Lecture service to higher education institutions

The PGCE Art and Design Advisory Board provides a complementary lecture service to art and design undergraduates on the challenges, opportunities and procedures in applying for specialist secondary teacher training. The lecture service is unique to our subject and aims to attract high-calibre candidates to specialist secondary art and design teaching.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) that request the service receive an illustrated lecture by a PGCE art and design course director who is a voluntary member of the lecture service. Over 30 such visits are made each year to universities and colleges in the UK that offer BA art and design degree courses, with student feedback confirming that the inputs are opportune and well-received. Many of the visits are made during the autumn term, prior to students completing their online GTTR application.

HEIs that want to arrange a lecture need to agree travel and subsistence costs with the visiting lecturer in advance and then pay the lecturer on provision of the service. In previous years HEIs paid the GTTR £100 per lecture visit to cover essential costs, including a supply of PGCE Art and Design Handbooks for participating students. This handbook is no longer published because the information is provided online on the GTTR website

The lectures place particular emphasis on a number of considerations, notably:


  • the application process and selection for initial teacher training
  • the teacher/artist:artist/teacher debate
  • the nature of creativity, learning and expression in the arts
  • valuing the importance of mutual endeavour, shared responsibility and involvement in the school community.

Factors affecting the applicant's choice of courses include: location, facilities, size, reputation, specialisms, syllabus, structure, second-subject option, school partnerships/placements, range and types of schools, age groups catered for (eg 11-16, 11-19, 14-19), tutor/mentor roles, curriculum initiatives and developments, methods of assessment, Ofsted/OHMCI standards of achievement, success rates in appointments, ranking of choices, eligibility, English language and mathematics at GCSE level, equivalence tests, interviewing procedures, folios, training grants and, not forgetting salaries!

In late summer, all institutions and BA course directors receive an invitation from the GTTR to make use of the lecture service in the next academic year. Replies are received in early autumn and a schedule of visits drawn up for the autumn term. BA art and design course directors, third-year course tutors and heads of careers/student services are encouraged to use the lecture service for the benefit of their students.

Particular or general queries about the lecture service can be addressed to:

Keith Walker
The Manchester Metropolitan University
tel: 0161 247 2384
k.walker@mmu.ac.uk

Sandra Hiett
Liverpool John Moores University
tel: 0151 231 5331
s.hiett@livjm.ac.uk