Fd (Arts) Learning Assistants in Secondary Schools (Mathematics and Education)

School: School for Education Futures

The FD (Arts) Learning Assistants in Secondary Schools is designed to allow support staff working in secondary schools a progression route to qualified teacher status (QTS).

Throughout the course there is an emphasis on the development of practical, personal and professional attributes required to promote the development of a world class workforce. This includes developing a knowledge of mathematical foundations, subject-specific teaching skills and critical reflective teaching.

Graduates will be able to progress to a top-up degree in BA (Hons) Mathematics and Education which they can combine with the Registered Teacher Programme, or progress to GTP or PGCE after their Honours programme. These graduates will combine years of experience with academic knowledge, in a market where mathematics teachers are in high demand, making them highly employable.

In year one you will study the foundations and core techniques of mathematics, the fundamentals of statistics as well as developing subject-specific teaching skills and your reflective teaching portfolio.

In the second year you will study mathematical analysis, calculus and linear algebra and the nature of mathematics, as well as continuing to develop subject-specific teaching skills and a reflective teaching portfolio.

Hold a level three qualification (A levels, NVQ level three, NNEB diploma, BTEC National Diploma, Diploma in Child Care and Education).

Level 2 qualification in English.

A minimum of 3 year’s experience in an appropriate work setting within the relevant discipline.

On completion of the course, students will be enabled to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of Mathematics and its main methods of enquiry.
• Use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information.
• Effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms.
• Process a range of relevant empirical and theoretical data to propose solutions to problems in different contexts.
• Reflect on their own value system, relating this to social diversity and global citizenship.
• Develop the qualities and transferable skills necessary for lifelong learning, including digital literacy.

• The Foundation Degree is designed to be studied flexibly, around your current work commitments.
• Demand for mathematics teachers throughout the country is high. This course provides access to qualified teacher status for support staff in order to excel their careers.
• Successful completion of the FD (Arts) Learning Assistants in Secondary Schools allows progression on to a BA (Hons) Mathematics and Education which can be combined with the Registered Teacher Programme in order to gain QTS. Alternatively a PGCE or GTP could be completed following the Honours degree.