Entry requirements

We normally require a Bachelor's Honours degree at 2:2 level or above from a UK higher education institution, or a recognised equivalent.

GCSE at grade 4 (formerly grade C) or above (or its equivalent) in English, mathematics and a science subject is also necessary at the point of enrolment.

Successful candidates must meet Department for Education requirements for Initial Teacher Training prior to enrolling on this course. This includes obtaining a satisfactory occupational health check and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, as well as prohibition and children’s barred list checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance.

If you do not already have GCSEs in English and mathematics, or their equivalent, and are not registered to take them, you should visit Equivalency Testing. We also offer our own in-house equivalency tests. If you are successful at interview and need to pass an equivalency test to meet the entry requirements, our Admissions team will refer you to the details of our test.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Do you have a passion for educating children, supporting their academic and personal growth at a key stage in their development? Is your aim to become a reflective, critical and enquiring primary school teacher? Then our PGCE Primary and Early Years course is for you.

Our aim is to help you become a committed, confident and creative teacher so we’ll train you in the essential tools you need to kick-start your career in education. You’ll increase your ability to handle the ever-evolving teaching environment, and by the time your course is complete, you’ll be in a position to continue developing your understanding, knowledge and skills throughout your professional life.

Our ITE Curriculum aligns with the DfE (2019) ITT Core Content Framework. Our ambitious curriculum is designed within a spiral curriculum model, which deepens your knowledge and understanding through an iterative revisiting of identified topics, subjects, and themes throughout all our Primary QTS courses.

Information for international students

A minimum IELTS score of 7.0 is required with no individual component less than 6.5. Candidates who have undertaken IELTS will also need to successfully pass our GCSE English equivalency test.

Fees and funding

Although this is a postgraduate course, current PGCE students are eligible for the finance support package available to full-time undergraduates. You may also receive a Teacher Training Bursary for most Secondary teacher training courses and Primary Mathematics.

Visit the DfE funding page for more information.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

PGCE(QTS)
full time
12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

You will be assessed through a range of methods to include audits of subject knowledge, written assignments and presentations. Academic work will need to be of the high standard required of postgraduate (Level 7) study.

Assessment of school based training is ongoing and will take a range of evidence into consideration, to include planning sequences of learning, teaching observations, evidence of effective marking and feedback. You will be assessed against the Teachers’ Standards (DfE 2012). You will need to meet the requirements of Part 1 and Part 2 of the Teachers’ Standards to be recommended for the award of QTS, so high standards of professionalism are essential.

Course contact details

Name: Pre-entry Enquiries Team
Email: courseenquiries@bcu.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)121 331 6295

Visit website

Primary and Early Years Education - PGCE