch' virtual meeting with their trainees. The typical pattern of support is as follows:
Phase | Placement | LT Support |
Phase 1 (Virtual)* | Home School |
Mentor Development – this will be a virtual meeting with the Professional Mentor, ITT Mentor(s) and Trainee(s), to establish expectations, ensure all mentors are clear in their role and to identify and resolve any early issues. The Liaison Tutor will discuss the ITE curriculum for the programme, how the QTS OneDrive will be used to indicate progress formatively and the paperwork ITT Mentors will be required to complete moving forward. |
Phase 2a (School) | Home School |
Co-observation visit - undertaken by the Liaison Tutor with the ITT Mentor including observation of the ITT Mentor feedback to the trainee. The discussion with the ITT Mentor will enable the LT to evaluate:
This visit will also include an informal review of the trainee’s OneDrive to review the quality of the LAFs and Weekly Meeting forms. Note: where there is an issue with a trainee’s subject knowledge that requires additional input from a subject specialist, this may be agreed between the ITT Mentor and Liaison Tutor. |
Phase 2b (Virtual) | Alternate |
Formal OneDrive Review - in this placement a formal review of the trainee’s OneDrive should be undertaken and captured via the survey link which will be emailed nearer the time. If a trainee is placed on the ASF in their home school, which is to be monitored in the alternate placement, the LT/PT from the home school will need to review this. |
Phase 3a (School) | Home School |
Co-observation visit - undertaken by the Liaison Tutor with the ITT Mentor including observation of the ITT Mentor feedback to the trainee. The visit will also include monitoring of target setting akin to the P2a co-observation. Note: where there is an issue with a trainee’s subject knowledge that requires additional input from a subject specialist, this may be agreed between the ITT Mentor and Liaison Tutor. |
Phase 3b (Virtual) | Home School |
Triangulation - to discuss progress against the Teachers’ Standards, focusing on the LJMU ITT Trainee Tracking document and sampling evidence (Teaching and Training Files) to confirm that all standards have been met for recommendation for QTS. Green triangulation = 1hr; Red/Amber triangulation = 1.5hrs (QA) |
* May be in person if preferred by LT/School
Programme Guides
Key Contacts
Role | Name | Telephone/Email |
---|---|---|
Director of the School of Education | Dr Ceri Daniels | t. 0151 231 5317 e. E.C.A.Daniels@ljmu.ac.uk |
Head of ITE | Jan Rowe | t. 0151 231 5310 e. J.E.Rowe@ljmu.ac.uk |
Acting Head of Programme Leader Primary Postgraduate (3-7) Core and School Direct | Sarah Hindhaugh | t. 0151 231 5359 e. S.Hindhaugh@ljmu.ac.uk |
ITT Partnership Lead | Dr Andrea Mallaburn | t. 0151 231 5380 e. A.Mallaburn@ljmu.ac.uk |
Partnership Manager | Karen Davies | t. 0151 231 5239 e. K.Davies@ljmu.ac.uk |
Work-related Learning Unit / Partnership team | Sarah Manser | t. 0151 231 5285 e. S.Manser@ljmu.ac.uk / edn-wbl@ljmu.ac.uk |
Key Dates
Placement Experience Dates
The Initial Teacher Education (ITE) experience at LJMU involves approximately 125 placement days (school-based) in two educational establishments, 55 university-based training days and 13 directed studies days.
The placement experience uses the Home School model (diagram below), with trainees placed in a partner ‘Home School’ for the duration of their training (September to June) with teaching experience at an ‘Alternate Placement’ at a mid-point in the course, in order to gain complementary experience in a Nursey Setting and reflect on a different educational context. Although University based elements of the programme will be completed early in July, on School Direct routes it is for the lead schools to determine whether trainees will remain in their home schools until the end of the school year. For details please contact the lead school.

The placement experience is arranged in three Phases, to support trainees as they begin to teach and take on an increasing teaching load. These phases are:
- Phase 1: Orientation and Beginning Teaching and Learning.
- Phase 2: Consolidating and Developing Teaching and Learning
- Phase 3: Extending Teaching and Learning leading to Qualifying to Teach
The alternate placement is undertaken in the latter part of Phase 2 (Phase 2b). During Phase 3 there is an 'enrichment' period, where trainees can, with the school’s agreement negotiate a reduced or alternative timetable to enable them to:
- Focus on areas of personal and professional interest or where there have been limited opportunities to gain experience (e.g. SEN, EAL, FS, KS2, etc.) within the Home School or Alternate placement context;
- Negotiate and arrange up to a maximum of 5 days enrichment outside of the home school (signed-off by the ITT Mentor and Professional Mentor
Key Dates
There are key documents that need to be uploaded to Abyasa, the LJMU placement management system (http://abyasa.ljmu.ac.uk/) and also emailed to your personal tutor to monitor trainee progress.
Phase | Completed by Mentor for: | Uploaded by Trainee by: |
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Phase 1 | Friday 22nd October 2021 | Monday 25th October 2021 |
Phase 2 interim | Friday 17th December 2021 | Monday 20th December 2021 |
Phase 2 Final | Friday 18th February 2022 | Monday 21st February 2022 |
Phase 3 interim | Thursday 28th April 2022 | Tuesday 3rd May 2022 |
Phase 3 Final | Friday 24th June 2022 | Monday 27th June 2022 |
Programme Calendar
Term Dates
The LJMU ITT programmes calendars are based on the Liverpool Local Authority school calendar:
Liverpool LA calendar: https://liverpool.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/term-dates/
With regard to term times, trainees must ensure that:
- Travel arrangements are made to ensure full attendance at University (typically 09:00 to 15:00) and on placement (typically 08:00 to 16:00).
- The specific dates for mid and inter-term breaks for their placement schools (i.e. Half Terms, Christmas and Spring Break) are checked, before booking holidays or other personal activities (e.g. medical appointments, etc.).
- They avoid, or accept the risk of, booking holidays in the weeks immediately after the official end of their course (e.g. to make up for periods of absence during the course or in case additional days on placement are required in order to meet the Teachers’ Standards).
Placement Calendars: PGDE Primary 3-7 Programmes 2021-22
These documents provide an overview of Primary Core PGDE & School Direct Calendars for 2021-22 (note: the School Direct calendar follows a similar pattern to the PGDE, with some elements of the university-based programme conducted in the Home School - patterns may vary within some School Direct consortia). Holiday dates may vary slightly in some Local Authorities.
School Direct calendars show ONLY the LJMU elements of the programme. Additional sessions will be offered through Lead Schools who will confirm details with trainees.
Trainees should not book holidays until school holiday dates are confirmed.