Primary/Early Years (3-7) PGCE with QTS

Program Overview

---

Primary/Early Years (3-7) PGCE with QTS

Overview

The Primary/Early Years (3-7) PGCE with QTS is a postgraduate program designed to provide students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to become outstanding teachers. The program is offered at the University of Chester and is available for full-time study.

Level

• Postgraduate

Start Date

• September 2025
• September 2026

Duration

• 1 year

Location

• Exton Park, Chester

UK Fees

• £9,535 per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

International Fees

• £14,450 per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Course Leader

• Kathryn Clarke

Accreditations

Course Summary

The Primary/Early Years (3-7) PGCE with QTS is designed to provide students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to become outstanding teachers. The program is underpinned by common strands that include commitments to inclusivity, safeguarding, and well-being of children, as well as promoting a positive classroom environment conducive to engagement and respecting diversity.

Why You'll Love It

• High-quality support on placement and at the university
• Welcoming learning community
• Gaining new experiences

What You'll Study

Year 1

• Modules will provide students with critical understanding of pedagogy, assessment, and curriculum, as well as critical knowledge and understanding of primary age phases and subjects.

Becoming a Teacher: The Professional Transformation

• Module content: Common strands explored throughout the program, including commitments to inclusivity, safeguarding, and well-being of children.
• Module aims: Develop Associate Teachers' (ATs) commitment to inclusivity, well-being, and safeguarding of children, as well as their understanding of the nature and aims of the National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage.

Becoming a Teacher: Meeting the Teachers' Standards

• Module content: ATs will be supported to manage their own progress in developing and extending their knowledge and understanding of inclusion in all its forms.
• Module aims: Develop and extend ATs' management of their own professional learning, their ability to plan for inclusion, safeguarding, respect for diversity, and demonstrate professional behaviors of teachers.

Professional Studies

• Module content: This module covers important legislative and statutory frameworks that teachers must know and understand, including safeguarding, SEND, and the promotion of Fundamental British Values.
• Module aims: ATs will be able to know and understand sensitivities and respect associated with all aspects of inclusion, legislative and statutory frameworks, principles of professionalism, and citizenship and PHSE.

Teaching and Learning in the Core Subjects

• Module content: This module explores the place and nature of English, mathematics, and science as core subjects within the National Curriculum Programmes of Study for Key Stages 1 and 2.
• Module aims: To equip Associate Teachers with the knowledge, skills, and understanding to become confident, passionate, and effective teachers of Primary English, mathematics, and science.

Teaching and Learning in the Foundation Subjects

• Module content: This module focuses on developing ATs' domain-specific subject, curriculum, and pedagogical knowledge for effective teaching in the Foundation subjects.
• Module aims: ATs will be introduced to national curriculum and EYFS statutory frameworks in each subject, techniques and resources for developing their own subject knowledge, and key pedagogical and curriculum concepts.

Building Knowledge for Teaching

• Module content: This module enables Associate Teachers to establish, track, and develop their fundamental knowledge for teaching in English, mathematics, and science.
• Module aims: The module aims to audit ATs' fundamental knowledge for teaching in English, mathematics, and science, and signpost them to resources to develop their fundamental knowledge.

Learning to Teach: Developing Critical Perspectives

• Module content: This module introduces ATs to the concepts of criticality and its role in professional practice, as well as critical reading and writing at Level 7.
• Module aims: To support Associate Teachers in developing their thinking, reading, and writing at Masters level, and to enable them to critically evaluate practice and current research.

Dialogue, Interaction, and Learning

• Module content: This module develops understanding of pedagogical concepts through a focused exploration of dialogue in institutional settings.
• Module aims: ATs will develop their knowledge and understanding of key pedagogical concepts, engage with current research and theory, and develop their understanding of the complexity of dialogue.

Constructing the Primary and Early Years Curriculum

• Module content: This module takes place at a time when the English National Curriculum requirements are beginning to be relaxed, and schools are taking a more proactive approach to curriculum development.
• Module aims: To develop and critically examine contrasts and similarities between different placement settings, alignment between ATs' aspirations for their pupils and the learning evident in classrooms, and ATs' understanding of pedagogical and curriculum concepts.

Who You'll Learn From

• Kathryn Clarke, Senior Lecturer
• Jo Williams, Senior Lecturer

How You'll Learn

• Professional and academic learning
• School-based learning
• This course is designed around in-person study, with some online learning activities
• You will be expected to undertake ten independent preparation and consolidation study hours (minimum) per week for the University course, in addition to full teaching days when on placement.

Placements

• While studying at the University of Chester, you will have a placement in one of our partner schools, with 120 days of school-based learning.
• Securing quality placements is a complex process of matching school expertise to Associate Teacher needs.

Entry Requirements

• Home Students:
  • Hold or be expected to gain a minimum of a 2:2 honors degree
  • Have GCSE grade C/grade 4 in English, Mathematics, and Science
• International Students:
  • Hold or be expected to gain a minimum of a 2:2 honors degree
  • Have GCSE grade C/grade 4 in English, Mathematics, and Science
• English Language Requirements:
  • IELTS 7.0 overall (with no less than 5.5 in each band)
  • UK degree with a 2:2 or above (studied and completed in the UK)

Where You'll Study

• Exton Park, Chester
• The location is close to the city center of Chester, a city like no other and an amazing place to live as a student.
• Modern learning resources and library
• Fitness facilities
• Student Services
• Chapel, chaplaincy, and multi-faith spaces
• Accommodation
• Catering

Our Facilities

• School of Education, Foyer
• School of Education, Cinema Room
• School of Education, Auditorium
• School of Education, Art and Design Room
• School of Education, Science Lab CML109
• School of Education, Science Lab CML103

Fees and Funding

• Home Students: £9,535 for the full course (2025/26)
• International Students: £14,450 for the full course (2025/26)
• Additional Costs:
  • Books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery, and related materials
  • Specialist clothing
  • Travel to placements
  • Optional field trips
  • Software
• Bursaries:
  • The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.

Your Future Career

• Job prospects: The University of Chester has a high employment rate for its PGCE course, with many graduates successfully employed as teachers within our partnership schools.
• Careers service: The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service that provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences.