Program Overview

BA (Hons) Childhood: Primary Education with QTS

Overview

The BA (Hons) Childhood: Primary Education with QTS is an exciting opportunity for students wishing to become primary school teachers. The course is delivered in partnership with local Initial Teacher Training (ITT) providers and combines a full-time academic programme with a placement in a school setting. This allows in-depth experience over a range of schools and year groups. This programme offers students a rich and varied programme of study combining extensive school experience of over 160 days in practice and professional learning with a multi-disciplinary academic study of childhood. The programme enables students to gain a BA Honours degree in Childhood while working towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in Primary Education. Upon successful completion of the programme students will have obtained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) which will allow them to take up a qualified teacher position in a primary school.

This course includes a wide range of continuous professional development training, like paediatric first aid training, protecting children online and Youth Mental Health First Aid training.

On this course, you will engage with children, understand their rights, listen to their experiences, and prioritise these. You will be equipped to do this through a range of modules, which build on a diversity of social sciences without privileging one perspective over another. Through this array of lenses, you will interrogate contemporary issues and debates within childhood and education from local, national and international contexts.

An in-depth understanding of diversity and difference in children and childhoods will enabling you to develop, adopt and champion inclusive and participatory attitudes and practice throughout your studies and into your future career. We want to equip you with the skills to become change agents in your future organisations and communities. The academic team draws on years of academic and professional expertise in teacher training, childhood, child health, development and therapeutic working. You will benefit from close working relationships with a highly motivated teaching team who will support you in your journey to becoming a primary education teacher.

This academically challenging route is designed especially for high performing, motivated students as it combines a full-time academic programme with school placements throughout each year of the course.

Course Modules

Our undergraduate programmes are delivered as 'block and blend' - more information can be found on Why Suffolk? You can also watch our Block and Blend video.

Full-time students typically take five to six modules per year (a total of 120 credits).

The first year provides a multi-disciplinary overview of childhood, education, child development, health, and diversity. From the very start of the course you will also be in a placement at one of our ITT partner primary schools for one day a week allowing you to apply your academic knowledge to practice on a continuous basis. There will also be an extended placement block where you will be able to start developing your skills as a teacher.

As you progress into Year 2 and 3, your academic study is split equally between the Childhood programme at the University and the ITT providers for the professional, subject-specific modules of your course. Over the course of your training, you will have placements in 3 different schools offering you a range and depth of experience. Throughout your placements you will receive high quality support and mentoring from your school mentor and your expert ITT tutor.

Downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.

Select course year Year 1, Year 2, Year 3

Year 1

• Understanding University (Requisite)
• Health and Wellbeing (Requisite)
• Child Development in Context (Requisite)
• Childhood, Care and Education (Requisite)
• Children in Society (Requisite)
• Diversity, Rights and Inclusion (Requisite)
• Professional Practice 1

Year 2

• Theoretical Perspectives in Childhood and Education (Requisite)
• Safeguarding (Mandatory)
• Understanding Research (Mandatory)
• Professional Studies and Pedagogy 1
• Core Subjects 1
• Foundation Subjects 1
• Professional Practice 2

Year 3

• Independent Project (Mandatory)
• Decolonisation and Difference (Requisite)
• Professional Studies and Pedagogy 2
• Core Subjects 2
• Foundation Subjects 2
• Professional Practice 3

Entry Requirements

UK Academic Requirements

• 120 UCAS Points (or above)
• BBB (A-Level)
• DDM (BTEC)
• Merit (T Level)
• Access to HE Diploma 45 Level 3 credits at Merit grade or above

Non-Academic Requirements

• Interview with written assessment, maths test and short presentation.
• Second reference needed
• An enhanced DBS check
• A Children’s Barred List check
• A Prohibition Order check
• Occupational Health check to ensure applicants are ‘Fit to Teach’

International Requirements

• IELTS 7.0 overall is required and a minimum of 6.5 in each component, where English is not the student's first language.

Career Opportunities

Employability has always been central to the Childhood and Education courses at the University of Suffolk. We encourage all students to undertake work/practice experience. The BA Childhood: Primary Education with QTS course prepares students for work as teachers in primary education settings. We believe that the extensive placement embedded in this course is an excellent preparation for students’ future teaching careers. The BA Childhood: Primary Education with QTS programme also enables students to go into a wide range of careers working with children and their families as well as completing postgraduate qualifications in order to work in other fields of education, health and social care. These include roles within:

• Family support and Social Work
• Nursing and related disciplines
• Early Years settings
• International, national and regional aid work with children and their families
• Postgraduate research

Fees and Funding

2025/26

• UK Full-time Tuition Fee: £9,535 per year
• UK Part-time Tuition Fees: £1,589 per 20 credit module
• International Full-time Tuition Fee: £15,090 per year

2026/27

• UK Full-time Tuition Fee: £9,535 per year
• UK Part-time Tuition Fees: £1,589 per 20 credit module
• International Full-time Tuition Fee: £15,090 per year

Facilities and Resources

Whatever you choose to study, you will learn in state-of-the-art surroundings. We have invested across the University to create an environment showcasing the latest teaching facilities enabling you to achieve great things.

Every teaching room has state-of-the-art AV equipment enhancing students learning experience and spread across the open study areas there are approximately 50 iMacs. The dual function technology allows students to choose between Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac software, allowing students to utilise the technology that best supports their chosen field of study.

The Waterfront Building supports flexible learning with open study on all floors, where students can access networked computers.