Pre-ITT Subject Knowledge Enhancement - Mathematics (SKE)

You’ll need an: 

• undergraduate degree 
• GCSEs (minimum grade 4/C) in English language and maths 
• GCE A level in maths 

 
Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country. 

Got a question?

If you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course please contact our enquiries team; we're very happy to help.

All of our SKE courses are made up of one module. This course is personalised to meet your, or a collective group of student’s, subject knowledge requirements. This length of this course is between 200 to 300 hours.  

You’ll need to complete the course with sufficient subject and pedagogical (interactions between teachers, students, and the learning environment and tasks) knowledge to meet the Teachers’ Standard 3. This is required to prepare you for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) that leads to the QTS awarding. 

The course is structured through taught sessions in the University and independent study tasks, including online learning. Taught sessions typically run for a full day. You’ll also have the opportunity to obtain school or college placements, so you can spend time in classrooms observing a mathematics lesson.   

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Learning

You’ll learn through face to face and distance (online) learning. To support your learning, we offer: 

• workshops 
• micro-teaching activities 
• independent research 
• access to teaching resources such as:
  • publishes schemes 
  • worksheets 
  • calculators 
  • interactive whiteboards 
  • software packages  

As part of this SKE Mathematics course, you’ll have the opportunity to spend time observing lessons in schools and colleges. 

In the taught part of this course, you’ll learn through: 

• seminars 
• flipped learning 
• independent study 
• online learning  

Assessment

We’ll assess you through: 

• portfolio of evidence 
• individual tutorials, to evaluate progress and set targets 
• open book tasks 
• written assignments  

Each topic area is assessed through a completion of subject knowledge questions relating to the relevant area of mathematics. These are typically questions from past GCSE and Advanced level exam papers.  

Academic Support

We’ll assign you a personal tutor, and you’ll have access to a senior tutor. 

Students taking this programme will normally already have an offer of a place on any Initial Teacher Training (ITT) route that leads to QTS.  

It is expected that students completing this programme will all progress to ITT. This will then lead on to a variety of career options, including: 

• teaching maths to age groups of: 
  •  11 to 16 
  •  11 to 18  
  •  16 and older 
• associated careers in education  
• working with young people 

Careers services at Southampton

We're a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:

• work experience schemes
• CV/resume and interview skills workshops
• networking events
• careers fairs attended by top employers
• a wealth of volunteering opportunities
• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture. You'll be able to take advantage of:

• our dedicated start-up incubator, Futureworlds
• a wide variety of enterprise events run throughout the year
• our partnership in the world’s number 1 business incubator, SETsquared

Tuition fees

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and all examinations.

Funding your postgraduate studies

A variety of additional scholarships, grants and bursaries  may be available to help you fund your master’s study, both from the University and from other organisations.

For a place on our SKE course, you need to apply for a PGCE course here at The University of Southampton or with a provider.

As part of your application, please indicate you want to complete a subject knowledge enhancement before starting your PGCE course, or after submitting your application an advisor may inform you that you need to complete a SKE course.

All PGCE applications are processed through UCAS. When you apply, you'll be taken to the UCAS website where you'll need to register an account with UCAS to submit an application. For information: there is a plan to move PGCE courses from applying through UCAS onto a DFE system.

Application deadlines

Supporting information

When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course. 

You’ll need to include information about: 

• your knowledge of the subject area
• why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
• how you intend to use your qualification

You'll also need to send 2 academic references. 

Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.

Learn more about how to apply with our postgraduate application guide.

What happens after you apply

You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.

We will assess your application on the strength of your:

• academic achievements
• relevant professional experience
• personal statement
• academic references

We'll get back to you within 6 weeks with a decision about your application.

We'll invite shortlisted candidates to a selection day, which includes an interview. You'll get an email from the admissions tutor if you're invited to the selection day. This will include information on how to prepare and what to expect during the session.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000