Professional Graduate Diploma in Education

Abstract

The Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) is one of the two main initial teacher education routes in Scotland. It is a short (1 academic year) university-based course, in which school placement is integrated, enabling students to develop and apply knowledge, skills and values for a career in primary or secondary education.This chapter explains the PGDE university provision across Scotland and the role of the General Teaching Council for Scotland in the design of, and recruitment to, the courses. The current high demand for places on PGDE Primary courses is not mirrored in PGDE Secondary, in which there are many ‘hard-to-fill’ subjects, leading to varied recruitment to, and selection of, applicants to the courses. The PGDE is acknowledged to be intense and demanding and yet remains a popular, viable route; this chapter discusses reasons for its appeal over the undergraduate route.

Citation

Ellis, J. (2020), "Professional Graduate Diploma in Education", Shanks, R. (Ed.) Teacher Preparation in Scotland (Emerald Studies in Teacher Preparation in National and Global Contexts), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 95-110. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83909-480-420201009