I know the PGCE was introduced sometime in the late sixties/early seventies. Does anyone know if there was something similar before that, an intermediate stage between university and beginning to teach (not necessarily compulsory)?
B Ed. Batchelor of Education degree. It was, and still is, compulsory to be able to teach in the absence of a PGCE.
The exception is a Cert. Ed which qualifies the holder to teach adults, as in F.E colleges.