Primary with PE Specialism

Study options

Award

PGCE

Key facts

UCAS code:
382T
Location:
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Study option:
Full-time
Duration:
9 Months
Start date:
6 September 2021
School:
School of Life Sciences and Education

Small class sizes

We’ll support you through your first experiences of primary school teaching.

Hands-on training

Achieve your PGCE qualification and Qualified Teacher Status in 36 weeks.

Local partnerships

We aim to keep your journey to placements under 40 minutes.

Share your enthusiasm for exercise and teach in key skills as a primary school teacher. Our PGCE gives you the skills you need to carry out PE classes that encourage children to have fun while keeping active.

As a primary school teacher specialising in PE, you’ll be introducing your class to a range of physical activities. Whether this is teaching them a team sport or preparing for sports day.

We’ve designed this course to help you understand how to support primary school students and develop the skills you need to make sure children enjoy exercise.

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 on every step of your PGCE journey.

 

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: PGCE Primary with PE Specialism

At Staffordshire University, we have close links with partner schools across the region.

We’ll always aim to arrange placements within 30-40 minutes of where you live.   

Course content

Our Primary with PE PGCE takes 36 weeks to complete. You’ll spend 12 weeks of this time studying on campus. This will include a two-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. 

Why study a PGCE at Staffordshire University?

Why study a PGCE at Staffordshire University?

Video

Find out more about the benefits of studying a PGCE at Staffordshire University

Modules

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.

Entry requirements

You can apply for this course via UCAS Teacher Training at Staffordshire University.  

We also offer this course via School Direct partners including: 

  • City Learning Trust 
  • Biddulph Schools Partnership 
  • Blackfriars Teaching School Alliance

For this course, you need a degree in a sports related subject and a GCSE grade C/4 or above in both English Language and Mathematics.  

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 secondary 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). 

Please note, the Professional Skills Tests will be replaced for 2020 entry. Details of the replacement for the tests are still to be announced, however they will be benchmarked against a defined set of English and Mathematics skills that students will be expected to have by the end of the course (rather than at the point of entry).

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

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Facilities

Libraries

We have Libraries and Service desks at both sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. All have experienced and friendly staff who can answer your IT queries, help you to access resources, show you how to research for your assignments and even help with referencing.

Some libraries are open 24/7 at key times in the academic year and we have a 24 hour help line too.

Learning Spaces

We also house our new 21st century teaching and learning classrooms with integrated Wolf Vision technology to enhance interactive learning through the use of mobile technologies in theory lessons.

Careers

With a Primary with PE 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. 

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

When you’re not on placement, we’ll help you reflect on your experiences, exchange ideas and overcome challenges. You’ll also: 

  • Learn in small groups 
  • Use roleplay to develop your knowledge of the secondary curriculum 
  • Discuss ideas and challenges you face in group and individual tutorials  
  • Reflect on your placement experiences  

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

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. 

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

  • Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
  • Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
  • Academic writing (including how to reference)
  • Research skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our AccessAbility Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Feedback

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. 

Your study time will include scheduled classes, independent learning, and assessments. It could look like: 

Independent learning

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. 

Staff

You'll be taught by staff who have a range of academic and industry experience. 

Sarah Misra

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. She moved to Staffordshir…

Sarah's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 6 September 2021 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands
Full-time To be confirmed

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.

Included in the fees:

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

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

You can apply to the Student Loans Company (SLC) for the following support:

  • Tuition Fee Loan – To cover the cost of your tuition fees.
  • Maintenance Loan – To support you with living costs such as food, accommodation and travel.

For more information and how to apply visit www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding.

Scholarships and additional 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 also 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.

 

Our students

I chose my subject as I have a passion for teaching and wish to develop my skills so that I am able to make a difference to the lives and experience of education of many young people.

This course will qualify me for teaching roles in primary schools, and the course so far has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and it is a course that I would recommend to anybody who is considering going into teaching.

Jacob Bode

PGCE Primary with PE Specialism

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus PGCE Full-time 6 September 2021 Apply now

Rules and regulations

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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