Primary English Education BA(Hons) with QTS

Course structure

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

You will spend around a quarter of each year on placement developing your practical and analytical skills with the support of relevant theory. 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 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.

Areas of study
You will gain both subject knowledge and pedagogy understanding across the range of subjects within the primary curriculum. Further to this you will have additional modules to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the teaching of English across the key stages.

You'll explore a range of English areas gaining a thorough understanding, enjoyment and appreciation of the subject, using various technologies. A third of taught sessions are on subject study.

Education studies include insights into how children learn, education theories and practice, legislation and initiatives. Core and foundation subject modules enable you to teach English, mathematics, science and all other primary subjects confidently and creatively.

Professional development studies are very closely linked to all strands of the course. You will maintain a professional development profile to help monitor your progress and achievements. The profile will help you to become a reflective practitioner; something that will be invaluable when you begin teaching.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Children's Literature

  This module will introduce you to a wide range of children’s literature, including poetry, graphic novels and picture books focusing on analysis of textusing a range of literary theory. Emphasis is placed on the historical and cultural representation and construction of childhood through different media over different periods of time and the manner in which children’s literature has represented these constructions.

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
• Effective and Creative Teaching of Primary Science
• School-based Learning 2

Specialist subject modules

• Talk for Thinking and Literacy Learning in the Twenty-first Century
• Exploring Challenging Texts through Drama and Writing
• Enhancing and Embedding the Learning and Teaching of Mathematics
• Deepening Understanding of Progression in Mathematics Learning

Final year

Modules

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

Specialist subject modules

• Contemporary Developments, Theories and Practices in Primary English
• Contemporary Issues in the Teaching and Learning of Primary Mathematics

School-based training

School-based training 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 you have placement opportunities that will give you 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 your school-based training 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.

 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

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.
 

Click to view a virtual tour of our facilities. 

Skills test 

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

Course fees

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.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Falmer campus