Intro

Our Primary 5-11 years PGCE leads to Qualified Teacher Status and will equip you with the skills and knowledge to become a confident and competent teacher specialising in Key Stage 1 and Key stage 2.

Our teaching graduates benefit from excellent employment rates that are consistently above the sector average. Plus, we’ll continue to support you through your first few years as an early career teacher.

At Brighton you’ll train to teach with an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ provider and be educated by an expert team who have their own successful experience as primary education practitioners.

You’ll gain practical experiences in two carefully selected schools – we have over 600 placement partners offering a variety of opportunities in large, small, urban and rural settings. We’ll make sure you are fully prepared and supported to make the most of your time in school-based training.

At university you’ll learn in our specialist facilities that replicate those used in schools so you’ll feel at home when you go on your school-based-training. We also have a curriculum centre with over 30,000 resources to support you in the classroom.

Brighton is one of the UKs largest teacher training universities and has been educating teachers and leaders for over 100 years.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

Course code X100

Full-time 1 year

Qualified Teacher Status is awarded by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)

interview advice sessions 

Get top tips for your interview at one of our online teaching interview advice sessions.

Apply for 2023 from 11 October with DfE Apply

Who can apply for this course?

UK students can apply for this course until late August unless the course is full before then.

International students can apply until 26 May to allow time for visa applications to be completed before the course starts on 4 September. We cannot accept applications from international students after this date.

 

Course content

Course structure

This is an intensive year, with two-thirds of the course based in partnership schools and the remainder in lectures, seminars and independent study. Inherent to this programme are the government's national priorities and we will give you support while thoroughly addressing these issues.

In line with government requirements, you will spend the majority of your course gaining experience in schools, where you will spend 24 weeks teaching under supervision. Our tutors and mentors will advise and support you throughout each placement. We will give you plenty of comprehensive feedback during this time, which will enable you to see what you are doing well and where you might need to improve.

You will benefit from experiencing school-based training in two different schools and age-phases. The first phase of school-based training runs simultaneously to the University-based programme, which ensures that teaching theory is effectively integrated with practice.  

We believe in nurturing and facilitating your opportunities to discuss and critically evaluate effective teaching practices through small interactive seminar groups, which complement larger-group lectures.

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All students are enrolled onto the Postgraduate Certificate in Education but an alternative exit award, the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education, which also includes QTS, is available if you do not achieve the masters-level elements of the postgraduate programme.

Areas of study

You will explore the subject curriculum areas for Key Stages 1 and 2, and practise the strategies and skills that encourage you to interpret the curriculum confidently and creatively. The programme is designed to encourage teaching practice that you can continually reflect upon and critique.

You will study modules that investigate learning and teaching throughout the two Stages within the context of child development as a whole. 

Our teaching and learning strategies go across and beyond subject areas, to ensure inclusive practice and equal, effective teaching of children from a diverse range of backgrounds. 

You will engage in a masters-level school-based Professional Enquiry module, focusing on an aspect of your own professional development.

primary teaching

School-based training

Ofsted identify our approach to training in schools as a key strength of this course, with an excellent balance between university tuition and school-based training.

You will spend a minimum of 120 days on school-based activities, with your training shared between the university and the partner school. 

Your school-based training will include observing primary practitioners, working with individual pupils and groups of pupils, team teaching and independent teaching. Your training will also entail completing specific subject tasks and developing your knowledge of school policy and effective practices.

You will maintain a professional training portfolio and be supported to review your work critically and analytically as well as to set appropriately challenging targets. We will also develop an action plan with you to identify strengths, development needs and actions, so that your practice is continually developing.

Key aims of the school-based training:

  • advance the development of your professional attributes, skills, knowledge and understanding
  • provide a variety of practical and specific experiences that enable you to critically analyse your professional practice and take responsibility for your own professional development
  • enable you to work collaboratively with colleagues in order to develop an understanding of the ways in which the attainment, development and well-being of all learners can be achieved with a unified support and teaching system
  • provide opportunities that enable you to adopt a creative and constructively critical approach towards your practice, supported by appropriate reading and research.

During your school-based training, university tutors, school mentors and teachers will support you and take shared responsibility for your professional development.

Your progress will be observed and assessed throughout your placement by university and school staff, followed by feedback sessions to discuss your development. Your e-portfolio will also be evaluated as part of the overall assessment.

Organising your school-based training

Our Partnership Office will organise the school-based training for you. Each year we organise over 2,500 placements for our students. We work hard to ensure that you have placement opportunities that will give you valuable and varied experiences in the area of education in which you are interested.

How it works

We will ask you to complete a placement information form when you start your course, and will use this information to match you to a suitable placement. We will consider your previous experience, travelling distance, the age ranges you wish to teach, and your current needs.

Once we have matched you with a placement, the team in the Partnership Office will confirm the placement as quickly as possible with the school or organisation. They will then contact you with the placement details. Almost all of our placements will be with partner schools or organisations in south-east England, most of them in East and West Sussex. 

Ofsted

In our most recent Initial Teacher Education inspection report, the University of Brighton was graded 'outstanding'.

Ofsted identified some of our key strengths as:

  • the very high attainment of the majority of trainees
  • the expertly designed and diverse range of programmes that respond to trainees' backgrounds, needs and interests as well as to national priorities
  • the outstanding progress made by trainees as a result of training, which enables them to fulfil their potential
  • inspirational teaching, tutoring and mentoring that model the best teaching and give trainees the ambition to reach the highest standards
  • highly reflective trainees who demonstrate good subject knowledge and a breadth of understanding of how to teach
  • an excellent range of training experiences that effectively prepare trainees to teach in a diverse society
  • the excellent resources available to trainees
  • leadership that is dynamic in its approach to anticipating change and solving problems
  • a visionary approach to innovation and change.
Students walking on the Falmer campus

Meet the team

Chloe Berrisford - course leader 

"I have worked in early years and primary education for over 26 years, teaching in schools in West Sussex before joining the School of Education at the University of Brighton in 2008. 

"My areas of expertise are early years education, language and literacy development, and Primary English, but as a teacher in school I also had responsibilities for leading art, science, ICT and teaching and learning. 

"I am currently co-leader for the academic subject of early years and primary ITE, which sees me working across teacher training courses to lead and manage the teaching of primary education within the School of Education. My particular interests lie in the transformatory potential of reading, what it can do for human lives and why it is important, plus language acquisition and the role of talk in learning and teaching, access to outdoor learning, equality and social mobility. 

"I am a trustee for a refugee welcome charity in West Sussex and I help organise literary events and Book in the Park community activities as part of WORDfest, in Crawley, West Sussex." 

Other key members of the teaching team: 

  • Dr Rachel Marks - PGCE Primary Year Lead
  • Lesley Hope - PGCE Primary Personal Academic Tutor Lead
  • Carey Beattie - PGCE Primary Practice Learning Lead
Chloe Berrisford Primary PGCE course leader

School Direct 

School Direct is an alternative route to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and the University of Brighton is working with a number of schools to deliver this programme across a range of secondary subjects as well as in the primary phase. 

To train as a teacher through the School Direct programme you need to apply directly to a school for a School Direct training place, with schools advertising their vacancies on the UCAS Teacher Training website. The University of Brighton supports School Direct through providing training and assessment opportunities at the request of participating schools.

Find out more about School Direct and view vacancies.

Teacher reading from a book to her class

 Study here 

Why choose teaching at the University of Brighton?

  • We were rated Outstanding by Ofsted in our 2018 inspection
  • Our graduates benefit from excellent employment rates that are consistently above the sector average
  • We have 600 partner schools and colleges, offering varied placement opportunities to our students
  • We work closely with local authorities, schools, colleges and educational organisations ensuring that our students are kept up to date with the changing world of education
  • Our tutors are experts in their area of research and have published numerous academic publications
  • We offer several routes into teaching with the opportunity to engage in professional development after graduating
  • We have a dedicated team to help you after you qualify, through our Early Teacher Career support programme
  • We’re one of the UKs largest teacher training universities, educating teachers and leaders for over 100 years
secondary education students

Careers

Preparing for your teaching career

You will graduate from this course equipped with the skills and knowledge to become a confident and competent primary school teacher.

As well as gaining a PGCE, you will be assessed against the national Teachers’ Standards in order to be recommended for the award of Qualified Teacher Status.

You’ll benefit from our partnership with over 600 schools, where you’ll gain practical school-based experience in a wide range of settings – large, small, rural and urban.

You will gain a knowledge and understanding of the full primary curriculum, with subject studies to strengthen your specialist knowledge in your chosen area, while you start to develop your leadership and management skills.

If you are considering whether a career in teaching is for you, and you are a UK resident, the Department for Education’s School Experience Programme offers between one and 10 days’ classroom experience in a secondary school.

Trainee teacher leading a classroom activity with primary pupils

School-based training

Each phase of your school-based training will give you supported experience and help you gain confidence in your teaching ability.

Our staff will ensure that you are well prepared before your school-based training, and that you have all the support and guidance needed to make the most of these opportunities.

We have partnerships with over 600 schools and settings which offer you opportunities in large, small, urban and rural settings ensuring you will have a well-rounded experience. You will experience time in two carefully selected schools during your course.

Your school-based training experiences will include:

  • writing lesson plans and evaluations for the classes you teach
  • engaging in both formative and summative assessment of pupils learning and performance
  • completing your e-portfolio as supporting evidence of meeting the Teachers’ Standards.

Each year we organise over 2,500 placements for our students with partner schools and colleges, offering varied placement opportunities. We work hard to ensure that your school-based training will provide you with learning opportunities and valuable experience with the age group you are qualifying to teach.

School-based experience will enable you to demonstrate and grow your knowledge. You'll also make valuable contacts in schools which will help when you are looking for your first teaching role.

Close up of primary school girl holding up a book

Facilities for learning

Our facilities include a curriculum centre which contains more than 30,000 specialist resources for trainee teachers including books, DVDs, games and an online catalogue.

Our Falmer campus also houses specialist classrooms that replicate those used in schools so you’ll feel at home when you go on your school-based training and start your career.

Teaching facilities include:

  • science labs
  • art classrooms
  • kiln room
  • dark room
  • design and technology workshop
  • performance studio.
Teaching students in library

Click the image to view a virtual tour of our facilities.

Graduate destinations

Our teaching graduates benefit from excellent employment rates that are consistently above the sector average.

Career prospects are good; most graduates gain their first teaching posts in school settings as soon as they qualify.

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

Many of our graduates take on mentoring and leadership roles, or opt for specialist roles such as special education needs.

Our careers service holds an annual teaching recruitment fair on campus which our partner schools attend as they are looking to recruit newly qualified teachers for the next school year.

Male trainee taking part in drawing with group of school children

Further study

After completing your NQT year we offer opportunities for you to continue your studies. 

Successful completion of this course means you'll be awarded 60 masters-level credits which can be used towards our Education MA which further integrates academic study with work-based learning and research.

Group of students sitting outside on Falmer campus

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Employable

Early career support

We will continue to support you after you qualify through our early career support programme.

We’ll offer resources, advice, events and drop-in sessions to help you overcome the challenges that many new teachers face in their first few years of working as a qualified teacher. We’ll help you with the next stage of your journey and offer support that will enable you to develop and thrive in your early career.

Our website provides guidance and support for after you graduate, including the latest teaching job vacancies, personal statement feedback, short mock interviews, useful contacts for advice and a variety of helpful resources including videos.

The university tutors supported me long after finishing the course. During my NQT year at a community college they continued to provide me with advice and check on my professional progress and my wellbeing.

Brenda, graduate and teacher

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

This is a highly successful postgraduate route into teaching. We strongly encourage applications from candidates with the potential to become outstanding teachers in this intensive and mainly school-based programme.

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course. They should be used as a general guide. 

Degree and experience
Normally an honours degree, or equivalent qualification.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least English language, maths and a science. Equivalence tests are available for suitable candidates.

International student application deadline 26 May
The deadline for international applicants to apply to this course for 2023 entry is 26 May. This deadline is in place to ensure sufficient time for the visa process to be completed before the course starts in early September. 

English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 in all elements.

Interviews

Interviews for this course can be in-person at the university or online. Applicants invited to interview will be able to choose a date and which option suits them best.

Get top tips for your interview at one of our online teaching interview advice sessions.

Experience

While experience in a school is not a condition of entry for initial teacher education courses we recommend that you take up opportunities to gain a realistic understanding of whether teaching is right for you. The Get Into Teaching School Experience Programme offers opportunities across the country to book a day’s worth of experience.

Read the tips on applying for teacher training.

Other

  • Applicants from minority ethnic and other groups under-represented in the profession, including men in primary teaching, are particularly welcome.
  • All offers of places are subject to required regulatory checks including an occupational health check and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check.
  • We are committed to safeguarding and child protection. As part of our selection and interview process, we will undertake additional checks to confirm the suitability of candidates.

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,300 GBP

As a postgraduate trainee teacher there is a range of funding available which you could be eligible to receive whilst you are studying:

On our website you will find information about other funding including:

  • the student finance package from Student Finance England – tuition fee loans and maintenance loans
  • Parents’ Learning Allowance
  • Childcare Grant
  • Care leaver’s bursary
  • Disabled Students’ Allowance.

If you're not a UK citizen, you are unlikely to get help funding your training unless you have permission to live permanently in the UK.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2023–24.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

 

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Education are listed here.

  • You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.
  • In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget approximately £30 for printing.
  • For courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your travel expenses but you may be able to claim some travel costs back from the university, depending on where your placement is in relation to where you live.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £150 to buy your own copies
  • You may wish to consider budgeting up to £25 for stationery/teaching materials.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects – from 2024 these will include education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes and the students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. New facilities are being developed ready for September 2024 when all of our sport and health students will be based here. Learn more about the changes at Falmer.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

  • You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls offer a range of rooms on our Falmer campus, minutes from your classes, and on the edge of the South Downs.
    • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Falmer campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Falmer campus

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Student views  

Melanie Fryer

I graduated three times from Brighton. I first studied a foundation degree in arts and then went on to study a BA(Hons) in Professional Studies in Learning and Development. I then followed this with the Primary 5-11 years PGCE, gaining QTS (qualified teacher status) in 2015. 

I was a mature student with no experience of the Harvard referencing system or any form of academic writing when I started, but the tutors were always really kind and helpful and I felt supported.

I secured my first teaching post at Gildredge House Free School in Eastbourne, whilst still studying for my PGCE.

I spent three years in year 4 before one year in year 3 and am now in my second year teaching year one. During my career, I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to set up classroom settings for year 2 and 4, where I was responsible for deciding which resources to get and topics to choose.

I became the Primary Professional Tutor six years ago, and I have forged strong links with the staff at the University of Brighton. Recently, I have been helping with looking at how the structure of the Primary PGCE course can be made even better. 

This has been almost full circle for me as this was the course that I studied in 2014/15, so sitting alongside my tutors discussing ways forward has been really humbling.

I am University of Brighton through and through – like a stick of rock.  I love that after all these years I can step onto the Falmer campus, walk around the corner and go straight into the same coffee shop in the Checkland building and order my usual and find a seat and think, ‘yeah, I am home.’
Melanie-Fryer

Stephen Feeney

“After doing a bit of research it was clear that the University of Brighton was a highly regarded educational institution - this was important to me as you want to know that you will be coming out with the best qualification possible.

“My training taught me that the child always comes first in learning and that is across every aspect of school life. The lecturers were so passionate about the impact teaching has and you couldn't help but be inspired by that. It was like being in school again and was structured in such a way that you could imagine a child being as excited as you were about the learning that was taking place.

"The key message was always what was I going to do as a teacher to ensure that every child takes something away from a lesson and has an overall positive attitude about school life. It filled me with confidence that I could be a teacher.

"The lessons I have learnt at Brighton will form a big part of how I will approach the rest of my professional career.”

After spending both his final year placement and NQT year at Goldstone Primary School, Stephen was appointed as their PE coordinator. In 2014 he won the award of Sport Teacher of the Year.

Stephen Feeney

Stephen collecting his Sport Teacher of the Year award

 Jake Shone 

"I always wanted to do something that made a difference and found children’s outlook on things to be a source of both inspiration and infinite humour.

"I chose to study at Brighton as it had a fantastic reputation and was involved in educational research of a high quality that challenged current practice in an effort to improve children’s educational outcomes. It is an incredibly demanding course but the course staff were lovely and the facilities and teaching environment were exceptional.

"The placements were without a doubt a highlight for me, they served as the perfect arena for developing my teaching style and experimenting with theory taught in university. The placements were varied; they were both supportive and challenging in different ways and served as an accurate reflection of the reality of practice.

"I was offered a role in one of my placement schools and have been working there since I graduated in July 2015."

Jake Shone

Hilary Tutt

“I live locally and was impressed by the university’s reputation amongst teachers. People kept saying to me “you’re so lucky to live within commuting distant of Brighton” whenever I mentioned wanting to go into teaching.

“The university-based lessons, particularly in English, maths and science, were both fun and helpful. The Open Learning Centre has a wide variety of teaching resources, books, games, maths resources and a Smart Board to practise on. The course staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and I am particularly grateful to my maths tutor who was able to banish a lifelong fear of maths - it is now one of my favourite subjects and the one I find easiest to teach!

“I enjoyed the variety between placements and university-based training, every day was different. The pace at which we were learning was a challenge but one of the most enjoyable things about the course.

“The course was a challenge and you need to be prepared to work hard but it’s very enjoyable and the best decision I ever made. I am now working at Ocklynge Junior School in Eastbourne as a Year 4 teacher.”

Rebecca Hynam

"I had a huge desire to teach and chose Brighton. It has great facilities that cater for the demands of the course and the staff are helpful and approachable.

"The best part of the course for me was the school placements and being able to apply what I learnt at university into a real-life setting. I got to experience three different placement settings, including a private school.

"The University of Brighton is a great place to undertake teacher training - everyone is friendly and incredibly helpful throughout."

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

Ask a question about this course

Read our application advice for postgraduate teacher training. The DfE has also produced a helpful short film: what to know when applying for teacher training.

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

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