Music

This course prepares trainees to teach Music in secondary schools (age range 11-18), leading to Qualified Teacher Status and either a Post Graduate Certificate in Education as part of a Masters Degree or a Professional Certificate in Education validated by the University of Worcester.

This course offers an opportunity to develop teaching skills in the additional performing art of Drama for Music trainees. Applicants are not expected to have any skills in the second subject.

In addition, for suitably qualified applicants, it is possible to develop teaching skills in Dance. Theatre and concert trips, together with workshops led by professional artists are an integral part of the course.

The course consists of 28 weeks school practice and 8 weeks study, based at our training centre located in the grounds of Coombeshead College, Newton Abbot, South Devon.

The second term offers a Performing Arts week, when trainees undertake Drama and Music workshops with professionals in the field.

The course prepares trainees to teach Music in Secondary schools (age range 11-18). It is based upon the requirements for the award of Qualified Teacher Status issued by the Department of Education and Skills.
It is intensive and requires attendance each weekday for the 36 week of its duration.

A Drama and Music trainee working together A Samba workshop 2006 led by Plymouth MusicZone

Nicola Smith, Music Co-ordinator

Nicola Smith is an experienced teacher of music. She has been a Head of Music, ITT Mentor, Associate Lecturer (University of Plymouth) and is currently a Regional Subject Advisor for the newest National Curriculum. Before training to teach in the secondary classroom, Nicola was a highly successful violin and viola teacher with a large practice in Brighton. She is now a freelance music education consultant, as well as maintaining her performing commitments and being an AQA moderator at AS and A2 level music.

What the Course Consists of

The course consists of five main components:

A specialist subject module in Music
A subsidiary subject module in Drama to Key Stage 3 and some opportunity to develop Dance teaching if qualified
A Professional Studies module
Performing Arts Experience
Classroom practice

During the course you will spend a total of 28 weeks in two member schools, working with pupils. It is likely that at least two trainees will be placed in each school. The remaining 8 weeks will be spent in taught sessions at The Training Centre based in Newton Abbot. All members schools are within reasonable driving distance of the Training Centre and, as far as possible, we will make individual placements taking the location of your accommodation into account.

First Term

The course begins with an introductory week at the Training Centre. The second week is spent on a programme of induction in the first Practice School (School A). Two days in the third week are spent at School A, and three days at the Training Centre. The rest of the first term is spent working closely with teacher-mentors at School A, apart from the majority of Fridays at the Training Centre.

Second Term

The first week is spent working with professional performing artists (Performing Arts Experience). Weeks 2 and 3 provide an induction into the second Practice School (School B) as well as central training. The rest of the term is spent working in School B, except for some Fridays at the Training Centre.

Third Term

The first week is spent at the Training Centre. You will spend the rest of the term, except for three Fridays, working in School B. During this period you will participate in a collaborative project in the performing arts, and you will take part in the arrangements for the induction of primary school pupils, who will be joining the school the following term. The last week of the course will take place at the Training Centre.

Assessment

During the course you will be assessed in the following ways:

Through observation of lessons during school practices.
Through examination of your Personal Development Portfolio.
Through one written (or audio-visual) assignment each term.
Through one project developing the use of authentic materials for the classroom.
Through a Music Audit

There will be a formal review of your progress towards the end of the first two terms. You will receive early warning if your performance is likely to be judged unsatisfactory. The final assessment for the award of PGCE will take place in the third term, and will take into account the evidence provided by previous reviews.

Quality Assurance

The programme uses a range of strategies to monitor the quality of provision and ensure it is of the highest standard. The Quality Assurance Officer visits all schools during the year to observe practice and report back to the Management Group. Written assignments are moderated at a joint meeting of school and central staff. Trainees are observed jointly by their own and a visiting mentor to ensure parity. All trainees are seen teaching by a member of central staff and their professional tutor.