Intro

This course is for people looking to qualify as a primary teacher with a focus on working across the 5–11 age range.

The course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status, enabling you to teach in England and Wales. We’re one of the UK’s largest university providers of teacher training, educating teachers and leaders for over 100 years. We were rated Outstanding by Ofsted in our 2018 inspection.

Benefitting from our school partnerships, you’ll gain practical experience in a wide range of settings. We also offer a diverse range of subject modules to give you the knowledge, skills and understanding required to become an outstanding teacher. 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 learn from our course team who have many years’ experience in schools. You’ll also benefit from having an individual support tutor who will help guide you through your academic and professional development. We will support you after you qualify through our NQT support programme.

If you are interested in teaching a specific subject at primary level, you can specialise in mathematics or English at Brighton.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer 

UCAS code X122

Full-time 3 years

Interviews for this course are currently taking place via Skype

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

Join an online event

Apply now with UCAS

Course content

How this course is delivered

Students have a blend of on-campus and digitally enabled remote learning that keeps everyone safe, connected and involved in university life. Lots of opportunities are provided to interact and engage with lecturers and other students. The balance between online and on-campus learning varies by module, and in response to the external environment.

Course structure

This course is delivered through workshops, practical sessions and school-based training.

There are no written exams on this route. You will be assessed in a variety of ways, from assignments to collaborative group presentations. Your school-based training is assessed in conjunction with our partnership schools.

You will learn to provide developmental support to learners from Key Stage 1 to 2, encouraging a love of learning to help children reach their full potential.

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.

From year 2 you’ll be able to study an area of subject interest leading to advanced knowledge and graduate confidently able to teach Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

Some course details may change as we work to ensure our courses are up to date with new government education policy, initiatives, and changes in the education system.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Students group working with their laptops round a table

Year 1

Modules

  • Education Studies: How Children Learn

    This module will support you to develop an understanding of pedagogy and professionalism in an early years and primary context.

  • English and Language Acquisition

    This module will introduce you to relevant theory, research and practice, enabling you to understand children’s development as speakers, listeners, readers and writers (including the nature and function of the teacher’s role in this process). You will develop your subject knowledge and understanding of the teaching of English and the principles that underpin effective practice in the EYFS and primary phase. This will be framed in the context of current legislation and curricular policy to support preparation for your first placement.

  • Exploring Learning and Teaching in Mathematics and Computing

    This module will introduce you to relevant theory, research and practice in order to develop confidence and positive attitude towards mathematics and computing.

    You will develop your understanding of how children develop as mathematicians and will be introduced to the core concepts and key processes of computer science. It will be underpinned by current government legislation and curricular policy to support you in your school based training.

  • Teaching Primary Science

    This module will enable you to become aware of your capabilities in relation to subject knowledge and to challenge and address personal misconceptions in scientific concepts.

    It will introduce you to relevant theory, research and practice in order to gain a broad understanding of how children learn science and the methodology associated with it. You will be guided to make effective and creative pedagogic choices in order to support pupil progress. This will be framed in the context of current government legislation and curricula and prepare you for your school based training.

  • Introducing the Foundation Subjects and RE

    In this module you will develop your curriculum awareness and understanding of the effective planning, resourcing and teaching of art, design and technology, modern foreign languages, music, geography, history, physical education and religious education across the EYFS and primary age phases, as appropriate.

  • School Based Training 1

    This module is the first of three school based training modules, and will provide you with opportunities to gain specific experiences in order to develop and demonstrate professional attributes, skills, knowledge and understanding linked explicitly to the Teachers’ Standards. You will develop insights into pupils’ learning and the role of planning and assessment to facilitate pupil progress. It will enable you to reflect upon and evaluate your experiences, identify professional strengths and development needs and set targets for improvement.

Primary school arts teacher drawing on a flipchart in front of the pupils

Year 2

Modules

  • Education Studies: Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment
  • Teaching English, Principled Practice and Current Policy
  • Deepening Subject and Pedagogic Knowledge to Impact on Children's Mathematical Understanding
  • Curriculum Design and Enhanced Practice in Foundation Subjects and RE
  • School-based Training 2

Options*

  • Developing Expertise in Teaching and Learning in Art and Design
  • Enhancing Computing Subject Knowledge
  • Story: How We Use Language to Imagine Entertain and Understand
  • Developing Curriculum Expertise in Primary History and Geography
  • Developing Mathematical Thinking
  • Developing Expertise in Primary Physical Education
  • Developing Expertise in Primary Personal, Social and Health Education
  • Science, Scientists and Working Scientifically

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Primary school teacher teaching drama and trying to look scary in front of the pupils

Final year

Modules

  • Contemporary Curriculum Studies and SEND
  • Education Studies: Preparing to Lead Children’s Learning
  • Individual Professional Enquiry
  • School-based Training 3

Options*

  • Processes and Practices: Developing a Rationale for Art, Craft and Design in the Primary Classroom
  • Teaching Primary Computing
  • Language, Thought and Learning
  • Creative Curriculum Design in History or Geography
  • Contemporary Issues in the Teaching and Learning of Primary Mathematics
  • Outdoor and Adventurous Activities, and Swimming and Water Safety
  • Developing Expertise in Citizenship Education and Religious Education
  • Science Beyond the Classroom

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Children and teacher in a playground

School-based training

School-based training in a partnership placement school forms an important element of each year of study.

You will be asked to complete a school-based training information form when you start your course and we will use this information to match you to a suitable placement. We will consider your previous experience, travelling distance, the age phases you wish to teach, and your current needs.

We will fully prepared leading up to your school-based training and will be supported by both the university and a school-based mentor throughout your training. Almost all of our placements will be with partner schools in south-east England, most of them in East and West Sussex.

In your first year you will spend a block of approximately three months in school – starting at two days a week increasing to full-time. You will be paired with another trainee and will teach a maximum 50% timetable.

In your second year you will be in school for a block of approximately two months. This will again be a paired placement and you will teach to a 50% timetable.

In your final year you will be in school for another three months but this time will teach up to a 75% timetable. The final placement is not paired.

Primary school teacher and pupils engrossed in classwork

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.

Careers

Preparing for your teaching career  

This course leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), the professional qualification for teachers. QTS enables you to teach in schools in England and Wales. 

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 1 to 10 days’ classroom experience in a secondary school.

Pupil with his hand up in a primary school class

School-based training 

Your three school-based training phases will give you supported experience and help you gain confidence in your teaching ability.

Our staff will ensure that you are well prepared for each phase of school-based training, and that you have all the support and guidance you need 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 contrasting 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 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. It will also enable you to make valuable contacts in schools which will help when you are looking for your first teaching role.

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.
education library

Click to view a virtual tour of some of our facilities

Graduate destinations  

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

University of Brighton trained teachers are highly sought after by our partnership schools and have a superb reputation across the country. They are known for their creative and innovative approaches to teaching making them very successful in securing jobs.

Many of our graduates have taken on mentoring and leadership roles, or focused on specialist roles such as special education needs.

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

a female teacher in a primary classroom

Further study 

After completing your NQT year we offer a range of opportunities should you wish to continue your studies.  

On successful completion of this course you will achieve 60 masters-level credits which can be used towards our Education MA which further integrates academic study with work-based learning and research.

We also offer the following specialist PGCerts which will enable you to develop in-depth knowledge of a particular subject.

There are also a range of non-teaching related postgraduate opportunities and research degrees.

Students walking in front of the Checkland Building at Falmer

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, Emlployable

NQT support 

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

We’ll offer resources, advice, events and drop-in sessions to help you overcome the key 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.

a group of children in a primary classroom

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2021. They should be used as a general guide. 

A-levels
BBB.

BTEC
DDM.

International Baccalaureate
27 points with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
pass with 60 credits overall. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 15 credits at distinction and the rest at merit.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
at least five subjects including English language, mathematics and science.

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.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, at least 6.0 in all four skills.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

Other

  • Interviews normally take place in person on our Falmer campus or in one of our partner schools. From March 2020, all interviews will take place over Skype.
  • All offers are subject to an occupational health check and Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced disclosure check.
  • Applicants from minority ethnic and other groups under-represented in the profession, including men in primary teaching, are particularly welcome. 

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 14,748 GBP

Transport costs associated with travel to and from your placements will be reimbursed.

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.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location

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

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. 7,000 students are based here taking subjects including criminology, English, education, nursing and medicine, paramedic science, psychology and sociology. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

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. Psychology students learn in our applied cognition and flexible creative method labs.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes, and a 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.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre and there is a BTN BikeShare hub on site. 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.

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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 halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Falmer campus is linked to the halls on Falmer campus and at Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on Falmer campus and offer a range of rooms
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent.

Private renting
There's plenty of support if you opt for private renting. This is an option which offers choice and flexibility – enabling you to choose where you live and who with. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. This lists accommodation offered by landlords who have signed up to our code of standards. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

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

Maps

Falmer campus

Student views  

 Laura Fair 

"This course has given me the underpinning knowledge of how children learn.

"During my time on this course I was placed on a range of school-based training which gave me experience in a classroom with a mixture of age phases and helped me to develop my differentiation skills.

"I particularly enjoyed my final placement which was based in a unit supporting children with autism at a special needs school. Here I gained a great insight into SEN and acquired skills that I have been able to use in my career.

"After graduating in 2011 I went straight into my first role at a local primary school, teaching years 1, 2 and 6. Since then I have gone on to study the Education masters at the University of Brighton and am currently deputy head in a Primary school."

Laura Fair

Bethanie Ruston

"The last three years have been a roller coaster, but what a great roller coaster to have been on!

"I’ve been lucky to have had the best of lecturers who have been full of support, experience and knowledge and who have set assignments which have both challenged and stretched my thinking. Strong values and beliefs have always been at the core of who I am, however, the University of Brighton has given me the confidence to explore them, express them (and even question them at times) with a level of confidence and dignity that did not feel possible before.

"I have sat in on so many inspirational lectures that have left my hand sore from excessive note-taking and there have been guest speakers who have left me in awe of their wisdom. My eyes have also been left sparkly and my heart full from a myriad of wonderful children.

"I’m looking forward to the next exciting chapter of my life as a class teacher at a local school in Bedfordshire (where I grew up) with a class of year 4 children."

Bethanie Ruston

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Ask a question about this course

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

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Statistics

These charts give an indication of how much time you will spend on different activities at each level of the course, and an indication of the balance of assessment by coursework, and written and practical exams. For courses with option modules, actual proportions will depend on the modules you choose.

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked above). You can find out also about the range of support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Overall workload

Assessments

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Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They are updated following course changes, and give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course.

Programme specification

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