Our SKE programme in Computer Science is a course for graduates who need to develop a greater depth of subject knowledge and understanding prior to training for qualified teacher status. We have specifically developed our 12-week programme of face-to-face and online activities to equip you with the necessary skills and subject knowledge to teach the computer science elements of Computing across the 11-18 age range.
The SKE starts mid-May and runs through mid-August.
For more information about the SKE, please visit the Subject Knowledge Enhancement 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. The SKE is only available to those who are starting a PGCE. Unfortunately, it is not available to in-service teachers.
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
For more information about the SKE and PGCE, visit the CS&IT blog.
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
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Book your placeWhat 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:
Typical GCSE entry requirements for SKE Computer Sciences Subject Knowledge Enhancement | Qualification | Grade |
|---|
| GCSE | GCSEs in Mathematics and in English Language at grade C/4 or above, or the equivalent qualifications are required for entry to the PGCE. However, if you do not yet have these, but will have them by the start of the PGCE, then you can be admitted to this course. |
Selection process
Admission to the SKE is dependent upon the applicant holding an offer of a PGCE that is conditional upon passing a subject knowledge enhancement course. Applicants are also required to show a commitment to attending the face-to-face sessions and to completing the out-of-class assignments.
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-week course will focus upon the skills related to programming and the embedding of computer science concepts.
The attendees will learn 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 experience the breadth of knowledge set out in the GCSE/GCE Computing curriculum.
A typical 12-week programme can be seen by visiting the CS&IT blog.
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).
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.
Currently, you will not have to pay any fees to complete a subject knowledge enhancement course. Depending on the rules in effect at the time of application, a bursary, funded by the NCTL, may be available for the 12-week duration of the course. Details of any fees, funding, and bursaries will be explained at the time of acceptance onto the course.
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.
