THE DETAILS:
  • Location: Swansea, Swansea, SA2 0FR
  • Subject: Salaried PGCE
  • Hours: Full Time
  • Contract: Fixed Term
  • Salary Type: Monthly
  • Language: Bilingual

This job application date has now expired.

Welsh teacher - Dylan Thomas Secondary School, Swansea

The Open University in Wales
Dylan Thomas Secondary School in Swansea is looking for a Welsh teacher. Apply to the PGCE now to study to become a Welsh teacher via The OU in Wales salaried route.

To become a teacher, you need to attain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) through an accredited provider in Wales. The Open University in Wales' innovative PGCE will qualify you to work at secondary school level.

How does the PGCE work?
The PGCE course includes a mix of online and face-to-face sessions with mentors and practice tutors and will take two years of study to complete. You will experience teaching in two different schools, through practice learning. The qualification is designed for teaching in Wales and for the Welsh curriculum. The programme is employability focused and will prepare you to enter the teaching profession. As a vocational teaching qualification, it's accredited by EWC (Education Workforce Council) and monitored by Estyn. The combination of academic and practice-based skills and experience is central to the programme, ensuring you're familiar with ‘practice as theory and theory as practice’.

What is the salaried route?
With The Open University in Wales' salaried route, you will study for your PGCE whilst working full-time in a school. The majority of the time will be spent at the employer school, but in June and July of year 1 you would be expected to undertake a second placement in a lead partner school. We will help you find a secondary school willing to endorse you. Your costs of study are covered by a training grant from Welsh Government and your salary will be paid by the school you work in. The salary received by students will ordinarily be set at the minimum of the unqualified teacher pay scale. Maximum salary will be dependent on the employer school and experience.

What support do I get?
We teach our PGCE through distance learning and there’s lots of support available. You’ll have a curriculum tutor who’ll be a specialist in your chosen field, and an in-school mentor who’ll provide support and practical advice. In addition, you’ll be able to speak to a dedicated Student Support Team who can give you help and guidance throughout your studies. Plus, you can connect with fellow students through our module discussion groups. In addition, you’ll automatically become a member of our active students association when you register. You’ll never be on your own.

We’ve designed our learning experience to combine flexibility and regular contact. We’ll give you the help you need to learn in the best possible way. You’ll be able to study at home, in school, or on the move. You’ll use our virtual learning environment to access compulsory live tutorials, module content such as textbooks, video and audio, and practice-learning activities. It's also where you'll interact with tutors and other students in online forums.

How to apply
For more information on The Open University in Wales' PGCE or any other elements mentioned above, please refer to the PGCE Prospectus in the documents section below. Application forms and guides on how to apply can be found at .openuniversity.co.uk/wales-pgce or open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/k36. You can also submit any queries to wales-pgce@open.ac.uk.

The closing date for applications is 30th June 2023. The programme will begin in October 2023, however students on the salaried route begin their employment contract from the beginning of the academic year in September. Ensure you choose the 'unendorsed' route on the application form and please do not contact the school directly.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
In order to study the salaried PGCE route to become a secondary school Welsh teacher, you will need to meet the following requirements:

- A standard equivalent to GCSE Grade C or above in mathematics or Mathematics-Numeracy
- A standard equivalent to GCSE Grade C or above in either English Language or Welsh First Language
- You must have a home address in Wales or England and be able to complete your teaching experience in two Welsh state schools
- A full UK honours degree (or equivalent). For Secondary Welsh, your degree does not necessarily have to be in this area if you can demonstrate that you are a fluent language user, as consideration may be given dependant on depth of knowledge
- Experience working in a school environment/with young people.

In addition, you’ll need to demonstrate the following:
- Aptitude, capability, and resilience to meet the required QTS outcomes by the end of your PGCE programme
- Personal and intellectual qualities to become an excellent practitioner
- You can read effectively and communicate clearly and accurately in spoken and written English and/or Welsh
- Personal functional skills in literacy, numeracy and digital competency applicable in a professional teaching and learning context. This will be evaluated through an assessment

During the application process you’ll need to do the following:
- Apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to show that you are not or have not previously been barred or excluded from teaching or working with learners, or have a criminal background that might prevent you working with children or vulnerable people. Safeguarding is a legal requirement. The DBS check is undertaken by an external company and you will be charged a fee.
- Confirm you understand that you will need to complete an extended period of time in a second school
- You will need to register with the Education Workforce Council as a Learning Support Worker before starting the programme