Teacher Training

How we support you

Access to excellent University facilities

A PGCE course is demanding and to help you achieve your best results we take great care in providing excellent resources. The campus facilities include:

  • modern seminar rooms and lecture theatres
  • one of the largest Education libraries in the UK with study areas (both silent and group research spaces)
  • excellent IT facilities including a wireless network and a self-service facility
  • bespoke ITE Science lab and Primary base 

Campus Tour - St Luke's

Time to unwind

Although academic resources are essential for your training, time to relax and unwind from your studies are just as important when it comes to thriving at the University of Exeter.

To help make your experience as enjoyable and complete as possible the following facilities are also available on St Luke’s Campus:

The University has a very active Students’ Guild, which offers a range of activities and events for all students. In addition to the St Luke’s Campus, students are encouraged to take advantage of further facilities located on the Streatham Campus, which is only a short 20-minute walk away. Exeter City Centre is also only a 10-minute walk from the St Luke’s campus. 

"A huge benefit of having the first term on campus was that I developed strong friendships with other trainees which created a strong support network, allowing us to help each other throughout our placements."

Matt

PGCE Secondary with Mathematics

Dedicated student services

The University provides comprehensive student services that include Wellbeing Services, Student Study Skills Service, Student Advice Unit, the Counselling Service, International Student Support Office, Students’ Union Advisors, the Student Health Centre and the Chaplaincy which are available to all students, including when you are on your school placements.

Supporting your success in learning 

During your PGCE year you will have access to a wide range of support to help you succeed. 

  • You will have a personal tutor, responsible for monitoring your overall progress during the course, including support for your academic work.  Your personal tutor will also provide pastoral support and can signpost you to university services, where needed. 

  • You will also have a University Lead Mentor who will visit you in each school placement and will monitor and support your progress in school over the year.  They will also monitor the support and provision being provided by your placement schools. 

  • In school you will a specially trained Mentor who will support you in your ongoing development as a teacher.  Each partner school also has an Initial Teacher Education Coordinator whose role is to monitor the quality of provision within their school and provide a link between the school and the University’s Partnership Office.  All school staff involved in your training receive training by our Partnership Office team on the Exeter Model of ITE and all mentors receive mentor training. 

  • You’ll have access to a range of support, including materials available through our online learning environment such as lecture notes, presentations, film clips and reading materials. You will also have access to an online portfolio (individual development portfolio or IDP) where you, your Mentor and University Lead Mentor will record your progress and achievement of each phase of your training. 

  • As a registered student you will also have access to the University’s extensive wellbeing and academic support services both during your campus-based training and your school placements. 

We also have a dedicated Race Equality Resource Office (RERO) – Ruth Flanagan.  Ruth is available to work closely with PGCE trainees from all ethnic minorities and students from other backgrounds who have witnessed or are worried about racism.  She offers: 

  • a safe, confidential and non-judgmental place to discuss issues and concerns 
  • signposting to practical support with issues such as housing and finance 
  • referral to appropriate agencies for specialist advice, information and support.