Kingston University

Postgraduate Certificate in Practice Education

Stage 1 of the course prepares you to work with a social work student on their first placement. You will learn to develop a curriculum, manage the placement, support learning and assess achievement. You will put this into practice through providing a student placement (usually a 70-day placement).

In Stage 2 you will provide a placement for a second social work student (usually a 100-day Final placement). If you have significant experience in practice education, or have taken an Enabling Others' Learning (Social Work) course, you may be able to join Stage 2 directly.

From this PgCert, you may progress to the Advanced Social Work MA, depending on your module choices.

Core modules

• Practice Education Stage 1
• Practice Education Stage 2

Teaching and assessment

For both modules trainees are assessed in practice by a Practice Assessor (a Stage 2 qualified Practice Educator) and are required to produce a portfolio of practice evidence including: a Practice Learning Agreement, Induction Programme, Midway and Final Report on the student, examples of a teaching activity, direct observations of the student by the trainee practice educator, direct observations of the trainee by the PA and feedback from the student, tutor and line manager.

There are slightly different requirements for the modules that will be explained to you by your course tutors and are described in some detail in the Module Handbooks. In addition both modules require trainees to produce critical analyses of their development as Practice Educators and Professional Development Plans.

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking and preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS – the online virtual learning platform.

Support for postgraduate students

As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services.

Your workload

A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.

One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.

• 77% scheduled learning and teaching

The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.

Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.

How you will be assessed

Assessment methods include coursework, essays, reports, self-assessment, practical assessment in the workplace and a portfolio. The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows:

• 100% coursework

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

You’ll complete this course with the skills required to specialise in practice education. Previous graduates have gone on to teach in universities, work in local authority learning and development teams or progress to management roles. Some have even written or contributed to textbooks.

Links with business and industry

Throughout the course, you’ll benefit from Kingston University’s Developing Together teaching partnership with local authorities and voluntary organisations. The partnership creates a leading community of social work education, academic research and frontline practice.

The partnership aims to create a culture of ongoing learning, research and support to grow and retain a community of passionate and capable social work professionals that will meet with the region's future workforce demands.

Primary partner agencies

• Achieving for Children
• Croydon Adult services
• Croydon Children's services
• Kingston Adult services
• Merton Adult services
• Merton Children's services
• Sutton Adult services
• Sutton Children's services
• Richmond & Wandsworth Adult services
• Wandsworth Children's services
• National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
• Welcare
• Kingston University

Secondary partner agencies

• Surrey Children's services