The post primary PGCE is a one year, full-time programme that prepares students for a career in teaching English, Drama and Media Studies. ''The Northern Ireland Curriculum aims to empower young people to achieve their potential and to make informed and responsible decisions throughout their lives.'' The overall aim of our PGCE programme at Ulster is to support this aim and to foster the development of pedagogical competences in the following three areas: - Professional Values and Practice Professional Knowledge and Understanding and Professional Skills and Application. To achieve these aims the PGCE post-primary programme at Ulster University prepares student teachers to be competent in the following: - the ability to plan, teach and assess worthwhile learning activities in their subject area(s) in post-primary schools in Northern Ireland for the 11-18 age group - the acquisition of the knowledge, understanding and skills that are essential for the promotion of learning among pupils - to assume responsibility for developing as competent reflective practitioners, able to monitor and evaluate their teaching performance - to realise a commitment to on-going personal and professional development in pursuit of sustained pupil learning and school improvement.