Course in brief

This course is ideal for students who have a passion for English and the desire to be an outstanding teacher across all the primary curriculum subject areas in Key Stage 1 and 2.

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 in our most recent Ofsted inspection were rated ‘outstanding’.

This course focuses on English as a specialism. With additional modules compared to our other routes, you will develop a greater depth of English subject knowledge. This, alongside other modules, will provide you with all the relevant knowledge, skills and understanding required to become an outstanding teacher and future leader of primary English.

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.

You’ll learn from our experienced and 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 tutors who will help guide you through your academic and professional development as you progress through the course.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code XQ13

Full-time 3 years

Accredited by the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL)

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.

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Start in 2018: how to apply

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 2018. They should be used as a general guide.

We operate a flexible admissions policy – this means that you could receive a lower conditional offer than the typical offer, informed by our assessment of your complementary non-academic achievements and experiences. For courses that require interview or portfolio review, this may also be considered in the level of any conditional offer that follows if your application is successful.

A-levels
BBB. Must include English.

BTEC
DDM.

International Baccalaureate
30 points, including English.

Access to HE Diploma
pass with 60 credits overall. Level 3 units in English required. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at merit or above.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least English, maths and science. In-house equivalence tests are available for suitable candidates if these requirements have not already been achieved.

Professional Skills Tests


You have to pass the professional skills tests in numeracy and literacy before you begin your teacher training. These tests are compulsory and it will not be possible to enter training without having successfully completed them. You are able to book these tests in advance. The Department for Education (DfE) strongly advises you to take the tests soon after you have submitted an application.

As of February 2018 new changes to these tests means that you can make unlimited attempts and the first three attempts are free of charge. The DfE has also removed the lock-out period that previously prevented you from re-taking tests for two years.

You do not need to have completed these tests prior to making an application or attending an interview however your offer will be subject to successful completion.

The University of Brighton recognises that these tests may present a challenge to some candidates and we recommend that you prepare before attempting them. Further resources to help you with the numeracy test can be found in the 'Course in detail' section below.

Find out more about the tests including how to register and prepare on the DfE website.

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.

 

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. 

For non-native speakers of English
IELTS 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

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. 

Applicants should have an interest in how English is learnt by students.

Course in detail

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.

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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 1: How Children Learn
  • Introducing Foundation Subjects
  • Exploring Learning and Teaching in Mathematics
  • Exploring Learning and Teaching in Language and Literacy 
  • An Introduction to Teaching Primary Science
  • School Placement 1

Specialist subject modules

  • Children's Literature
  • Exploring the Teaching and Learning of English with Academic Study Support
Education_Primary_018

Year 2

Modules

  • Enhancing Learning and Teaching in Language and Literacy
  • Enhancing Learning and Teaching in Mathematics
  • Education, Learning and Development: Creating an Inclusive Environment
  • Computing and Contemporary Curriculum Developments
  • Foundation Subjects: Embedding Knowledge, Enhancing Practice
  • School Placement 2 (Primary)

Specialist subject modules

  • Exploring Challenging Texts through Drama and Writing
  • Literacies in the Twenty-first Century
school-children-flexing-1500

Final year

Modules

  • Education Studies 3: Leading Children’s Learning
  • Consolidating Teaching, Learning and Assessing in English (5–11)
  • Deepening Subject and Pedagogic Knowledge to Impact on Children’s Mathematics Understanding (5–11)
  • Final School Placement

Specialist subject modules

  • Current Theories, Developments and Practice in Primary English
  • Individual Professional Project
PRIMARY_PE_MENEXERCISE_036

 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.

UoB_SchofEd_036_JH

 Study here 

Why choose teaching at the University of Brighton?

  • We are rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted for initial teacher training
  • 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
  • Enjoy outstanding facilities including dedicated studios, laboratories, the latest classroom technologies and more than 30,000 specialist resources for trainee teachers
  • 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
Primary education student in early years library

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 statistics

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

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

Careers and employability

Employment rates for our trained teachers are consistently above the sector average and trainees are highly sought after by our partnership schools. Brighton graduates 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 areas such as special education needs. It is expected that students on this specialist route will become future leaders in primary 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 1 to 10 days’ classroom experience in a secondary school. Find out more.

 

Primary Education classroom

 

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 14,040 GBP

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2018–19.

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- 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 and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.
 
The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

i360 and ticket booth on the seafront  What to expect enriching experiences 

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Surrounded by the South Downs National Park and just five miles from the centre of Brighton, our Falmer campus has benefited from over £60million of investment over the past 10 years. 7,000 students are based here, studying subjects including English, education, social science, nursing and medicine.

Recent developments include the Falmer Sports Centre – with its fitness suites and sports hall – and the innovative Checkland Building, which has natural ventilation systems and an insulating green roof.

Falmer has also recently installed more than 600 solar panels, which reduce the campus’s carbon emissions by more than 80 tonnes. The renovation has made us one of the top universities in the UK for on-site renewable energy production.

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Accommodation

Brighton

Our Brighton halls of residence are located across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • Grand Parade is in central Brighton and has one hall of residence, Phoenix Brewery, within walking distance. 
  • Moulsecoomb is two miles from the city centre and also has one hall of residence, Moulsecoomb Place, on campus. 
  • Varley Park offers the biggest choice of student accommodation with ten halls of residence. 
  • Falmer campus has two halls of residence: Great Wilkins and Paddock Field. 
    Varley Park and Falmer are around four miles from Brighton centre; there are good public transport services nearby.

Aside from halls, you have the option of Unihomes, which we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords. We recommend Unihomes and House Share when you’re balancing learning with placements, shifts and other commitments, because they give you more choice and flexibility.

You can also choose to join the many students who live away from campus in private rented accommodation. We have a list of high-quality, university-endorsed private sector accommodation and can help you find housemates to move in with.

Find out more on our accommodation webpages and if you have any questions, our accommodation team will be happy to help. You can contact them by email at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk or by telephone on 01273 644100.

Paddock Field

Moulsecoomb Place


  

Maps

house Accommodation
campus University building

Falmer campus

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