Fd (Arts) Learning Assistants in Secondary Schools (English 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 key themes in literature, education as well as subject-specific teaching skills and critical reflective teaching.

Graduates will be able to progress to a top-up degree in BA (Hons) English 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 English teachers are in high demand, making them highly employable.

In year one you will study a background to English and reading literature as well as developing subject-specific teaching skills and your reflective teaching portfolio.

In the second year you will study Shakespeare and the English Renaissance, American literature and the realist novel 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 the study of English 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 English teachers throughout the Black Country is high. This course provides support staff with a pathway to access qualified teacher status in order to excel their careers.
• Successful completion of the FD (Arts) Learning Assistants in Secondary Schools allows progression on to a BA (Hons) English 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.