Primary Education - PGCE

Gain an in-depth understanding of how young children aged 5–11 think, develop and learn. Offering three different placements during the programme, you will combine practical, real-world learning with the study of children’s communication, thinking and relationships. Supported by our inspirational staff, you will satisfy the standards for qualified teacher status and start your journey to becoming an outstanding primary school teacher.

Key features

• Choose a programme with a national reputation for its quality
• Learn to teach and assess all the required subjects of the national curriculum for children ages 5-11 with confidence and creativity 
• Benefit from the high-quality teaching of our experienced tutors, who provide inspirational learning opportunities for you, based on pedagogical research and innovative current practice
• Engage in your own research and gain up to 60 credits at masters level
• Become an outstanding teacher as you progress through 24 weeks in three different placements, supported by expert mentors. 
• Connect with a number of high-quality teaching schools across the South West with the University of Plymouth's School Direct Programme
• Benefit from close partnerships with a very diverse range of schools and educational settings across the whole of the South West of England, London and internationally
• Learn in a supportive environment and receive high-quality support from your lecturers, link tutors and school-based staff teams.  

Course details

Year 1

You’ll learn to teach the core subjects of the national curriculum for children aged 5–11 in primary schools, as well as being introduced to the non-core subjects through lectures, seminars and workshops on campus and independent study. The programme consists of 14 weeks campus-based lectures and seminars interspersed with 24 weeks of three different placements. Throughout the year you'll reflect upon your professional development as a teacher, as you bring together your understanding of educational theory with your developing knowledge of outstanding practice to enhance children’s learning. In the final placement, which is in a different age phase than the previous one, you will take on – as closely as possible - the full responsibilities of a qualified teacher. You will be supported with your preparations for your first teaching post as a newly qualified teacher (NQT).

Core modules

• EPGP605 Blocked Experience in Educational Settings 1
• EPGP607 Final Experience in Educational Settings
• EPGP614 The Broader Curriculum in Key Stages 1 and 2
• EPGP700 Reflection on Professional Studies
• EPGP712 Key Stage 1 and 2 Core Curriculum Subjects

Optional modules

• EPGP600 Reflection on Professional Studies
• EPGP612 Key Stage 1 and 2 Core Curriculum Subjects 2

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

PGCE Primary Programme Specification 2017 18 3907

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Visit the Primary Education - PGCE page on the University of Plymouth website for more details!