Postgraduate Professional

Development
Dr Chris Sweeney
Senior Lecturer Postgraduate Provision
Hilary Morris
Route Leader Postgraduate Programmes Guernsey

Postgraduate programmes
The School of Education at the University of Brighton is
a leading provider of Teacher Education and higher level
professional degrees
We offer full and part time masters awards in the UK and
also in Mauritius, where we work in partnership with the
Mauritius Institute of Education
Our postgraduate professional development
programmes provide opportunities for graduates and
experienced education professionals to extend and
develop their knowledge in context specific situations
Learning can therefore directly impact on practice and
has potential to influence local policy

Aims of the MA course:

To enable teachers to:
Focus on an area of particular interest
Develop professional knowledge, skills
and understanding
Contribute to a school improvement plan
Gain university credit
Be part of professional community of
practice
Gain confidence in their practice and in
their professional role

Four key principles:

Teachers being engaged as active,
collaborative learners
Teachers learning with colleagues in the
classroom
Research questions and focus leading
directly from the REP (Report on Evaluation
and Planning)
A theoretical framework underpinning
research questions and findings

Stages towards a Masters Degree

Stage 1 Engaging in Professional Development
(Award: Postgraduate Certificate)

This stage focuses on developing as a critically reflective

practitioner and provided opportunities to explore current
thinking in an identified specialist area.

Stage 2 Leading Professional Development

(Award: Postgraduate Diploma)

This stage provides the opportunity for more in depth

investigation of an area of interest and supports a
developing role as a practitioner researcher.

Stage 3 Practitioner Research (Investigating and Embedding

Enhanced Practice)
(Award: MA Education)

Offers capacity for a structured research based enquiry in

an area of professional interest.

PGCert Leading Educational Change

A bespoke programme developed with the States of
Guernsey Education Department designed specifically
to meet the needs of education professionals in
Guernsey.
The focus is to encourage criticality and provides an
opportunity to develop and enhance understanding of
aspects of education leadership and management.
There is an emphasis on whole school impact and in
leading change
It provides an opportunity to develop a community of
practice through peer mentoring

PG Cert Course structure (60 credits)

Module 1: Engaging with Postgraduate Study
Designed to support criticality in postgraduate study
Module 2: Education Leadership and Management
Explores issues surrounding leadership and management in
education with a focus on organisational culture and change
Module 3: Practice-based Professional Project
An opportunity to embed learning from Module 2 through the
implementation and evaluation of an identified improvement
strategy

Progression
Potentially to a PGDip and then on to a
full MA Education
PGDip stage is normally 60 credits
although there are opportunities for
accreditation of prior learning (APL)
MA stage is a 60 credit dissertation
(school-based research)

Guernsey-based programme
The PGCert is delivered over one year
2 x 1.5 days input per module (normally
Fri/Sat)
One input may be Brighton-based
Assessments are written and submitted
online
Attendance at the University of
Brightons Education Research
Conference

Student comments:
PG Cert evaluations:

The Study groups provided a brilliant forum to share

and develop ideas

I feel this course has benefitted me enormously and I

am sure it will have a positive impact on the children I
teach

The impact on my own practice has been huge and

sustained

I now feel equipped to deal with my role as a team

leader and able to view situations with MA eyes

I feel inspired and excited to be on a transformational

learning process

I have valued the opportunity to look at a range of

current issues with a critically reflective eye

Comments from this programme:

A thought provoking programme which
engages students and gives ownership
and direction of their own CPD by
choosing assignments related to their
school.
An opportunity to meet like-minded
teachers on Guernsey and to form
professional friendships outside of your
own school.
The chance to learn from knowledgeable
and approachable tutors, who have
delivered inspiring courses which are
relevant to Guernsey and our education
system.

Contacts
University of Brighton School of Education
Adam Byford
Programme Administrator
a.byford@brighton.ac.uk
01273 643443
Hilary Morris
Route Leader, Postgraduate Programmes Guernsey
h.morris@brighton.ac.uk
01273 643441

States of Guernsey Govt Education Department

Liz Falla
Head of Professional Development
liz.falla@gov.gg
01481 733000 Ext 297

D.L. 733097