PGCE Primary (School Direct) with Qualified Teacher Status

Why choose this course?

  • We were delighted to receive 'Outstanding' results from the most recent Ofsted reports and were in the top ten for primary education teacher training in the prestigious Good Teacher Training Guide 2011.
  • At the end of the course you will receive 60 credits towards a masters degree, such as our MA Education.
  • We're one of the major providers in the East Midlands for Initial Teacher Education with opportunities to extend and develop your role as a teacher in today's society.
  • We were ranked in the top ten for primary education teacher training in the pretigious Good Teacher Training Guide 2011.
  • Our team of schools and university tutors have a strong national and international reputation for the quality of their training and research.

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Fact file

Start date: September

Course length: One year full time

Campus: In local schools and Derby Campus, Kedleston Road

About this course

This course will give you a PGCE, Qualified Teacher Status and 60 credits at masters level. You will be mainly based in one of our partner school alliances. This means that you will be very well prepared for the practical demands of teaching, including the teaching of your chosen subject and the wider National Curriculum. Depending on your preference and prior experience you can choose to specialise in teaching Early Years (3–7 year olds), 5–11 year olds, or Later Years (7–11 year olds). Each route will provide a subject enhancement and study of school-related issues at masters level.

School experience is a key element of the PGCE course and we work closely with our partnership schools in the East Midlands to provide you with effective and practical experience. On the course you'll go on two main teaching placements where you'll be supported by our outstanding trained school mentors and link tutors.

Our course aims to be intellectually challenging whilst fully preparing you for the practical demands of teaching. It takes full account of current national developments in education and the Primary National Strategy. You'll be taught by a team of tutors who have a good national and international reputation for the quality of their training and research.

What you will cover

You can study over one year or choose the flexible route which will take between two and three years. If you choose the flexible route we will develop a personalised training plan for you and you'll take half the modules in one year and the other half the next, with one teaching block per year.

You'll study these modules:

Stage one

  • An Introduction to Reflective Teaching
  • Effective Learning and Teaching: English and Mathematics with ICT
  • Effective Learning and Teaching in Science and the Wider Curriculum
  • Understanding the Child as a Learner

Stage two

  • Specialist Subject Enhancement
  • Understanding the School as a Learning Community
  • Reflective Practice in Action

Entry requirements

You will usually need an undergraduate honours degree (preferably 2:1) or an equivalent qualification. You will also need GCSE grade C or above in English Language, Maths and Science and a wide range of recent experience in UK primary schools. You will need to have successfully completed the National College for Teaching and Leadership's skills test for literacy and numeracy.

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.

How to apply

You will need to apply to schools through the National College for Teaching and Leadership's School Direct application system.

Fees and finance

This is a premium course.

UK/EU students

  • Full time: £9,000 (each year)

For September 2013, DfE (Department for Education) bursaries are to be re-introduced for all Primary PGCE programmes. Successful applicants with First class honours degrees will qualify for £9,000 whilst those with a 2.1 degree classification will be entitled to £4,000.

*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.

Full time UK/EU students

  • This is a premium course and will cost £9,000 per year

For September 2012, TDA bursaries are to be re-introduced for all Primary PGCE programmes. Successful applicants with First class honours degrees will qualify for £9,000 whilst those with a 2.1 degree classification will be entitled to £5,000.

*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 will learn

You will spend most of your time learning how to teach in schools linked to our network of partner teaching schools. Located across the Midlands they will work together in clusters to support you on placement. The placements and enhanced school opportunities will provide you with challenging and exciting experiences. You will also spend time here at the University working in our excellent facilities with University and school-based tutors, in order to develop your growing understanding of what it takes to become a great teacher.

How you're assessed

You will spend most of your time learning how to teach in schools linked to our network of partner teaching schools. Located across the Midlands they will work together in clusters to support you on placement. The placements and enhanced school opportunities will provide you with challenging and exciting experiences. You will also spend time here at the University working in our excellent facilities with University and school-based tutors, in order to develop your growing understanding of what it takes to become a great teacher.

Careers and employability

Upon completing this course you will have gained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). By choosing teaching as a career, you will have
chosen an important and satisfying profession as well as a challenging and rewarding journey through life. When you have completed this course you will have gained 60 credits at masters level, which means you can fast track to stage two of a masters degree, quickly progressing your professional development.

Contact details

General enquiries about admissions and applications

T: +44 (0)1332 591167
F: +44 (0)1332 597724
E: askadmissions@derby.ac.uk

‌Course enquiries

Contact name: Des Hewitt

T: +44 (0)1332 591703

 

Where will I study?

In local schools and Derby Campus, Kedleston Road