This course will equip you to start to become an outstanding English teacher, with a secure understanding of effective pedagogies in English teaching. You will explicitly examine the core skills associated with both English Literature and English Language, learning how to support students to develop as confident, independent readers and writers. You will learn to support students to become effective communicators in the world beyond the classroom.

Training to be an English teacher, you will examine the best contemporary research about effective English teaching, and learn to apply this in your own practice. The course will focus on key curriculum content such as Shakespeare, the Romantic poets, or the novel, and give you the skills to teach complex topics effectively from Year 7 to terminal exams. We will examine wider issues of cultural capital, diversity, and the role of Literature, in the context of your curriculum.

Bishop Challoner Training School, in partnership with Alliance schools (BCTSA), is an accredited provider of school-based teacher training in Birmingham and across the West Midlands.

You will be in school 4 days a week where you will be fully involved in all aspects of a teacher’s work. One day a week you will have your pedagogical  training, which will provide a mixture of specific Subject Studies and more general Professional Studies sessions.

To enrich your professional practice and develop your expertise you will complete 2 PGCE assignments, which will contribute 60 credits towards a Master’s degree.

You will be in your school from day one.  At the beginning of the year you will observe expert practitioners, moving towards leading small parts of a lesson and gradually building up to teach whole lessons. You will receive the support of school-based mentors, as well as members of the BCTSA Central Team and Subject Tutors.