Congratulations on being offered a place on our PGCE primary university-centred programme.
Key Programme Dates
Induction Day: Saturday 21st June 2025
First day of the programme: Monday 1st September 2025
The following information has been provided to ensure you are ready to begin your career in teaching and prepare you for the professional and academic expectations of the PGCE.
Please make sure you work through all the information and tasks provided for you as this will ensure you are able to make a positive start to your training programme.
York St John University
As you prepare to start your PGCE, please make sure that you have met all of the conditions attached to your offer by the stipulated deadline.
ID Checks
This will include:
- DBS documentation
- GCSE confirmation or equivalency tests
- Degree confirmation
- Please note there are drop in sessions for your ID checks to be done on campus between 1pm & 3pm on the following dates:
Date: Wed 14th May 25
Room: DG 121
Time: 1.00 – 3.00
Date: Wed 28th May 25
Room: DG 121
Time: 1.00 – 3.00
Date: Wed 11th June 25
Room: DG 121
Time: 1.00 – 3.00
Date: Wed 25th June 25
Room: DG 121
Time: 1.00 – 3.00
Date: Wed 9th July 25
Room: DG 124
Time: 1.00 – 3.00
Date: Wed 23rd July 25
Room: DG 124
Time: 1.00 – 3.00
Date: Wed 6th Aug 25
Room: DG 121
Time: 1.00 – 3.00
Date: Wed 20th Aug 25
Room: DG 121
Time: 1.00 – 3.00
Date: Wed 3rd Sept 25
Room: TBC
Time: 1.00 – 3.00
If you have any questions relating to your conditions, please do contact our admissions department at pgce@yorksj.ac.uk
Please also note that our admissions team will be available on our face-to-face induction day which will be help as York St John University on Saturday 21st June. Please do bring your certificates to this day if they have not already been checked. There will be more information about the university induction day to follow but do save the date in your diary.
If you have any questions in relation to your conditions, please do contact our admissions department at pgce@yorksj.ac.uk
Please also note that our admissions team will be available on our face-to-face induction day on Saturday 21st June. There will be more information about the university induction day to follow; for now, save the date in your diary.
Course Calendar 2025-2026
The calendar below indicates your placement dates for 2025-26. When not in school, you will be on campus for your university-based training or engaged in independent study including during some of the school half-term holidays. A detailed timetable will be shared with you on the first day of the course.
The Importance of Reading for Pleasure
Reading is a fundamental skill that unlocks learning across the whole curriculum. As primary school teachers, it is essential that we promote the joy of reading, as research shows that those children who choose to read develop academically and socially. Therefore, you must become a role model for the children in your class and promote the value of reading across the whole curriculum. To support you with this, we have provided you with the following list of recommended texts. Please select the age range that you will be teaching and spend some time over the summer enjoying examples of children’s literature. There is no need to buy these texts but I would recommend visiting your local library and accessing the children’s section. Happy reading!
There is no deadline for this task – start building your knowledge of children’s literature now and continue throughout your course (and career!)
Developing your General Knowledge
As a primary school teacher, you are required to teach the full range of National Curriculum subjects and areas of the EYFS Framework, and although we acknowledge that each teacher will have curriculum strengths, all teachers need to develop a secure grounding across all subjects. To support you with your broader curriculum knowledge, we request that you spend some time reflecting on those areas where your general knowledge is weak and begin to gain experience.
To facilitate this, you should visit local museums, art galleries and places of worship as these are rich sources of curriculum knowledge.
The following is a useful website to locate museums and galleries in your area.
https://www.great-days-out.co.uk/museums-galleries/yorkshire-and-the-humber/
Subject Knowledge Audits
The following audits have been written to ensure you are aware of the level of subject knowledge required to be a primary school teacher. The audits are a formative tool and enable you to reflect and identify areas of personal need. The audits cover key aspects of the English, mathematics and science curriculum content and to ensure you are prepared to teach these, revision in weaker areas will be needed during the summer.
Please access the audits via the links contained within the following word documents. Once completed, record you scores on the same tracking document and record any revision work you have done as preparation for your start in September. Please note that these audits will be repeated before you begin your final placement to demonstrate progress. You should be prepared to show your subject knowledge audit scores with your school-based General Mentor in September as areas of development will inform your early targets. Please also save your completed subject knowledge trackers electronically because you will need to upload these onto your electronic portfolio (Pebblepad) at a later date.
Suggested reading and resources have been provided to support your revision and again these can be found in the documents below. These should be a starting point and not a definitive list. Please be as proactive as you can be and use the time over the summer to revise and build confidence in areas where develop is needed.
We would suggest that you complete the audits before your face-to-face induction day (Saturday 21st June) as we will be holding subject knowledge taster events on this day and you can select the most appropriate workshops that will support areas of development
English-Subject-Knowledge-audits-and-tracker-2025Download
Mathematics-Subject-Knowledge-audits-and-tracker-2025Download
Resources to support your subject knowledge
Resources-to-support-your-English-subject-knowledge-1Download
Resources-to-support-your-mathematics-subject-knowledge-2Download
Being a Professional Teacher
Professionalism is a fundamental aspect of the role of the teacher and this expectation is far-reaching. It covers how we present ourselves, how we communicate (written and verbal) and meeting the professional expectations of the Teachers’ Standards.
To support you in understanding the professional expectations of the PGCE, the following PowerPoint allows you to reflect on your current understanding and consider what aspects you may still need to develop, e.g. time management skills, standard English or understanding of school policy. Please click on the link below to access the PowerPoint and save a copy to your device. This will allow you to work through the session in your own time.
Professional Competency Test
The professional competency test has been devised to allow you to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills in essential literacy and numeracy that have been identified by the DfE. All teachers are required to be effective communicators and to be able to interpret data and, therefore, you need to demonstrate a minimum level to be awarded Qualified Teacher Status.
To help you demonstrate competency in these essential areas, you should take the following test which can be accessed via the link below. Please note that for this test, there is a minimum pass mark that must be met to show competency. That pass mark is 65%. If you reach the required pass mark, you will not need to take the audit again. If you do not reach a pass mark of 65%, please do not worry as there will be a further opportunity in January to re-sit this. There is no need to record this score anywhere as we will track who has passed and who needs to re-sit at a later date. However, do remember to include your full name when completing the test. The deadline for completion of this audit is 1st September 2025.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is a statutory duty for all teachers and you are required to undertake basic safeguarding awareness training before you attend your first school. Everyone, even those who have undertaken safeguarding training before, must complete the below training before the 1st September and ensure you have copies of all of your certificates (safeguarding, FGM & prevent) to share with school on your first day.
Basic Safeguarding Training
The document below gives clear instructions on how to access the remote training provided by York St John University and how to access the Qualtics quiz which will ensure you are presented with your basic safeguarding certificate. Please ensure you follow all of the steps in the instructions as this will mean we are able to present you with your certificates. If you have any problems, please contact our admin team at admin.teachereducation@yorksj.ac.uk
2025 Safeguarding-Training-Instructions (1)Download
Prevent Training
Please note that the remote module (Prevent Awareness – Course 1 only) must be completed before your September start date and you MUST present your certificate to your school as proof of completion on the very first day of attending school. Please do keep electronic copies of any certificates as these will need to be uploaded to your online portfolio at a later date. Even if you have undertaken this training previously, this must be renewed before your September start date.
FGM Training
FGM recognition and prevention is an important aspect of your safeguarding training and the Home Office remote training module can be accessed from the link below. You will need to register to access the training but you can simply do this by following the link.
Please ensure that you have completed the remote module by 1st September and you have a copy of the certificate to show to your school on your first school-based day. An electronic copy of your certificate should be saved to allow you to upload this to your online portfolio later in the year.
York St John Student Charter
York St John University is a vibrant learning community of students and staff. We work together to create an environment in which we can all fulfil our academic and personal potential. We all have rights and responsibilities and we will all benefit if we actively respect and protect the rights of others. Please access the Charter below and explore the links to other useful information. This will help you to make the most of your time at York St John University.
Meeting the Academic Expectations of your PGCE
Criticality – Thinking and Reading
The following workshops have been designed to support you in meeting the academic expectations of your PGCE programme. Studying at M Level is a significant leap for undergraduate study. It is expected that you read with a critical eye and present discussions that are informed by a wide range of valid research. This way, you can become genuinely informed about current education policy and practice.
The Thinking and Reading Critically workshop aims to develop your reading skills and asks you to question the relevance and validity of the sources you are reading. Please do engage with this workshop before you move onto the writing workshop (which will follow) as reading critically is the foundation to M Level writing.
Thinking and Reading Critically Workshop
Critical Note taking task Download
Induction Day – 21st June 2025
9am – 3 pm
The induction day has been designed to ensure you can make contact with your programme team before you begin in September, begin to develop your subject knowledge and meet representation from this year’s cohort. It is also an opportunity to see our admissions team who can check off any certificates and other further support with meeting any outstanding conditions.
The timetable for the day is below and we will give you access to the day’s PowerPoints after the day. You will also find a copy of your induction handbook below which should be used in the first weeks of your programme.
Primary Timetable 21.06.25Download
Induction Handbook 25-26Download
Placements – Student Information form
All students undertaking professional placements in Academic Year 2025/6 are required to complete this Student Information Form to assist the Placement Team in making appropriate placing decisions.
The more information you give us, the easier it is to allocate the most appropriate placement for you. Please give full details of any circumstances that will affect your travel to and from your hosts.
https://forms.office.com/e/En6rbVJAXc
Meeting the academic expectations of your PGCE
Critical writing workshop
The Critical Writing workshop aims to support your writing development and allows you to gain formative feedback on your academic writing before you submit your first assessment. Please do engage with the PowerPoint below and prepare a 500 word critical response to the identified article. Please remember that we want your writing in its rawest form so any feedback we provide will be valuable and based upon your need. Your formative 500 word response should be submitted in the first week on your PGCE (week beginning 1st Sept) once you have access to Moodle.
Teacher in a jar…
In preparation for September we would also ask you to consider your emerging teaching philosophy. One of the early sessions we engage in will be alongside your academic tutor who will ask you to share your ‘Teacher in a jar’. The instructions are below:
Choose a glass jar (the size is up to you). Think about the qualities and attributes you believe a teacher needs. Find small items that can represent these (aim for between 5 and 10).
Here are a few more ideas to get you going:
- an elastic band – to represent a feeling of being stretched to the limits
- wiggly eyes -as teachers we need to have eyes in the back of our head
- an eraser – to symbolise the idea that a good education can never be erased (or that mistakes are part of the learning process!)
Be prepared to talk about this in your learning set in September and about how your education has influenced the teacher you want to be.
Please do not worry about filling the jar- try to include at least 5 objects
Week 1
Timetable for Week Commencing 1st September
The table below details the arrangements for your first two university training days. Please refer to the campus map included above.
Learning resources and PowerPoints will be made available for you on Moodle. These will be also been placed on the induction blog for anyone who still does not have access to Moodle.
Please make sure that you have met all of your conditions and have engaged in procedures for proving your identification and do remember to bring identification with you on Monday 1st.
| 1st SEPTEMBER | 9.00am – 10.00am Holgate reception area | Collect your ID cards if you have successfully enrolled. |
| 10am – 11am Fountains Lecture theatre (FT002) | Introduction to the programme | |
| 11.00-12.00noon (TW 007) | Input from the teaching union Lunch | |
| 12.00 noon -13.00 Lunch | (Please bring your own or you can buy refreshments from the canteen) | |
| 13:00 – 2.30pm PGCE Pri SC FT/210 Richard Crabtree PGCE Pri UC QE105 Jen Huntlsey/Ann Jones | Introduction to modules | |
| 2.30pm -3.00pm | Coffee break | |
| 3.00pm- 5.00pm PGCE Pri SC RW006 Andy Atkins PGCE Pri UC QE105 Richard Crabtree | Yourself as a learner | |
| 2nd SEPTEMBER | 10am – 1pm Temple Lecture theatre (TW007) Ruth Matthewson | Safeguarding training |
| 1pm-2pm | Dining hall open for you to purchase lunch | |
| 2pm – 4pm Temple Lecture theatre (TW007) Dr Sarah Trussler | Mental health training | |
| 4pm – 5pm Temple Lecture theatre (TW007) Dr Brian Rock | Online safety & digital safeguarding |