Program Overview

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PGCE - General Primary with QTS (5-11 years) - Physical Education specialism

Course Overview

Grounded in the learning of our acclaimed PGCE General Primary, this PE pathway allows you to hone your pedagogy to lead and manage PE in a primary school setting. This unique course pathway gives you the opportunity to develop a lifelong love of health, wellbeing and sport in the children you teach.

You’ll learn through a blend of theory and hands-on experience, working within the National Curriculum framework. You'll explore the concepts and key themes of Physical Education and Primary General, confidently devising and delivering engaging lessons to children aged 5-11 years old.

Over half the course will be spent working with children on assessed placement, with school-based enrichment activities alongside your university-based study. You'll take three placements across a variety of schools and settings, building a wealth of experience to help advance your future career.

On this course you will...

• Develop your personal interest through a specialist pathway.
• Benefit from high-quality support from our academics and staff on a programme designed around you.
• Learn from an experienced, highly qualified programme team, working at the forefront of the academic field.
• Enjoy the intimate feel of our course delivery, with small class sizes and your own personal tutor.
• Utilise cutting edge research on a newly revalidated and up-to-date course.

Key Details

• Recruiting to: UK / RoI / Settled in UK, EU / EEA / International
• Course Location: Lancaster
• Institute: Institute of Education, Arts and Society
• DFE Code: 2PMX
• Delivery Style: In-person
• Course Duration: Full-time: 1 Year
• Course Start Point: September
• Award: PGCE

Course Structure

What you will learn

This programme is focused on the two key elements that make effective practitioners. Firstly, raising the achievement of children and secondly, high-quality teaching and learning. It is these two elements together that will empower you to aspire to become outstanding teachers.

Modules

The course is structured in such a way that it scaffolds you through your learning journey in a progressive way from induction to course completion. This is done through a combination of relevant, detailed and comprehensive contributory modules which are complemented by qualificatory modules that support the development of effective classroom practice. All modules have been developed to enable you to make strong, meaningful and effective connections between theory, research and practice.

You gain the academic PGCE qualification via successful completion of two masters level modules:

• High-Quality Teaching and Learning
• Raising the Achievement of Children.

These are focussed on the theory, research and practice which must be in place in order to be the highest quality, effective practitioner.

Year one

• PGCE7003 Building Professional Understanding
• PGCE7004 Enhancing Professional Practice
• PGPC9130 Being a Teacher
• PGPC9140 Learning Teaching and Subject Knowledge
• PGPC1960 Subject Knowledge and Pedagogy
• PGPC9070 Cumbria Teacher of Reading
• PGPC9160 Beginning Professional Practice (Placement Module)
• PGPC9170 Developing Professional Practice (Placement Module)
• PGPC9180 Extending Professional Practice (Placement Module)

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

Careful consideration and extensive consultation have led to the development of a programme that will support your learning however you choose to study. Through strong partnerships with schools and closely-knit alliances, you will be supported to develop and extend your classroom practice. Additionally, the programme will also be delivered through classroom-based learning which gives you vital and valuable opportunities to make connections between theory, research and practice, observe excellent practise, reflect on your own development and secure your understanding of how to raise the achievement of children.

How you will be assessed

You are supported to develop your classroom practice in response to your learning in these modules through a formative assessment activity that culminates in summative assessments which require you to interweave theory, research and practice. The robust connections between these masters level modules and your classroom practice highlights the importance that the tutor team place on your ability to make powerful positive impacts on children’s learning. Our teaching is also proactive in the inclusion of issues around equality and diversity.

You will undertake three placements spanning the programme. This progression is embedded in the placement titles: Beginning, Developing and Extending. Robust assessment frameworks are used to provide detailed feedback and support allowing personalised learning and ensuring that you are able to achieve the highest possible outcomes. Extensive support mechanisms are in place through the personal tutor system (which is highly regarded by OFSTED) and also through school-based mentoring. These placements allow you to demonstrate that you have met the Teachers’ Standards and thus achieve QTS.

Progression

The programme also recognises that gaining a PGCE and achieving QTS is not the end of your professional learning journey. It is with this in mind that the contributory modules have been planned to allow you to undertake a seamless transition to a University of Cumbria MA in education. The learning outcomes of the modules have been mapped to the learning outcomes of the MA and the credits that you accrue on the PGCE are recognised as part of the MA.

Entry Requirements

• Normally a first degree, or equivalent with a minimum of 2:2 honours.
• Three GCSEs at minimum grade C/4 or above to include English Language or Literature, Mathematics and Science (including biology, chemistry or physics).
• A satisfactory academic (university) reference AND a satisfactory professional reference if more than three years since academic study.
• All candidates must demonstrate professional suitability through interview and must obtain medical and enhanced DBS clearance according to established university procedures.

Qualifications

Entry Requirements

• GCSEs: Three GCSEs at minimum grade C/4

What we're looking for

We want someone who:

• Those who display a passion for children's learning.
• Aspiring teachers who can bring their own experience to the classroom setting.
• Enthusiastic and engaging communicators.
• Graduates with a 2:2 or above degree classification.
• Motivated and well-organised individuals who have strong planning skills.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2025 - 2026

• £9,535 - UK
• £14,900 - International

:

• £9,250 - UK
• £13,575 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

Funding

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000.

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books and Journals

Most core text books are available via the University's library, however students may wish to buy copies of any texts used to support your learning on your course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Clothing and Equipment

Students may wish to have their own computer or laptop for undertaking their assignments. This is not however a requirement for access to the programme as the University does make such facilities available across all of its main sites and learning gateway buildings. Should students wish to purchase a computer then an entry-level laptop would suffice, £300 - 400. Placement will require sensible, professional clothing and footwear as appropriate to the setting and suitable clothing for PE teaching.

Field Trips

Students will need to fund their own transport to their placement. There is the possibility that a university arranged placement will require travelling time, and any expenses incurred are to be met by the student. Therefore, the student should budget for these travel costs.