The Department of Education, within the School of Education and Social Work, offers free Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) courses to anyone with a conditional place on an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course.
SKE courses are intended to boost teacher trainees' subject knowledge prior to ITE to enable successful progression to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). They are particularly useful for those whose academic background omits aspects of their SKE specialist subject at a level necessary for teaching it in secondary schools. The courses will also appeal to candidates about to embark on middle years and/or secondary PGCE or SCITT science course.
Most SKE courses are funded by the Teaching Agency and are, therefore, free to participants.
Additionally, participants are entitled to a tax-free bursary of £200 per week, dependent on attendance and progression at the required rate.
These popular courses are available to study in a number of subjects, in anumber of ways and for various durations:
- Primer + SKE in Physics and Chemistry: 9 months
- SKE in Physics and Chemistry (without Primer): 6 months
- SKE in Mathematics: 20 weeks/5 months
- SKEEP in Physics and Chemistry: 6 months * supported by VIDLearnTM
- Distance Learning (DL) in Physics abd Chemistry: 3 months * supported by VIDLearnTM
- SSKE in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics: 4 weeks
Information about some of the above courses is available to view/print/download in the SKE promotional leaflet: 2011/12 [DOCX 158.87KB]. To learn more about other professional development opportunities for teachers, see Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers: promotional leaflet [PDF 582.46KB]
For remote study, all SKE science courses utilise the bespoke distance learning platform VIDLearnTM.
Queries and applications
Apply online for Chemistry and Physics Distance Learning and SSKE courses:
Physics
Chemistry
SKE applicants need to complete and return the SKE Application Form: 2012 [DOCX 112.69KB] and submit to:
ITE Admissions (SKE)
School of Education and Social Work
Essex House
University of Sussex
Falmer
BN1 9QN
E: iteadmissions@sussex.ac.uk