An innovative new postgraduate degree in Advanced Subject Teaching has been developed by the University of Cambridge, in association with The Prince’s Teaching Institute (PTI), to help English and History secondary school teachers develop their subject knowledge and enhance their professional and academic standing.
Developed by the University’s Institute of Continuing Education in association with the Faculties of Education, English and History, the degree is unique in drawing on world-leading research at the University of Cambridge.
The Master of Studies (MSt) in Advanced Subject Teaching forms part of The Prince’s Cambridge Programme for Teaching. It will provide a two-year, part-time route to a full University of Cambridge Master’s degree, and will run from September 2012 to July 2014.
As well as preparing students for possible future research leading to the degree of EdD or PhD, the course is especially useful as a career enhancement for teachers and potential subject leaders. It is unique in that it focuses on subject knowledge as well as pedagogy.
Teaching and supervision by Cambridge academics from the Faculties of English, History and Education will be offered through a combination of residential teaching in Cambridge (two concentrated teaching blocks in the first year, scheduled out of term-time) and online tuition. The second year will involve undertaking a research project on a topic of the student’s choice, culminating in a dissertation. The course director will be Dr Nigel Kettley, University Lecturer in Social Science, University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education.
Dr Kettley said, ‘The MSt provides teachers of English and History with an exciting opportunity to update their subject-specialist knowledge, drawing on cutting-edge research, and a chance to reflect on the most appropriate ways to share this new information with their students. Because of the heavy demands on school teachers’ time, we have designed the MSt to give teachers a real opportunity to improve their knowledge and pedagogical skills in a supportive but challenging environment.’
An important aim of the programme is to focus on areas of the curriculum that are under-represented in schools, not least because teachers themselves may be less familiar with them. Successful graduates will be expected to go on to make major contributions to syllabus development.
Bernice McCabe, co-director of The Prince’s Teaching Institute, said, ‘One of the key aims of the PTI is to promote the idea that subject knowledge, subject rigour and the enthusiasm for communicating them are essential requirements for effective teaching to children of all abilities. Research that we undertook among teachers in 2008-09 indicated a strong level of demand for a Master of Studies that focused on subject-based expertise so we are delighted to be involved in the design of this degree.’
Scholarships for English teachers of up to £3500 may be available from the Training and Development Agency for Schools’ national scholarship fund for teachers.
Full details of the Master of Studies can be found at www.ice.cam.ac.uk/mst-ast
Full details of the TDA scholarship can be found at www.tda.gov.uk/teacher/developing-career/pd-scholarship/about.aspx?keywords=pd+scholarship
Media enquiries about the PTI should be directed to Sheila Thompson or Charlotte Cornwell on 0207 591 9610 or 07827 352 993 or by email to sheilat@blj.co.uk or charlottec@blj.co.uk
Media enquiries about the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education should be directed to Stuart Roberts on 01223 764 982 or by email to sjr81@admin.cam.ac.uk