Do you qualify to enrol for the Diploma
Candidates need to:
- be a full- or part-time teacher employed in an educational institution such as a school, college, university, or
adult training centre - teach in their current school over a full academic year, for a minimum of 24 weeks and a minimum of six hours
per week - have the regular support of a mentor who understands the essential principles that underpin this qualification,
and can provide helpful advice and observations - teach a group with a minimum of six learners
- be responsible for planning, teaching and formatively assessing groups of learners.
The Diploma
The Diploma comprises three modules related to practice which together form:
- Module 1: Exploring learning and teaching
- Module 2: Teaching and learning in action
- Module 3: Developing professional practice
Cambridge PDQ Diploma qualifications
- To support school based professional development
- Internationally recognised leading to valuable certification and progression for candidates
- Based on the latest research and best practices in teaching, learning and leadership
- A composition of three learning and assessment modules. Each module must be completed successfully before moving to the next.
- Practice based. Candidates produce a portfolio of evidence of their professional practice, learning and reflection which is submitted to Cambridge when ready for assessment
- Designed to help candidates develop their thinking and practice with expert guidance and support
Course Length
The Diploma course is completed in approximately six months. Each module requires 150 hours of learning, with a balance between:
- Guided active learning: e.g., online workshops & tutorials
- Individual study and collaborative learning: e.g., reading/research/discussion
- School-based learning: e.g., applying new ideas & reflecting on experience
The Cambridge certified programme leader and team teach the guided active learning sessions. Candidates must be committed to giving the time required between sessions to make the most of their individual, collaborative and school-based learning, supported by their programme leader, mentors and peers
What you will learn
The Diploma in Teaching & Learning enables candidates to:
- critically engage with the principles and concepts of teaching and learning to improve their effectiveness as teachers
- gain further knowledge, skills and understanding to develop inclusive approaches to teaching and learning
- use opportunities to adopt different approaches to teaching and learning to improve their own practice and their students’ learning
- collaborate with colleagues to improve professional knowledge and practice
- develop their reflective practice skills to evaluate and improve their classroom practice
- improve their classroom practice using the process of practitioner inquiry
- progress their teaching career.
How is the Certificate assessed?
Candidates are assessed through an ePortfolio of evidence, submitted to a team of Cambridge International examiners using PDQ Connect, an online platform. In their portfolio, candidates demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding in the context of their own work. Portfolio evidence includes:
- observing a colleague’s classroom practice
- planning, teaching, learning and assessment materials that arise naturally out of the teaching process
- feedback from mentor, colleagues, students and others
- the candidate’s own reflections on their learning and practice.
Assessment criteria
Candidates will be graded for each of the modules according to the following criteria, applied to the portfolio of evidence as a whole:
- Understanding teaching and learning
- Developing thinking and practice in educational leadership
- Analysis and discussion
- Communication and presentation
Awarding Certificate
To be awarded a Pass, a candidate must achieve a pass in all three modules
To achieve a Distinction in the Diploma, a candidate must achieve Distinction in at least two module
