English SKE

Our online English SKE courses allow you to develop your knowledge of curriculum content and reflect on approaches to teaching English Language and Literature in UK secondary schools.

Study an English SKE course at Sussex

The Sussex online English SKE is mainly undertaken through self-study with plenty of reading and online course materials. There is also an optional summer school with seminars hosted at the University of Sussex in July.

The course is delivered by subject experts and experienced practitioners who ensure that your English Language and Literature learning is always related to teaching in schools. You will learn different approaches to reading, writing, speaking and listening. You’ll also deepen your understanding of critical theory and improve your English knowledge with like-minded people.

As part of previous summer schools we have run a three-day residential trip and we hope to do so again this year.

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Typical course structure

The Sussex online English SKE is available as a eight,12,16, 20, 24 or 28-week course.

Once you have enrolled, you will be able to select from the following four-week units:

KS3 Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPAG) – a compulsory Unit for all students
KS3 and KS4 Poetry
KS3, KS4 , KS5 Shakespeare
KS4 Prose and Drama
KS3/4 English Language
KS3 Class Readers and Wide Reading
A-level Language and Literature
Summer Schol on campus (two weeks but counts as a full unit).

28-week course

You will start with Unit 1 'SPAG' then select a further six units, giving you a comprehensive background in the English Language and Literature curriculum from KS3 to A-level. The summer school is two weeks but counts as a full unit. It is fixed in July so you can take a break before completing this unit.
24-week course

You will start with Unit 1 'SPAG' then select a further five units, giving you a comprehensive background in the English Language and Literature curriculum from KS3 to A-level. If you can't decide between units, then you can combine two units into one by adopting a customisable approach. The summer school is two weeks but counts as a full unit. It is fixed in July so you can take a break before completing this unit.
20-week course

You will start with Unit 1 'SPAG' then select a further four units, giving you a comprehensive background in the English Language and Literature curriculum from KS3 to KS4. If you can't decide between units, then you can combine two units into one, by adopting a customisable approach. The summer school is two weeks but counts as a full unit. It is fixed in July so you can take a break before completing this unit.
16-week course

You will start with Unit 1 'SPAG' then select a further three units, giving you a comprehensive background in the English Language and Literature curriculum from KS3 to KS4. If you can't decide between units, then you can combine two units into one, by adopting a customisable approach. The summer school is two weeks but counts as a full unit. It is fixed in July so you can take a break before completing this unit.
12-week course

You will start with Unit 1 'SPAG' then select a further two units, giving you a comprehensive background in the English Language and Literature curriculum from KS3 to KS4. If you can't decide between units, then you can combine two units into one, by adopting a customisable approach. The summer school is two weeks but counts as a full unit. It is fixed in July so you can take a break before completing this unit.
Eight-week course

You will start with Unit 1 'SPAG' then select one further unit. If you can't decide between units, then you can combine two or three units into one, by adopting a customisable approach. The summer school is two weeks but counts as a full unit. It is fixed in July so you can take a break before completing this unit.

Application deadlines

Our SKE courses have different deadlines depending on the length of the course you’re applying to.

See our application page for more information.

Eligibility and funding

SKE courses are funded by the Department for Education (DfE) if you have been offered a place on a PGCE course with enrolment on an SKE course as a condition of accepteance.

Find out more about SKE eligibility and funding.

Self-funded SKEs

We also offer a self-funded SKE route for:

teacher trainees who are not eligible for DfE funding
qualified teachers who want to teach a new subject, or refresh their subject knowledge before returning to teaching after a break
anyone considering teaching as a new career who wants to increase their subject knowledge before applying for teacher training.

Rather than four-week units, self-funded SKEs are based on blocks of 100 hours of study. You can choose which units you want to study and add additional units as you progress.

The cost is £800 for one 100 hour unit, and £500 for each additional unit. Fees can be paid by you or, if relevant, by your school/institution (schools within the Sussex Partnership or PGCE Pedagogy and Practice Partnership can apply for partnership rates).

If you have any questions about self-funding your SKE, email ske@sussex.ac.uk.

Resources

In addition to input from specialist subject tutors you will also receive:

a full subscription to the excellent Massolit English Literature course, a huge bank of online lectures from world class academics
a fully paid subscription to ExamPro, a database of past KS3, GCSE and A-level exam questions
access to thousands of relevant physical and e-books through our Library
licensed software such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Pro
access to Box of Broadcasts, a huge collection of documentaries, schools TV, films and drama that you can stream for free.