Program Overview

Primary Education and Teaching Studies BA (Hons)

Course Overview

The primary education sector is responsible for educating young minds, nurturing talents, and contributing directly to the development and growth of future generations.

This BA (Hons) Primary Education and Teaching Studies course provides you with theoretical and practical learning modules that underpin the core concepts of effective education and teaching, which are relevant to both the current practice in schools and the changing context of education.

Throughout the course, you will be provided with support and opportunities to undertake work experience in local settings to better understand how theory is put into practice.

Why You Should Study This Course

We offer a style of education that provides the structure you need to balance your study, work, and life commitments. By providing a fixed timetable, you can plan a study routine that can be implemented alongside other commitments.

We aim to provide career-focused courses, wherever possible, coupled with work experience opportunities to help prepare you for your future career. We are dedicated to making higher education accessible and enjoyable to everyone. We cover one module at a time, allowing you to understand each topic before moving onto the next.

Your experience with us is designed to provide you with relevant academic and graduate skills so that you are a strong candidate for your chosen career path. This course aims to provide the necessary knowledge and experience of primary education for you to then apply for the next step.

What You'll Study

This comprehensive degree programme is designed to equip you to engage, motivate and inspire young learners in a wide range of schooling environments.

From child development theories to consideration of varied perspectives of primary education, you will learn responsive and innovative techniques to support effective curriculum delivery, drawing on advanced knowledge of child development and theoretical perspectives.

Year One

• Child Development - 30 credits
• Education Past and Present - 30 credits
• Teaching and Learning in the Primary School - 30 credits
• Children’s Literature - 30 credits
• Placement Module - 0 credits

Year Two

• Theoretical Perspectives of Learning - 30 credits
• Introduction to the Sociological Perspective of Education - 30 credits
• Teaching the Core Curriculum - 30 credits
• Research Methods - 30 credits
• Placement Module - 0 credits

Placement Year

• UK Work Placement – 0 credits
• International Study/Work Placement – 0 credits

Final Year

• Inclusion in Special Education Settings - 30 credits
• Creating the Curriculum - 30 credits
• Science and the Wider Curriculum - 30 credits
• Research Project - 30 credits

How You'll Learn

This course is available as a full-time three year or optional four-year sandwich course, the latter incorporating a work placement or study year in a related field.

Teaching Contact Hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. The assessment methods may include:

• phase tests
• essays
• group work
• reports
• projects
• individual assignments

Entry Requirements

Typical entry requirements:

• UK: 104 UCAS tariff points. GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards. Minimum two A2 levels or BTEC equivalent qualification.
• International: 104 UCAS tariff points. GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards. Minimum two A2 levels or BTEC equivalent qualification.

Fees and Funding

• UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man: £9,535 per year
• EU: £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary, £14,800 per year without EU Support Bursary
• International: £14,800 per year

Facilities

Our purpose-built campus building is arranged around an open central atrium and includes:

• indoor social spaces, including a café
• a library that includes loan laptops and a silent study area
• open-access computers, free wi-fi
• student support and careers advice teams

Careers and Opportunities

On successful completion of this course, you may decide to progress onto the PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) if you wish to become a teacher in early years, primary or secondary education.

Some graduates decide to work as teaching assistants in mainstream or special schools - which doesn't require a PGCE.

You may decide that you want to work with the 'early help' service instead, working with children in the community. Perhaps if you have specific skills, such as sports or music, you may instead become a children's coach or peripatetic music teacher.

This degree provides a range of career opportunities for our graduates with most going on to pursue a vocational career in the primary education sector - one of the most rewarding professions available.

The skills taught are transferable, which allows our graduates to pursue an alternative career path if they wish. These include, but are not limited to, Family Support Worker, Education Officer, Learning Mentor, Widening Participation, SENCO, Attendance Officer and Teaching Assistant roles.