Course Overview
The Social Sciences ITT programme seeks to provide a firm and in-depth grasp of the subject content required to thrive while teaching KS4 and KS5 Social Sciences. A bespoke programme aims to fully equip subject specialist Social Sciences teachers to demonstrate their expertise, share their enthusiasm for their specialism and act upon their commitment to the overall development of the subject. Throughout the year we will focus on the practical application of pedagogy and techniques specific to the teaching and assessment of Social Sciences, combining the optimism of trainee teachers with a research-engaged approach to ensuring effective classroom practice.
As a result, it is intended that Social Sciences trainee teachers will be able to:
- Develop their subject knowledge to a depth and breadth that enables them to teach their subject at KS3-KS4 with confidence and competence.
- Understand the pedagogy of their subject and be both deliberate and judicious in their choice of methods and approaches.
- Be able of the curriculum requirements for the age range they teach and have awareness of how content is chosen to be broad, balanced and deliberately sequenced.
- Understand how learning happens in their subject and be able to use a range of approaches to ensure that knowledge is more likely to be retained.
- Learn about the statutory assessment arrangements for Social Sciences and be able to guide and prepare students for both internal and external assessment.
- Anticipate and address common misconceptions within planning and lesson delivery.
- Develop students’ hinterland knowledge and intellectual curiosity.
- Use a wide range of subject terminology and be aware of strategies to help students use these terms for themselves.
- Provide learners with actionable, motivational and manageable subject specific feedback in order for them to make progress in their learning.
- Create classroom climates that are inclusive for all learners regardless of ability or background through an awareness of potential barriers to learning and how to overcome these.
- Learn how to activate hard thinking in their subject as a result of a deliberate approach to structuring, explaining, questioning, interacting and embedding knowledge.
Entry Requirements
Reading List
- Learn about examination boards for GCSE:
- Look also at examination board outlines for new GCSE and A level courses, search for Edexcel, AQA, OCR and WJEC
- https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/business/gcse/business-8132
- https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/business-j204-from-2017/
- https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/business-2017.html
- https://www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/business-gcse/#tab_overview
- https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/business/as-and-a-level/business-7131-7132
- https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-and-a-level/business-h031-h431-from-2015/
- https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/business-2015.html
- https://www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/business-as-a-level/#tab_overviewhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/302103/A_level_business_subject_content.pdf
Textbooks for the examination board you will be teaching:
- AQA A level Business Book 1 (For A level Year 1 and AS) By Wolinski and Coates (publisher Hodder education)
- AQA A Level Business Book 2 By Wolinski and Coates (publisher Hodder education)
- AQA GCSE (9-1) Business By Malcom Surridge and Andrew Gillespie (publisher Hodder Education
The following texts are not essential reading but would be worth becoming familiar with:
- ‘Teaching Business Education 14-19 by Jephcote and Abbott published n 2005, let alone ‘Teaching Business, Economics and Enterprise 14-19’ ISBN 9781138045514 Published October 22, 2019 by Routledge
- Pinkett M and Roberts M (2019) Boys Don’t Try? Rethinking Masculinity In Schools
- https://ebea.org.uk/archive/professional-development-what-are-the-most-effective-teaching-and-learning-strategies-according-to-research-and-how-can-these-be-applied-in-business-studies
- https://learningspy.co.uk/psychology/learning-is-liminal/ free CPD
- CGP A Level Business Complete Revision & Practice
Course Funding
There is currently no funding for this subject. To find out more about financing your teacher training, click here
Course Codes
QTS with PGCE, full time or part time - H776
Any Questions?
If you have any queries about the content of this page please call the Mid Essex ITT office on 01376 556 398 or email us on
Lead Subject Tutor
Paddy Sadler
Paddy graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2013 with a degree in Politics, Psychology and Sociology, before completing an MPhil in Modern Societies and Global Transformations and starting his career with four years teaching Social Sciences in the independent sector.
In 2018 Paddy enrolled on the Teach First Leadership Development Programme, based at Stewards Academy in Harlow, and received his PGDE qualification from UCL in 2020. Following the completion of his third year at Stewards, Paddy moved to Hedingham School and Sixth Form in the summer of 2021 and was appointed Head of Social Sciences.
He is currently Deputy Head of Sixth Form and teaches Psychology, Sociology and Criminology to year 12 and 13, as well as English at KS4.
Paddy is a member of the Association of Teaching Psychology.