Primary ITE Programme Overview
Wonder and York St John offer two PGCE Primary courses:
- Lower Primary (covering ages 3-7)
- Upper Primary (covering ages 7-11)
Lower Primary:
PGCE students on the Early Primary course complete substantial placements in both the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, with opportunities for placement days in nursery and Lower KS2, so they can gain a clear understanding of a child’s education journey both before and after experiencing Lower Primary.
Upper Primary:
PGCE students on the Upper Primary course follow the 7-11 years with substantial placements in Upper and Lower Key Stage 2, with opportunities for placement days in KS1 and KS3, so they can gain a clear understanding of a child’s education journey both before and after experiencing Upper KS2.
Wonder Curriculum & Training
To support the delivery of the ITE Core Curriculum (link to Core Curriculum button). The Wonder Curriculum predominantly focuses on subject knowledge enhancement; however it has also been carefully sequenced to allow the content, skills and application of the ITTECF to be regularly revisited.
The Wonder curriculum includes:
Wonder Training Session facilitated by experts that seamlessly integrate:
- Subject knowledge enhancement and application (appropriate to the age range you teach).
- An ITTECF focus area
- Development of professional behaviours
Wonder conferences with workshops that focus on the fundamental developments and current challenges facing our education system.
These include:
- Reading for pleasure
- English as an Additional Language (EAL)
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- Closing the disadvantaged gap
Wonder diversity short placements providing opportunities for you to experience different educational setting and phases which may include:
- Alternative Providers
- Nursery settings
- Secondary settings
- High EAL school settings
Wellbeing training aimed to equipped you with the necessary skills and strategies to support you as you transition from being a student teacher to an Early Careers Teacher.
Partners: To ensure you the best possible experience, we work in partnership with expert colleagues from local schools and recognised centres of excellence including the Bell Foundation, York STEM centre and the Yorkshire Endeavour English Hub.
Placement
This PGCE is a school-centred route, that requires you to spend 120 days in a school setting. We follow an ABA model for your school placements. This essentially means that you spend your first and third placement in the same school, which is known as your base school. Your second placement is spent in a different school, that is contextually different to your base school, to allow you to experience as many contrasting environments as possible.
During your school placements you are supported by a mentor and other school staff, as well as university tutors, who are all committed to your education and training and work together to secure your progress and development.
You will be involved with:
- observing other teachers
- planning and teaching small groups and whole classes
- planning and teaching elements of lessons and whole lessons
- evaluating and reflecting on your teaching
- receiving developmental feedback on your teaching
- gaining experience in a range of pastoral responsibilities as a class teacher
- engaging with all aspects of school life and the wider school setting
- learning the values of what it means to be a professional within a school context.
Placement Opportunities
- Barmby Moor Church of England Primary School
- Cherry Burton Church of England Primary School
- Garton on the Wolds Church of England Primary School
- Hilderthorpe Primary School
- Leconfield Primary School
- Melbourne Primary School
- Pocklington Junior School
- Stamford Bridge Primary School
- Warter Church of England Primary School