Most of our trainees find full time teaching posts by the end of their course. Schools know that they can rely on PGCESpain to find them well qualified and experienced teachers and they regularly contact us as soon as a post becomes available. Many of our ex alumni are now Heads or hold posts in NABSS schools. Our teachers find posts of responsibility in schools and our course is well respected for preparing professional and reliable staff. Trainees find work in Spain, the UK and in British/International schools all over the world. Your practical teaching placement is a good time to make a good impression and many of our trainees are offered work in the school in which they complete their practice, although this is not a guarantee.
No. There is no government sponsored funding available. However, if you are in Spain and have full time employment, PGCESpain has contacts with two local banks which will consider providing you with a student loan if you open an account and pay your “nomina” direct to them. Students interested in securing this loan should send a copy of their NIE and nomina to PGCESpain with a covering letter and we will respond with a decision from the bank within two working weeks.
No. Any school British or International School can offer you a teaching placement. The school must offer you the experience needed to become a confident practitioner, providing opportunities to carry out the various duties and responsibilities of a professional teacher. This in addition to the support of an experienced mentor who helps and guides throughout the teaching practice should enable you to become a confident practitioner. Naturally, if you do not complete your practical placement in a British school it is a good idea to visit local schools to broaden your experience. PGCESpain is happy to provide you with unlimited observation time within a well-respected British school in Valencia. The school is able to offer you access to classes across the whole age range and in any subject and this will not only give you an understanding of British terminology and the National Curriculum but may help you to decide which type of school you wish to teach in.
You can complete some of your practical teaching placement within a language academy. However, you should complete at least one teaching practice block in a British/International school and observe at least one full week. You must develop your understanding and knowledge of the British National Curriculum and International schools’ methodologies, if you are aiming to work in a NABSS or International school. You should be aware that splitting your teaching practice in this way may negatively affect future employment prospects.
Yes. The mentors’ role is very important for you to develop and grow as a teacher. If you are completing your practical teaching placement in a non-British school ,academy or perhaps within a school which cannot provide you with a suitable mentor, PGCESpain will provide you with either a local mentor from a nearby British school allowing you access to their class at suitable times. Alternatively, PGCESpain can provide you with online support, meeting up with you when you come to Valencia for the face-to-face element of the course. If you need this support, it can be arranged during your first face-to-face weekend and PGCESpain will find a suitable teacher to support you throughout the course.
No. If you are working in a school as a learning assistant PGCESpain will help you to arrange for periods of time whereby you are able to take on the teacher’s role. Where trainees are working outside the teaching profession, practical teaching placements can be organised with local schools outside of your working hours. This can be discussed during your first face-to-face weekend, when we know your precise needs as a trainee.
YES – QTS is required for employment in a maintained (state) school in the UK. NO – Most British schools throughout the world recognise the fact that a PGCEi graduate satisfies every professional standard required of a qualified teacher, except that of having fulfilled an induction year in a BSO or maintained school in the UK. It is for this reason that PGCESpain graduates are valued, as they are obliged to carry out a practical teaching placement. While maintained (state) Primary schools in the UK require QTS, a PGCEi graduate may apply with confidence for their induction year in any school. Secondary maintained Academies do not require QTS nor do most private British schools.
You can apply for our Assessment Only Route to QTS at any time once you have completed the course. It is provided by a DfE approved UK based provider. This can be completed in Spain, in a NABSS or COBIS school. Go to the QTS section of our website for further details or contact Shona@pgcespain.com.
No currently you do not need QTS to teach in the private sector in Spain. Most NABSS schools in Spain generally wish to evolve and no longer insist on QTS. They respect the University of Nottingham PGCEi as a rigorous Masters Level course. The practical placement that PGCESpain provides is well-respected and many Heads in NABSS schools around Spain rely on PGCEi graduates to fill their posts.
The PGCEi gives you the pedagogical grounding in how children learn and education in an international context. It does not give QTS which is required to teach in state schools in Britain. With the PGCEi you can be hired as a full classroom teacher in a British or International school and as you complete it with PGCESpain, where we require teaching practice experience, this always helps when finding employment as employers look for in-class training. Additionally, PGCEi is more focused on international contexts whereas in Britain it would be more concentrated on British education in a British setting. If you were to do the PGCE in Britain it usually has QTS attached which means that you have to teach in at least one state school during your TP. You must also compile a portfolio and provide evidence that you have met the Teaching Standards for each TP along with your university assignments. You would be officially observed and assessed throughout.
To apply, you will need to go onto the University of Nottingham website and apply to the university to do the PGCEi course in Spain. Please find link below: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/education/study/pgcei/venues/valencia.aspx Once accepted on the course, you must get in contact with Gill@pgcespain.com or Shona@pgcespain.com
Get in touch with PGCESpain on Shona@pgcespain.com or Gill@pgcespain.com and let us know whether you are working in a school or where you live and during the first face-to-face weekend we can suggest several schools in which you may do your practical placement. Let us know you have been accepted on the course and we assist you with accommodation during the first face-to-face weekend.
Yes. Please send them to: Gill Kaye, Cambridge House Community College, Calle Profesorado Español 1, 46111 Rocafort, Valencia, Spain Confirm by email to gill@pgcespain.com stating the date you registered them at the post office. • For the September cohort the last date by which documents can be received in Valencia is 1st July. • For the January cohort there is no earlier deadline other than the university deadline, however, over the Christmas period no post is received until the 7th January. Also, please confirm that you have sent the documents stating the name of the courier.
If you are already in a school and you have a teacher with whom you would like to work, you can ask them to contact us directly. If PGCESpain have placed you, we may suggest a mentor in one of the schools who offer placements to our students. Mentors need to help you by observing and providing you with feedback as well as completing the ‘Attributes and Competencies’ sheet. These are sent to you after the first meeting and can be found on ‘Mentee’ section of the website. These are to help you progress as a professional.
A small number of people have been accepted without a university degree, but they have generally been working in a school as a TA and are familiar with the teaching of the National Curriculum. A strong personal statement is needed to indicate your commitment to the teaching profession and an outline of your experience in British schools. Additionally, the university request 2 years teaching experience and 2 valid referees.
Once you have contacted us directly and provided us with you details, you should go to the ‘Mentors and Schools’ section of the website. All the essential information that you need is available there for you. If you still have questions after familiarising yourself with the guidance available, please do not hesitate to contact us on Shona@pgcespain.com.