Primary English Education BA(Hons) with QTS

Course structure

This course is delivered 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.

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.

Areas of study 

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.

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

You will have additional modules to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the teaching of English across the key stages.

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

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.

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

  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, religious education, and PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) across the early years 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 text using 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

Final year

Modules

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

Specialist subject module

• Contemporary Developments, Theories and Practices in Primary English

School-based training

School-based training in a partnership placement school forms an important element of each year of study. 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 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 week in school in semester 1 followed by a block of approximately seven weeks in school in semester 2. 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 that builds to 75% towards the end of School-Based Training 2.

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

Meet the team

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.

Course fees

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

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.

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Local area

Maps

Support and wellbeing

Sport at Brighton