Program Overview

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

Course Overview

Grounded in the learning of our acclaimed PGCE General Primary, this Mathematics pathway allows you to hone your pedagogy to lead and teach Maths in a primary school setting. This unique course pathway gives you the opportunity to raise children's achievements in maths and support them to get the best out of their learning.

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 Mathematics alongside general primary pedagogy, 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.

Key Details

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

Course Structure

What you will learn

The programme is intentionally designed to scaffold your learning journey in a progressive way from your first day to course completion. This is done through a combination of relevant, detailed and comprehensive contributory modules 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.

Modules

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

• Beginning Professional Understanding
• Developing Professional Enquiry
• Extending Professional Learning

These thought-provoking modules are designed to provide you with an evidence-based foundation to support your development as a teacher. Drawing upon a range of recent, relevant and cutting-edge research, these modules support your understanding of professional decisions teachers make and therefore support you in becoming an excellent teacher.

To support your professional learning, you will engage with modules designed to help develop your professional practice. These will cover subject and pedagogical knowledge of all primary curriculum areas as well as key professional skills and attributes such as planning, behaviour management and adaptive teaching. You will have the chance to work with subject experts.

Year one

Another way in which the programme supports your understanding of the interplay between theory and practice is through the use of ITAPs (Intensive Training and Practice). These expertly designed and focused units of work, support you in knowledge, analysis, enactment, preparation and reflection in key pedagogic areas. The focus of our ITAPs have been chosen and placed strategically into the programme at key points to best develop your learning. The ITAPs focus on ‘Managing Behaviour’, ‘Assessment for Learning’, ‘Adaptive Teaching’, and ‘Structuring Learning and Curriculum Design’.

The ITAPs will involve a range of learning opportunities, including working with selected schools and expert teachers to contextualise your university-based learning and provide you with opportunities to enact the approaches explored.

• Being a Teacher
• Cumbria Teacher of Reading
• Curriculum and Pathway development
• Curriculum
• Intensive Training and Practice (ITAP)
• Understanding Learning

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

How you will be assessed

Progression

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:

• Displays a passion for children's learning.
• Is an aspiring teacher who can bring their own experience to the classroom setting.
• Is an enthusiastic and engaging communicator.
• Is a graduate with a 2:2 or above degree classification.
• Is a motivated and well-organised individual who has strong planning skills.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2025 - 2026

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

2024 - 2025

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

PGCE Alumni Scholarship

Scholarship fund worth up to £2,000

We're offering a PGCE Alumni Scholarship worth up to £2,000 to alumni of University of Cumbria. Find out more on our Scholarships and Bursaries webpages.

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 are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.
• 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.
• 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.