The Course
Each year, the course recruits approximately 25 history PGCE students, who work in a range of schools in Norfolk and North Suffolk. One of the outstanding features of the course, which was commended in the most recent Ofsted Report, was the quality of the school experience and mentoring provided for students in schools. The feedback from students who have undertaken the course is extremely positive (nobody has every said it was boring, many students have said that it was “hard work but worth it.”) Although in some subject areas, there is a shortage of applicants, demand for places in PGCE History is strong, so you are advised to apply early, as the course sometimes fills up before the end of the academic year. In the most recent Ofsted inspection, the course received 4 grade 1s and 2 grade 2s for the quality of its training, one of the highest overall profile of grades in the country.
The University
The University of East Anglia is situated approximately 3 miles from the centre of Norwich, on one of the most attractive campuses in the UK. Many of the buildings have won architectural awards, and the University has outstanding sports facilities, with the recent opening of the new £14 million Sports Centre, with funds from the National Lottery. The best bit however is probably the lake and the general landscaping. The campus is built on a former golf course, and it has many beautiful, green spaces.
The School of Education
In recent years the UEA School of Education has regularly featured in the national press as one of the top five institutions in the country for “Education”; with a “five” research rating, and outstanding Ofsted grades for the quality of its initial teacher education courses
The City
Norwich is a city of approximately 200,000 inhabitants, set in the middle of the predominantly rural county of Norfolk. The city is one of the most pleasant and attractive urban areas in the UK, and is within easy reach of a wide range of many nice market towns and seaside resorts. Accommodation is also comparatively easy to find, at reasonable rates.