| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
FdA Primary Teaching Studies
Why study this course
This programme allows you to continue working or volunteering while pursuing your degree, providing you with valuable practical experience alongside your academic studies.
Blended learning delivery, small number of days on campus and remote face to face sessions.
Study with the support from a research active team who have relevant practice experience.
A stepping stone toward a teaching career, with many students employed as Teaching Assistants. Clear progression opportunities within the education sector, including the option to pursue top-up degree programmes, enhancing your career prospects.
Course summary
Have you ever thought about working towards a degree, but decided against it as you are already in employment or volunteering and don’t want to give that up? Our FdA Primary Teaching Studies course is designed for you if you are a TA who want to continue working while beginning a route into Teacher Training.
Key facts
- Award: FdA
- UCAS code: X121
- Duration: 2 years
- Mode of study: Full time, Blended
- Start date: September 2025
- Award: Bishop Grosseteste University
- Institution code: B38
About this course
Are you a dedicated Primary Teaching Assistant (TA) with aspirations of becoming a teacher while continuing your vital role in primary education? Our comprehensive two-year Primary Teaching Studies Foundation Degree has been carefully designed exclusively for those professionals who support learning in primary schools and who aspire to make the leap into the teaching profession and provides the first two years of a full-time degree, providing you with a robust foundation for your academic aspirations.
Our innovative course offers a blended curriculum that combines the best of both worlds:
- Five in-person on-campus lectures spread throughout the academic year.
- Twice weekly interactive online lectures conducted in real-time, typically starting at 4pm with recordings available occasionally for those who are unable to attend live online sessions.
This approach not only ensures flexibility but also creates an inclusive and supportive learning environment at BGU. Led by experts in the field, this work-based programme seamlessly integrates practical, hands-on learning with regular campus interactions. Over the span of two years, you will merge your on-the-ground experience with structured theoretical knowledge.
The first year focuses on building a solid foundation. You'll delve into essential learning principles, gaining a deep understanding of the intricate connection between academic theory and the evolving needs of children. Furthermore, you'll gain valuable insights into your pivotal role within the larger educational ecosystem.
In the second year, we delve deeper into crucial themes such as inclusion, equality, and diversity. Complemented by in-depth modules on effective learning techniques and assessment frameworks, this year equips you with advanced skills for your teaching journey. It's worth noting that a significant number of our students serve as Teaching Assistants in established schools, providing invaluable support to formal education settings.
Our Foundation Degree not only positions you closer to a fulfilling teaching career but also strengthens your trajectory within the realm of Teaching Assistants. It opens doors to elevated roles in education, broadening your horizons and offering various pathways for career progression, including routes into teaching. Join us on this transformative journey, where your aspirations for a teaching career meet the realities of your current role as a dedicated Teaching Assistant. Enrol in our Primary Teaching Studies Foundation Degree and take the first step towards achieving your professional dreams.
What you will study
Year 1
- Introduction to Learning in Higher Education
- Supporting Behaviour Management
- Individual in Society
- Safeguarding Children
- Personal and Professional Development
Year 2
- Understanding SEND and Inclusion
- Supporting Children's Learning in Primary
- Assessment and Learning in Primary
- Next Steps: Professional Development in Practice
- Educational Research in Primary Schools
Entry requirements
Typically, a minimum of one year’s experience in practice with a minimum of two days a week (minimum of 2 days per week working in a relevant role, either as an employee or a volunteer).
How you will be taught
There is no one-size-fits-all method of teaching at BGU – we shape our methods to suit each subject and each group, combining the best aspects of traditional university teaching with innovative techniques to promote student participation and interactivity.
You will be taught mainly through online teaching – some live online sessions and some asynchronous learning which may include narrated PowerPoints, things to read and then reflect on in online debates etc.
On five days each academic year, you will come onto campus for a face to face learning day. You will be required to continue working as a TA for at least two days per week, and this will allow you to continue to learn from your home school setting.
Academic staff
- Dr Nyree-Anne Nicholson
- Tara May
- Paul Staples
Assessment
Assessments for modules will be a balance of both practical and coursework approaches. For example, students will participate in assessments such as on-line discussions, group presentations, assessed tutorials as well as written assignments.
Collaborative presentations, utilising online software, will also be used as an assessment mode for students, The use of group work will enable students to select their own reasonable adjustments in terms of how they contribute to the overall design of group-assessed projects, enabling them to maximise opportunities within each assessment mode, as well as enabling them to be fully included.
Careers & Further study
Our FdA Primary Teaching Studies, is designed to enable students to work towards meeting the requirements of QTS (in a subsequent programme), and specifically builds on students’ unique role as teaching assistants who are training to teach.
What Our Students Say
Discover what life is like at Bishop Grosseteste University from our students.
- 96% say staff value students views and opinions about the course
- 100% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.
- 85% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Program:
FdA Primary Teaching Studies
Overview:
This two-year blended learning program is specifically designed for Teaching Assistants who wish to gain a degree qualification while continuing their vital work. The curriculum combines on-campus sessions and online lectures, creating a flexible and supportive learning environment. Through this program, participants will merge their practical, hands-on teaching experience with structured theoretical knowledge.
Objectives:
- Enhance professional development of TAs within their current roles.
- Position participants closer to a fulfilling teaching career.
- Strengthen TAs' career pathways within the realm of education.
- Provide a smooth transition towards higher-level teaching qualifications.
Program Description:
- Delivered in a blended format with on-campus lectures and online sessions.
- Work-based program seamlessly integrating practical learning and theoretical knowledge.
- Designed for working TAs, allowing them to continue their employment.
- Focuses on building a solid foundation in the first year and delving deeper into crucial themes in the second year.
- Provides participants with skills and knowledge essential for succeeding in a teaching career.
Outline:
Content:
This program covers core subjects within the Early Years Foundation Stages (EYFS), Key Stages 1 and 2, including curriculum implementation, effective pedagogy, and assessment frameworks. Participants also explore essential themes like inclusion, equality, diversity, and child safeguarding alongside advanced learning techniques.
Structure:
- Each year consists of 5 on-campus lectures and weekly interactive online sessions.
- Participants have access to recorded materials for enriching their learning.
- The program integrates practical classroom experience with academic study.
Course Modules:
Year 1:
- Supporting Children in Core Subjects
- Introduction to academic literacies
- Safeguarding Children
- Supporting Behaviour Management
- Personal and Professional Development
Year 2:
- Education Research in primary and early years
- Understanding and inclusion and SEND
- Unlocking Creativity
- Next Steps: professional development in practice
- Supporting teaching and learning in PE, health and wellbeing
Assessment:
- Continuous assessment through various methods like online discussions, group presentations, and individual written assignments.
- Individual and group project work is included to foster collaboration and cater to diverse learning styles and needs.
Teaching:
- Blended learning approach combines on-campus and online sessions.
- Participants continue working as TAs, integrating theoretical knowledge with real-world practice.
- Online teaching utilizes engaging interactive methods including narrated presentations and virtual debates.
- Faculty comprises experienced professionals specializing in primary education and related fields.
Careers:
Pathways:
- Opens doors to elevated roles within education sector
- Contributes to career progression with various pathways for advancement
- Positions graduates closer to pursuing the Primary Teaching Studies with QTS top-up degree
- Equips participants to secure leadership and higher responsibility roles
Additional Notes:
- Minimum one year of TAship experience required (2 days per week).
- Admission for 2024 entry requires an application fee of £27 through UCAS with a maximum of 6 course choices. This program offers a supportive learning environment through interactive methods, expert faculty guidance, and accessible resources for a successful and enriching academic journey.
