Our new SKE programme in Computer Science is a course for graduates who need to develop a greater depth of subject understanding prior to training for qualified teacher status. We have specifically developed our 12 week programme of face-to-face, online and in-school activities starting in May to equip you with the necessary skills and subject knowledge to teach the computer science elements of Computing across the 11-18 age range.
For more information about SKE, please visit What is subject knowledge enhancement SKE in Computer Science blog page.
To Apply
You should apply in the usual way for an initial teacher training (ITT) course - in this case, PGCE - through UCAS Teacher Training. You should indicate in your application that you are interested in doing a subject knowledge enhancement course ahead of the standard PGCE.
Fees and funding
You will not have to pay any fees to complete an enhancement course. A bursary may be available for the 12 weeks' duration, funded by the NCTL. The funding arrangements for your subsequent initial teacher training are the same as for all trainees on one year PGCE courses. The BCS offer a £25000 scholarship to some applicants - Academy of Computing website. Contact ComputerScience@soton.ac.uk for advice.
Contacts
For further information on this programme, email the ITE office or telephone: 023 8059 2413. You can find general information on teaching as a career, including the criteria for QTS, on the Department for Education website.
Programme Tutor: Dr Cynthia Selby
Programme Structure
The aims and outcomes will focus upon developing attendees’ competences in the subject content criteria required for Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, and Post-16 programmes of study in Computing. Indicative content includes:
- Computational thinking (decomposition, abstraction, algorithm development, generalisation, and evaluation)
- Programming in graphical and text environments
- Number representation (binary, hexadecimal)
- Von Neumann architecture and the fetch, decode, execute cycle
- Networking (addressing, routing, and security)
- Logic gates, Boolean logic, and truth tables
Resources currently in use in schools will be utilised to provide both good subject knowledge and good pedagogic knowledge.
Key Facts
What is a SKE?
If your degree subject is not close enough to the subject you want to teach, you can take additional training before your initial teacher training (ITT) through Subject Knowledge Enhancement programmes (SKE).
Typical entry requirements
GCSEs:
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|
| GCSE | GCSE in Mathematics and in English Language at grade C or above, or the equivalent qualifications. This is a government requirement, and ‘equivalent qualifications’ are as designated by the PGCE admissions team (IELTS qualifications are not considered equivalent). |
Selection process
Intake:
10 (2014-15)
You will be invited for interview on the following basis:
- your application shows good prior knowledge from study and/or
- it shows good experience has been gained through observation in a school or college or from working with young people and/or
- it is well written and persuasive.
The selection criteria applied are
- enthusiasm and good subject knowledge and/or ability to learn further
- good knowledge of educational issues and a strong sense of the professional demands
- good interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively (oral and written).
A good academic reference must also be provided from your most recent university or college or from an employer (where you have been away from studying for some time). All places offered will be conditional on enhanced DBS and health checks.
This page contains specific entry requirements for this course. Find out about
equivalent
entry requirements and qualifications for your country.
Typical course content
Typical course content
The 12 weeks course will focus upon the skills related to programming and the embedding of computer science concepts.
The attendees will be able to code competently in at least two programming languages, demonstrate an understanding of and use of concepts such as selection, repetition, procedures, variables and relational operators. The attendees will breadth of knowledge set out GCE/GCSE Computing curriculum.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the
programme and the learning outcomes that a typical
student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if s/he takes full advantage
of the learning opportunities that are provided.
More detailed information can be found in the programme handbook (or other appropriate guide
or website).
Tuition fees
Fees for postgraduate taught courses vary across the University. All fees are
listed for UK,
EU and international full-time and part-time students alphabetically by course
name.
Scholarships, bursaries, sponsorships or grants may be available to support you through your course. Funding opportunities available to you are linked to your subject area and/or your country of origin. These can be from the University of Southampton or other sources.
Explore funding opportunitiesCosts associated with this course
Students are responsible for meeting the cost of essential textbooks, and of producing such
essays, assignments, laboratory reports and dissertations as are required to fulfil the
academic requirements for each programme of study.
In some cases you'll be able to choose modules (which may have different costs associated
with that module) which will change the overall cost of a programme to you. Please also
ensure you read the section on additional costs in the University’s Fees, Charges and
Expenses Regulations in the University Calendar available at www.calendar.soton.ac.uk.
