Choose your route
Primary routes focus on the study of teaching in all Primary National Curriculum subjects, with emphasis on the core subjects: English, Mathematics and Science. Our Primary courses allow applicants the opportunity to study a range of ages, ranging from 3-7 (Early Years, Postgraduate) 3-11 (Undergraduate) or 5-11 (Postgraduate) and the distinctive pedagogies encountered in Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 classrooms, as well as a KS3 experience. You will learn the principles of curriculum design and delivery and the theories of learning and teaching, alongside developing practical insights and skills in the effective teaching and assessment of young children through practical school-based experience.
You will be offered a series of learning experiences linking different perspectives of Primary teaching to aid the development of your professional skills in the classroom and lead you towards successfully achieving Qualified Teacher Status by meeting the required National Teachers’ Standards.
Don’t have a degree yet?
We offer a BA Hons Primary and Early Years with Qualified Teacher Status (School Based) 3 Year Undergraduate programme. This school-centred route provides you with school-centred experience for the entire academic year, not just a short block placement.
Have your degree?
We offer full time and part time courses on our Postgraduate Primary Initial Teacher Training programme. (Full time Course Duration – 1 Year / Part time Course Duration – 2 Years). QTS Full time Course Duration – 1 Year/Part time 2 Years.
Which Primary Postgraduate course is right for me?
All of our courses are evidence-informed and will give you the best possible start in your teaching career. The PGCE Primary route focussed on securing the best outcomes for children aged either 3-7 years or 5-11 years. Your placements will be in key stage 1 and 2 with a range of other experiences such as time in key stage 3 and alternative provision.
The PGCE Primary- Later Years (5-11 years) course with a specialism in SEND prepares you to be an outstanding primary school teacher with additional skills that will allow you to become confident in creating an inclusive classroom. In addition, following this specialism can also be a step towards a career as a SENCo or a specialist SEND teacher.
This specialism allows you to explore ways in which all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, can be included in classrooms and schools. This aspect of the course is taught in addition to the core primary sessions and is delivered by current practitioners in the SEND field. You will learn through a combination of theory, an examination of current policy and practice, including the Children and Families Act (2014) and the SEND Code of Practice 0 to 25 (2015).
Your placements will be in two different schools, helping you to develop an understanding from contrasting experiences. One of these placements will have a SEND focus.
The Primary- Early Years PGCE course will give you the essential skills and knowledge you’ll need for teaching children aged 3-7. We’ll provide you with training for covering the early years foundation stage and key stage one. The additional early years content will be taught in a small cohort of trainees by a specialists teachers. There will also be visits to a range of early years settings to broaden your experience.
Your placements will be in two different schools, helping you to develop an understanding from contrasting experiences. These school placements will be in Reception and key stage 1.
Successful completion of all courses leads to recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Assessment Only – 3 months. For experienced unqualified teachers.
Who are these programmes relevant for?
Our programmes are catered specifically for hands-on learners, who wish to learn the theory of teaching to apply in the classroom from day one. If you would like to be a Primary teacher and are more of a practical learner, this is the route for you.
What will the course delivery be like?
Undergraduates – Our school-centred route offers over 50 days teaching experience per year which is considerably more than traditional university routes. Students spend one and a half days learning the theory of teaching, with one and half days dedicated to studying and enrichment activities and the remaining two days spent in placement schools, observing experts in their fields before slowly taking on classroom responsibilities and putting their theoretical knowledge into practice. It is the perfect mix of practical and academic study resulting in highly-skilled teachers who are extremely employable.
Postgraduates – All trainees are required to spend one day a week studying the theory of teaching. Full time trainees will then spend four days in their placement schools, observing experts in their fields before slowly taking on classroom responsibilities and putting their theoretical knowledge into practice. Part time trainees will spend two days a week in their placement school. Seeing what a school is like from September, allows trainees to apply the theory taught in The Central Education Programme to the practical aspects of the classroom from day one.
