Mentoring and School Experience Flashcards
6 cards from real PGCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Mentoring and School Experience flashcards as text
What does 'target setting' in PGCE mentoring involve?
Answer: Identifying specific, actionable areas for improvement in teaching practice, linked to the Teachers' Standards
Effective target-setting in ITT identifies precise, prioritised development areas in teaching practice and sets clear, time-bound goals aligned to the Teachers' Standards.
What is a 'professional learning community' (PLC) and how might a PGCE trainee benefit from one?
Answer: A collaborative group of educators who share practice, reflect together, and support each other professional development
A PLC is a group of practitioners who collaborate to improve their practice through shared reflection and inquiry, offering trainees collegial support, models of practice, and professional dialogue.
What is meant by 'professional conduct' expectations in the Teachers' Standards Part Two?
Answer: Standards governing teachers personal and professional conduct, including safeguarding, honesty, tolerance and not undermining fundamental British values
Part Two of the Teachers' Standards covers professional conduct: treating pupils with dignity; observing safeguarding duties; not undermining British values; maintaining appropriate boundaries; and being honest and trustworthy.
What is 'Teach First' and how does it differ from a traditional university-led PGCE?
Answer: Teach First is a school-based employment programme where trainees teach from day one in challenging schools while qualifying, rather than a pre-service university-based programme
Teach First is a school-based employment route where graduates teach full-time from the start in schools serving disadvantaged communities, earning a salary while qualifying.
What is the 'Early Career Framework' (ECF) and how does it relate to PGCE training?
Answer: A statutory entitlement to structured support, mentoring and professional development for newly qualified teachers in their first two years
The ECF (2019) guarantees all Early Career Teachers (ECTs, formerly NQTs) a structured two-year induction with a dedicated mentor, reduced timetable, and access to evidence-based CPD - a continuation of PGCE professional development.
How should a PGCE trainee respond constructively to critical feedback from their mentor?
Answer: Listen actively, ask clarifying questions, identify specific next steps, and reflect on how to incorporate the feedback into future practice
Constructive response to critical feedback involves active listening, reflection, professional dialogue and incorporating specific actions into future teaching - a key professional learning habit.