BEd (Hons) Education

UCAS code: X100

Start date: September

Course length: You'll register on a three year course, with opportunities to develop a subject specialism (currently English, Maths, humanities, science and creative arts). You can personalise the course further by choosing an elective during the first three years. If you choose the four year route, you could have the opportunity to undertake your assessed placement in a special school or early years setting. In addition, you could choose to study for 40 credits at masters level.

Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

This course leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), so you'll be able to go straight into your first teaching job when you graduate. The course is delivered by an experienced, lively and caring team and is matched to the needs of teachers in Key Stages 1 and 2.

We're passionate about making sure you're ready for your new career in teaching so you'll undertake a placement in a different school at each stage of the course, including a special school. This will help to build your skills and experience with different year groups and better understand where you might want to focus your career. You will receive mentor support from experienced teachers, and you will take part in community and charity work.

As part of the course we like you to engage in various projects within the local community to help give you a wider experience. Some of our previous students have worked with local charities, museums and galleries. We think that it's important that you appreciate, and can respond to, the diverse needs of the children you'll be teaching, so everyone has the opportunity to experience special school education at stage two of the course.

At each stage of the course, you'll have the opportunity to:

• develop your subject knowledge and academic knowledge in all of the National Curriculum subjects;
• broaden your understanding of the different theories and perspectives of Primary Teaching;
• become a highly reflective practitioner through mentor support in school and through a dedicated module in university;
• expand your professional skills through focused school placements;
• enhance your academic abilities through carefully planned support right from when you arrive in stage one through to undertaking your own research in your final stage.

There are opportunities to personalise your degree:

• you can choose a specialist pathway. Current options include English, Maths, Science, Humanities and Creative Arts;
• there is the opportunity to undertake additional experiences in different environments such as teaching beyond the classroom, in special schools, alternative schools or early years settings;
• you will also undertake an Independent Study in your final stage which allows you to research an area of your own interest;
• further exploration of individual interest through masters level study.

Values which run through this course include:

• working with our community and charities;
• working with children in settings outside school;
• providing you with a range of teaching experiences in university and beyond the classroom;
• appreciating and responding to the diverse needs of children;
• enabling you to make informed choices, in order to become the teacher you aspire to be;
• aiming for excellence - placing the child at the centre of all you do.

Stage one

You'll study these modules:

• Reflective Teaching 1: Introduction to Effective Pedagogical Practice
• School and the Curriculum
• Introducing the Principles and Practices of English and Mathematics with ICT
• Wider Curriculum: Subjects in Focus
• Developing the Principles and Practices of English and Mathematics with ICT
• Developing an Understanding of the Wider Curriculum

Stage two

You'll study these modules:

• Reflective Teaching 2: Principles and Practice
• Acknowledging Diversity in the Classroom
• Extending the Principles and Practices of English and Mathematics with ICT
• Extending the Understanding of the Wider Curriculum
• Alternative Setting Elective
• Enhancing the Principles and Practices of English and Mathematics with ICT

Stage three

You'll study these modules:

• Reflective Teaching 3: Enacting Professional Accountabilities
• Independent Study
• The Professional Teacher in School Communities
• Excellence in English, Mathematics and Sciences
• Subject Pathway

If you choose the four-year route, you will study the stage one and stage two modules above, then the stage three and four modules below. The fourth year includes a named subject pathway, opportunity to undertake an assessed placement in an alternative setting, such as a special school, and the chance to take a couple of modules at masters level:

Stage three

You'll study these modules:

• Reflective Teaching 3: The Accountable Professional
• Independent Study
• The Professional Teacher in School
• Excellence in English, Mathematics and Sciences
• Subject Pathway

Stage three

You'll study these modules:

• Reflective Teaching 4: Professional Identities of the Reflective Teacher
• Enriching the Curriculum
• Wider Role of the Teacher
• Understanding the Learning Community
• Subject Enhancement

Our entry requirements are usually 300 UCAS points, of which at least 260 will be from your core A2s (full A levels) or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc. Only 60 UCAS points can be from General Studies.

All candidates are considered individually and holistically, taking into account a wide range of capabilities and experiences. In some cases, excellent candidates may be given a slightly lower offer to reflect this. You'll also need at least 6 GCSEs at a minimum grade C, which must include Maths, English Language and a Science (we can't accept the OCR National Science qualification instead of the GCSE in Science). If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications. You must also have had recent Primary School experience.

You must also meet all the National College for Teaching and Leadership entry requirements for Initial Teacher Education courses; this includes suitability and fitness to teach checks, and completion of QTS tests prior to the start of the course. This process begins at the point of interview but you must have registered for the tests prior to your interview.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is required at the point of accepting a place at the University. The Disclosure and Barring Service was established when the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) merged in 2012 and will now provide the criminal records checking service for this programme.

The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all information included in your application and from your interview. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic, committed and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.

Fees for 2013/14

This is a premium course.

UK students

• Full time: £9,000 (each year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

How you'll learn

You will learn through lectures, seminars, tutorials, guest speakers, agencies and creative partners. We have new primary education facilities which include purpose built teaching classrooms. Your school placements are a vital part of your development, but you will also have the opportunity to broaden your experiences further through overseas school visits, museum visits and visits to special schools, Early Years and Key Stage 3 settings.

How you're assessed

There are no exams so you will be assessed through your reports, essays, presentations, personal reflections, tests, audits and during your teaching practice in school.

Work placements

During this course, you'll spend between 28 and 32 weeks on placement in a number of different schools. This will include a mixture of placements from EYFS through to the end of Key Stage 2. You will also complete an experience in a special school to help build your skills of working with diverse groups. If you complete the course in four years you may opt to complete your stage three placement in a special school or EYFS setting.

By choosing a career in teaching you will have chosen an important and satisfying profession. The 2012 National Student Survey found that 95% of our students were employed with a graduate job or continuing with further study, six months after graduating. There is also the option to continue studying with us by taking one of our postgraduate courses.

Aamar Arshid, current student
"Teaching was a passion I had since a very young age. I believe that this is one of the best decisions I have made in my life. The lectures are very engaging and interactive, and the lecturers themselves are very fun and approachable, all are dipping in and out of schools, so therefore, have frequent school experiences."

To find out more about Aamar's story read here.

Chelsey Laban, current student
"As Derby offers many routes, each person's development is different and that is what makes us unique. I feel that Derby has helped me to develop into the good teacher that I am; the confident person that I wasn't and the individual that I have grown to be. The university doesn't push us to have one character throughout the cohort; they encourage individuality and offer unique experiences to each of us to ensure that no one teacher they produce is the same."

Andy Cox, recent graduate.
Andy is a mature student who decided to change his career after attending his daughters 'take a parent to work day'. He was a welder for 18 years when he decided to become a primary school teacher. He finished with a first class degree and has now secured a post at a local primary school.

"The University staff I met were incredibly encouraging and helpful, outlining the route I could take from an access course to newly qualified teacher, and showing me that even though I would be over 40 when I graduated I would have 25 years to enjoy my new profession."

Read his full story here.

Jess Millward, recent graduate.
Jess was awarded the Tara Abbott Award for Success in Challenging Circumstances upon graduating. Despite many personal disruptions to her study, Jess had the determination to pull through and complete her degree.

Read more about Jess' story here