Intro

This course is for those looking to qualify as a primary teacher, focusing on the 5–11 age range. As a practitioner you will provide developmental support to learners from Key Stage 1 and 2, encouraging a love of learning to help children reach their full potential.

The course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status, enabling you to teach in England and Wales. We have been training teachers for over 100 years and we were rated Outstanding by Ofsted in our 2018 inspection.

Our emphasis is on enabling you to apply your learning to real-life situations and challenges. You will benefit from our partnerships with over 600 schools where you’ll gain practical school-based experience in a wide range of settings: large, small, rural and urban.

From art and design and children’s literature to mathematics, science and computing, we offer a diverse range of modules to give you the knowledge, skills and understanding required to become an outstanding teacher.

You will learn from our enthusiastic course team who have many years’ experience in schools. Our facilities include a curriculum centre which houses more than 30,000 specialist resources for trainee teachers.

You will also benefit from having an individual support tutor who will help guide you through your academic and professional development as you progress through the course.

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

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

Before starting this course you will need to have passed the professional skills tests; if you have not already completed these you are advised to take them as soon as possible.

Book your open day place

Apply now with UCAS for 2019 entry

Course content

Course structure

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

You will spend around a quarter of each year in 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.

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.

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.

Areas of study
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.

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 our applicant portal.

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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_ART_CLASS

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.

school-based training

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, developing your knowledge and understanding of being a teacher in a school setting.

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.

Organising your school-based training
Our Partnership Office will organise your school-based training for you. Each year we organise over 2,500 placements for our students with over 600 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.

How it works
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.

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

UoB-SchofEd-046-JH

 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 NQT support programme
  • We’re one of the UKs largest teacher training universities, educating teachers and leaders for over 100 years
secondary education

Facilities 

Curriculum Centre
Our outstanding Curriculum Centre provides trainee teachers with over 30,000 specialist teaching resources including books, DVDs, games and an online catalogue.

Specialist classrooms
Our Falmer campus facilities replicate those used in schools and all spaces include specialist equipment to help you become the best teacher you can be. 

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 our facilities. 

Specialist routes 

We also offer specialist primary routes, providing the opportunity to focus on maths or English as a specialist subject. 

 

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Skills tests 

Support for the skills tests

You have to pass the professional skills tests before you begin your teacher training. The University of Brighton recognises that these tests may present a challenge to some candidates and hope these support materials will help you to be fully prepared before attempting them.

Department for Education Practise Materials – You will find a range of support materials on this official site, including online tests.

Passing the Numeracy Skills Test – Book by Mark Patmore, including one practice test . Published February 2018. ISBN-13: 978-1526419231

How to Pass the QTS Numeracy and Literacy Skills Tests: Essential Practice for the Qualified Teacher Status Skills Tests - Book by Chris John Tyreman. Published July 2016. ISBN-13: 978-0749478292

Careers

University of Brighton trainees 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.

After a NQT year many of our graduates take mentoring and leadership roles, or focus on specialist roles such as special education needs.

You might also be interested in teaching a particular subject at primary level – at Brighton you can specialise in mathematics or English. 

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 up to 10 days’ classroom experience in a secondary school. Find out more.

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 2019. They should be used as a general guide. 

A-levels
BBB.

BTEC
DDM.

International Baccalaureate
30 points; specified subjects.

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.

For non-native speakers of English
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
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/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 14,460 GBP

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

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

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/EU 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.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. 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. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

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.

Brighton North Laine
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

All eligible 2019-entry students are guaranteed an offer of university-managed accommodation.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in Grand Parade, 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.
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on Falmer campus and offer a range of room types and catering options
    • Varley Park offers a mix of room and catering options. Varley Park is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there's a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
    • Find out more about our halls at Falmer and Varley Park.

Unihomes and unilets
Unihomes and unilets are student houses that we let to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option can work particularly well when you're balancing learning with placements and other commitments. We have unihomes and unilet properties across the city.

Find out more about our accommodation and confirm your eligibility.

Private renting
There's plenty of support if you opt for private rented accommodation. 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

house Accommodation
campus University building

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."

LauraFair

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."

Beth_Ruston_image

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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

Unistats and key information sets

Unistats enable you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Unistats data on their website.

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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