PGCE - School partnership opportunities

The Open University in Wales offers a flexible Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in conjunction with the Welsh Government, Regional Consortia and schools across Wales. Students can study in primary or secondary phases from October 2020 and study is available in both English and Welsh.

Our PGCE offers an alternative route into teaching which supports students to fit their studies around their life and existing commitments. Students who already work in schools as a teaching assistant or in a non-teaching role can, with the endorsement of their school, apply for the salaried route and will receive a salary from their school with their course fees paid for by the Welsh Government. Alternatively, a part-time route can help them gain part-time practical teaching experience in a school alongside their study, drawing on student loan funding and maintenance support subject to eligibility.

Central to delivery of the new PGCE programme is our close partnership with schools, and there are different ways they can get involved, including becoming a partner employer. As well as our reputation and experience in supporting life-changing learning, The Open University has a tradition of successful partnerships with employers. There are significant benefits to this including

• opportunities for schools to grow their own teachers
• develop and diversify their teaching community
• financial incentives and dedicated training and development for school-based mentoring staff.

If you’d like to find out more about becoming a partner school, please click on the links below to access further information or email us at Wales-PGCE@open.ac.uk.

• Criteria for the inclusion of schools
• A detailed description of the programme  
• A description of the key features of the salaried programme
• A description of the key features of the part-time programme
• Please click here to apply to become a partner school
• Information on the salaried programme