Primary Postgraduate Certificate in Education

Entry requirements

You are normally required to have at least a 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent from a university outside the UK.

You will need to have achieved Grade 4 (or C) or above in GCSE Mathematics, English Language and a Science subject, or equivalent qualifications.

As part of the application process for this programme, you will be required to attend an interview.

You will also need to demonstrate competence in Fundamental English and mathematics by the end of the course. This is a new DfE requirement which replaces the QTS skills tests in literacy and numeracy.

If you accept an offer with us you will also be required to successfully complete Occupational Health and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure checks.

Apply for this course through DfE Apply and select Provider Code R12 and course Primary (X100).

Months of entry

September

Course content

Gain the experience, opportunity and knowledge to work in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 with the PGCE Primary Education.

Our Primary Postgraduate Certificate in Education course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach children aged five to 11.

Reading's Institute of Education boasts award-wining tutors and consistently high graduate employment rates and provides outstanding support and pastoral care. In 2021/22, 98% of our leavers were in work and/or study 15 months after the end of their course (based on our analysis of HESA data (c) HESA 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22, based on Postgraduate (taught) responders from the Institute of Education).

You will be taught by a diverse and experienced community of academics, benefiting from their expertise and experiences in a wide range of educational settings and learning environments.

On the course you will develop teaching skills and techniques as well as acquire curriculum knowledge and understanding within a broad and relevant theoretical framework.

Your teaching responsibilities increase gradually during the year. You will experience inspirational teaching, individualised support and high-quality phonics preparation, and will benefit from strong links between schools and the University.

Learning takes place through a series of lectures, practical seminars and workshops, where interactive and discussion-based techniques will encourage you to engage, reflect and challenge. Sessions may include:

• participating in workshop style sessions with your peers
• attending presentations by subject experts
• working on tasks in groups
• having individual tutorials
• visits to schools or other education settings.

Alongside the University tutors, you will be taught and guided by a team of committed and experienced University-trained school mentors.

Placements

Placements enable you to develop the skills and knowledge valued and desired by employers - you will build your confidence in the classroom and gain practical teaching experience. Placements also provide you with the opportunity to connect with potential employers and build your professional network.

You will have plenty of opportunities throughout your Primary PGCE to apply your developing skills to real-life settings. We have strong partnerships with over 300 local schools and are renowned for our relationships with these partner schools.

It is a testament to the strength of our partnerships and the regard in which our graduates are held, that most schools in Berkshire employ at least one graduate of the Institute of Education.

Climate and sustainability education

At the University of Reading we believe that climate and sustainability education is everyone’s responsibility. This is why we have set out our vision that all initial teacher trainees should be able to access training that empowers them to effectively incorporate climate education within their teaching across all levels and subjects as part of our National Climate Education Action Plan. Across all of our ITT programmes at the Institute of Education, you will learn about:

• what is happening to our climate, how to help children learn about climate and sustainability in an age-appropriate and accessible way, and how to develop your own positioning as a teacher
• climate justice, the impact of current and future changes to our environment and climate on ourselves and others and implications for teachers
• how to translate knowledge and theory into change and personal action through building climate and sustainability education into your planning, teaching, and children’s learning.

Visit Partnering for the Planet to find out more about the University of Reading’s world-leading work in climate science.

Information for international students

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent).

Fees and funding