Teaching courses - undergraduate degrees

Why Brighton

• Graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) – all undergraduate teaching degrees lead to QTS, enabling you to teach in England and providing a recognised professional teaching qualification.
• Train with an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ provider – Brighton was rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted for primary and secondary initial teacher education in its 2024 inspection.
• More than 100 years of teacher education expertise – learn at a university with a long history of educating teachers and educational leaders.
• Extensive school-based experience – gain practical teaching experience through placements with more than 600 partner schools, colleges and early years settings.
• Specialist teaching facilities – develop your skills in classrooms that replicate real school environments and access specialist teaching resources through our Curriculum Centre.
• Learn from experienced educators – be taught by highly qualified tutors who were teachers themselves and bring extensive classroom experience to their teaching.

• Build confidence through diverse placements – experience teaching in a variety of large, small, rural and urban educational settings, preparing you for a wide range of careers in education
• Excellent career prospects – Brighton-trained teachers are highly sought after by partnership schools, and many students secure teaching roles with their placement schools before graduating.
• Additional professional development opportunities – trainee PE teachers have opportunities to gain National Governing Body (NGB) awards and work with schools on initiatives such as inclusive festivals, developing additional skills and experience alongside their degree.
• Outstanding support throughout your journey – Ofsted praised the care, dedication and support provided to trainees, ensuring you feel valued and well prepared for the profession.
• Support beyond graduation – continue to receive guidance through Brighton's Early Career Teachers support programme, helping you successfully transition into your first teaching role.

Accreditation 

Our undergraduate degree teaching courses lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) which is awarded by the Teaching Regulation Agency.

QTS is a legal requirement to teach in maintained schools in England and used by many other schools to assess the quality of candidates for teaching jobs.

You’ll be assessed against the Teachers’ Standards to ensure you meet the expectations for joining the teaching profession.

QTS is also recognised in Wales once you register with the Education Workforce Council (EWC).

Ofsted

Graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted for primary and secondary in our 2024 Initial Teacher Education inspection.

Ofsted commended us on many aspects of our courses, saying:

• Trainees shine at Brighton’s long-established and highly impressive teacher training programmes.
• The care and dedication shown by staff towards trainees is superb.
• Trainees are at the heart of everything. They are valued and expertly supported throughout the course.
• The curriculum skilfully equips trainees in safeguarding, behaviour management and supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Trainees impress the placement settings they work in because of their professionalism and aptitude to apply what they have learned.

School-based learning

School-based learning is a central part of undergraduate teacher training at Brighton. Throughout your degree, you'll have plenty of opportunities to put your learning into practice through placements in schools, colleges and other educational settings, helping you build confidence and develop the skills needed for a successful teaching career.

You'll benefit from Brighton's partnerships with more than 600 schools, colleges and early years settings, gaining experience in a variety of large, small, rural and urban environments. Before each placement, you'll receive the preparation and support needed to make the most of your time in the classroom.

School-based learning helps you:

• develop your teaching skills through practical classroom experience
• apply your university learning in real educational settings
• gain experience in schools, colleges and early years environments
• build confidence working with children and young people
• make valuable professional contacts for your future career
• develop the knowledge and experience employers look for in newly qualified teachers.

Many Brighton students secure teaching positions with their placement schools before graduating, reflecting the strong relationships we have with our partner schools and the high regard in which Brighton-trained teachers are held.

The combination of academic study, practical teaching experience and professional support ensures you graduate ready to begin your teaching career with confidence.

Specialist facilities

At Brighton, you’ll learn in professional teaching environments that help you develop both your subject knowledge and classroom practice.

Our Falmer campus is home to a range of specialist facilities, giving you access to the resources, spaces and equipment used to support teaching across different phases and subjects.

Alongside your school placements, these facilities will help you build the confidence and practical skills needed for a successful career in education.

Specialist facilities include:

• Curriculum Centre with 30,000+ teaching resources
• specialist classrooms, laboratories and creative learning spaces
• sports hall, swimming pool and outdoor pitches for PE teaching
• performance and presentation spaces.

 Take a virtual tour and explore our teaching resources

• Art and design specialist classrooms
• Science labs
• Curriculum Centre

Our ITE Partnership

As one of the largest providers of initial teacher training in the UK, and the largest in the region, our school-led Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Partnership works to ensure that trainee teachers receive the best possible support and education.

We believe that equipping the next generation of teachers to be outstanding is only possible through an equal and close collaboration between schools, colleges and universities.

Within our partnership we collaborate from initial trainee recruitment, through the delivery of teacher training and beyond qualification to the continuing professional development of teachers.

Find out more about our ITE Partnership.

Careers success

Teaching is a profession where you can make a lasting impact every day. Alongside the opportunity to inspire future generations, teaching offers:

• a respected professional qualification
• clear progression opportunities
• ongoing professional development
• strong employment prospects
• opportunities to specialise and move into leadership.

Our graduates consistently achieve employment rates above the sector average, and we continue to support many trainees through the early stages of their teaching careers.

University of Brighton trained teachers are highly sought after by our partnership schools and are known for their creative and innovative approaches to teaching.

Many graduates secure teaching jobs with the schools where they spent their placement, take on mentoring and leadership roles or opt for specialist roles such as special education needs.

We will continue to support you after you qualify through our Early Career Teachers support programme, so you won’t have to start your career on your own. This ranges from offering advice to providing materials to support you in the classroom.