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PGCE
Achieve your PGCE qualification and Qualified Teacher Status in 36 weeks
We aim to keep your journey to placements under 40 minutes
Guide children through their first years in education with our Primary PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education). We’ll organise placements at local schools to give you experience and arrange study sessions on campus to help you perfect your teaching style.
As a primary school teacher, it will be your responsibility to inspire children, give them the basic skills they need for their future and make learning exciting.
We’ve designed this course to help you understand how children learn. You’ll develop the skills you need to make sure your students get the best start.
Throughout your training, you’ll get hands-on experience on placement, join professional studies sessions, and attend curriculum workshops.
From getting the most out of your induction, to tips on teaching your first lesson, your personal tutor will be there to support you every step of your Primary PGCE journey.
This course can be studied at either our Stoke or Lichfield campus. Please select from the drop-down study options at the top of this page.
On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: PGCE Primary (General)
At Staffordshire University, we have close links with partner schools across the region.
We’ll always aim to arrange placements within 40 minutes of where you live.
Our Primary PGCE takes 36 weeks to complete. You’ll spend 12 weeks of this time studying on campus. This will include a one-week induction to prepare you for placement, and sessions to develop your knowledge of the curriculum.
To give you experience in the classroom, you’ll spend at least 120 days working in two local schools. But, don’t worry, you won’t have the pressure of teaching an entire lesson straight away.
Your training will begin with observing a teacher and helping with group work. Then you’ll share the classes with the teacher and work towards teaching lessons independently.
Alongside teaching, you’ll join in with day-to-day life at the school. Each school has a professional mentor to help you understand the ethos, pastoral care systems, legal and social framework, and supporting services.
You’ll also have weekly meetings with your subject or class mentor to help you prepare for teaching, review lessons, and develop your subject knowledge.
Video
PGCE Primary (General) graduate Bethany talks about how she's always wanted to be a teacher and how practically everyone who was on her course now has a teaching job lined up.
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The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.
This module gives you opportunities to explore the place and role of your subject within the School Curriculum. You will explore the aims and objectives of subject education; subject curriculum history and current curriculum debate; and the nature of subject learning. This will be explored through a variety of contexts: KS5, KS4, KS3, 2, 1 and Early Years; and academic and vocational dimensions. You will also explore links with other subject areas and cross curricular issues, recent curriculum developments and potential future directions.This module also prepares you for Learning and Teaching. In this element of the module you will learn about setting learning objectives and lesson planning; how to develop learning resources; preparing a series of lessons and issues in progression; teaching strategies and common student misconceptions. You will also explore subject knowledge in the context of age, level, ability and programme of study and building challenge into subject learning.
Module code: EDUC77827
Placements allow trainees to train in real-life situations. Each trainee will work closely with a school-based mentor and will observe experienced teachers in their day-to-day role and collaborate with others in planning, delivering and reviewing lessons.
Module code: EDUC77829
This module is an impact action research project where you will identify a particular aspect of inclusion and evaluate the impact policies and practices implemented by your current placement school. You will learn how to conduct educational research and look at a variety of different methods of communicating your action research. This will enable you to compile a formal report justifying proposed practice developments regarding a specific aspect of inclusive practice at your placement, empowering you to make critically informed recommendations for improvement.¿ In terms of developing your inclusive practice, specific topics to be covered include:¿ Behaviour Equality, Diversity and Inclusion During this module you will also learn and develop your understanding of the following: How to conduct a small-scale research project Use of technology to create digital posters Critical use of literature and research Data methodologies and ethical considerations (differences between quantitative and qualitative data, methods of collection and interpretation of different types of data). Critical evaluation and analysis of findings and the implications for future teachingAbility to use research and become research informed in their future practice.
Module code: EDUC77826
Module code: EDUC77828
You can apply for this course via Gov.uk. Please click on this link to start your application.
We also offer this course via School Direct partners including:
For this course, you need an Honours Degree with a 2:2 classification or higher in an appropriate subject and a GCSE grade C/4 or above in both English Language, Mathematics and Science.
We also expect you to be confident in technology and have some experience working with primary age students in a school setting.
After you apply, we’ll arrange a selection interview. We’ll assess your subject knowledge and personal qualities, such as communication skills, resilience for teaching, and how easy you’ll find it to relate to primary age students.
If you accept a formal offer, you’ll need to meet the Department for Education’s standards for physical and mental fitness to teach and you’ll need clearance to work with children (Enhanced DBS).
Returning to education? We’ll help you every step of the way. Find out more about our support for mature students (anyone over 21).
Find out more about the benefits of studying a PGCE at Staffordshire University
For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.
Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.
We have Libraries and service desks at both sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. Our experienced and friendly staff can answer your IT queries, help you to access resources, show you how to research for your assignments and help with referencing.
With a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you’ll be ready to teach in primary schools across England.
Most of our graduates find their first teaching position soon after they qualify. Many of them secure roles in our partnership schools.
After you’ve completed this course, you can join our Masters in Education. Your PGCE gives you Masters credits which means you’ll be fast tracked and can complete this course by the end of your second year of teaching.
All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.
When you’re not on placement, we’ll help you reflect on your experiences, exchange ideas and overcome challenges. You’ll also:
Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your lectures wherever you are.
Assessment for your PGCE involves portfolio work, assignments, and observed classroom practice. We’ll often ask you to reflect on approaches you’ve used in the classroom and their effectiveness.
You’ll also be regularly observed by your school-based mentor and university tutor. Working with your placement schools, we’ll identify areas of professional practice that you find challenging.
Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:
If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Enabling Centre is here to help sure nothing stands in your way.
We know that it’s important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do. We usually give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.
You’ll complete assignments, portfolio work, and projects to expand your understanding of teaching and learning. You’ll also need to set aside time for lesson planning and marking.
While on placement, you might be expected to attend events such as parents’ evenings, extra-curricular activities, and after-school clubs.
You'll be taught by staff who have a range of academic and industry experience.
Senior Lecturer
Sarah has had a lengthy (and happy) career in Primary Education with robust experience of teaching across the entire primary age range in mixed and single age year groups and in a variety of different schools and areas.
For the course starting on 11 September 2023 the tuition fees are:
If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Fees and Bursaries Team.
If you accept a place with us, we’ll cover the cost of your Enhanced DBS check. You’ll also receive Level 1 Safeguarding training during induction week.
Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation
You can apply to the Student Loans Company (SLC) for the following support:
For more information and how to apply visit www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding.
You could receive up to £32K or £34K in total - £26K as a tax free bursary or £28K scholarship with additional payments of £6K after tax once in teaching.
Your eligibility for financial support, and the amount you can expect to receive, will depend on the subject you choose to teach and your degree classification or highest relevant academic qualification.
For more information and how to apply visit https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-my-teacher-training/bursaries-and-scholarships-for-teacher-training.
You may be eligible for a Staffordshire University bursary when you choose to study one of our postgraduate Education courses. Visit our Fees and Bursaries page to find out more.
I’ve made friends that I’ll keep for life. Starting Staffs was like joining a new family. I’ve made friends that I’ll keep for life and I’ve made friends that I can talk to whenever I’ve got a worry or whenever I want to celebrate something – they’re both my mentors and my peers on the course. I think my placement really started bringing out my confidence in myself, bringing out my personality to make me a good teacher and then polishing the skills to make me an outstanding teacher.
I’ve made friends that I’ll keep for life.
Starting Staffs was like joining a new family. I’ve made friends that I’ll keep for life and I’ve made friends that I can talk to whenever I’ve got a worry or whenever I want to celebrate something – they’re both my mentors and my peers on the course.
I think my placement really started bringing out my confidence in myself, bringing out my personality to make me a good teacher and then polishing the skills to make me an outstanding teacher.
You’re guided through every step of the way and I really don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a job lined up. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. My favourite thing about studying my PGCE at Staffs is the amount of time you spend in a school as opposed to in uni. You really do spend the time as a teacher. In terms of career progression, everyone's so helpful in helping you move on. You’re guided through every step of the way and I really don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a job lined up.
You’re guided through every step of the way and I really don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a job lined up.
I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. My favourite thing about studying my PGCE at Staffs is the amount of time you spend in a school as opposed to in uni. You really do spend the time as a teacher. In terms of career progression, everyone's so helpful in helping you move on. You’re guided through every step of the way and I really don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a job lined up.
If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.
Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.
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StudentCrowd University Awards 2022
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Research Excellence Framework 2021
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