PGCE Primary
When can you start this course? | Course code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements
Why choose this course?
- We were delighted to receive 'Outstanding' Ofsted results in May 2010 for our PGCE course - the highest results Ofsted can record. So you can ensure you'll receive an excellent teaching experience.
- This year we came joint third best in the country for student satisfaction in Initial Teacher Training, with 94% of our students saying they were highly satisfied with our course.
- 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.
About the course
You're on the threshold of making one of the most exciting decisions of your life - to teach! Studying our PGCE Primary will prepare you for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) allowing you to move straight into a teaching career once you've graduated. You'll be trained to teach all the subjects in the primary curriculum, including the core and foundation subjects.
Depending on your preference and prior experience, and subject to governmental funding decisions, you may choose to specialise in either the 3-7 or 5-11 age range or the 5-11 age range with French. To fit your studies around your other commitments, you can choose our 'flexible' route which can be completed between two and three years. This means you can develop a personalised training plan which we'll put together with you, to fit study around your needs and our teaching schedule.
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.
Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...Your career
By choosing teaching as a career, you'll have chosen an important and satisfying profession as well as a challenging and rewarding journey through life. Having a PGCE qualification remains highly respected and 97% of our trainees are successfully appointed to teaching posts six months after graduating. We also have strong links with several local authorities, giving a wide range of opportunities for both newly qualified and more experienced teachers.
During your PGCE you'll complete elements which are assessed at postgraduate level so your PGCE can contribute directly to a masters degree such as our MA Education course. This means that you can fast track to stage two of a Masters degree, allowing you to quickly progress your professional development and further your educational career.
Recent graduate Leanne Gotheridge comments about the course:
"The PGCE Primary course at Derby is fantastic! There are so many opportunities to widen your knowledge and experience of teaching here. The staff are extremely supportive in the experience, and helped me to realise and reach my full potential."
What our students say
"I really enjoy the challenges that this course brings. It has helped me to develop my confidence and I have made lots of great friends."
Adrian Patmore, current student
"I felt nervous about giving up my job of the last seven years, but I needed a new challenge. This course certainly provides that. It is hard work but ultimately, very rewarding."
Jo Stringer, current student
"The commitment shown by the lecturers really gives you the support and motivation you need to get through."
PGCE Trainee
"When I actually came to Derby, they gave you the confidence to tackle areas you might not have thought were your best, like doing presentations to groups or working in teams - all the kinds of things you will use in teaching."
PGCE Trainee
How you'll learn
Possible routes through the PGCE course:
- PGCE 3-7 (Early Years Foundation Stage and KS1)
- PGCE 5-11 (KS1 and 2)
- PGCE 3-7 (Early Years Foundation Stage and KS1) Flexible
- PGCE 5-11 (KS1 and 2) Flexible
- PGCE 5-11 (KS1 and 2 with French) Flexible (NB: French cannot be dropped)
Lectures, tutorials, seminars, school placements, e-learning and independent study.
How you're assessed
Minimum of 18 weeks in total in different schools.
Two placements organised by the University (according to the age range for the training).
Each placement a new school, in a different key stage.
Anything else?
There is a pre-induction day at the beginning of July and the course starts in September.
Applying
Applications should be made through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). Please see www.gttr.ac.uk for further information.
Once you've applied for this course, we'll keep in touch with you through emails to ensure you receive all of the necessary information during the application process. So, please make sure you provide us with the correct email address or let us know if it changes, and remember to check your emails (and spam folder) regularly.
Visit our education website to find more information on our current students, facilities and the staff you'll meet when studying on this course.
Start dates
If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:
- September 2012
If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:
- September 2012
Course code
X110 (Primary 3-7)
X171 (Primary 5-11)
XR11 (Primary 5-11 with French)
Fees*
Full time UK/EU students
- This is a specialist course and will cost £7,995 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 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.
More information about our fees for September 2012 and the support available
Course length
Full time: 1 year (with the possibility of study up to 3 years for those holding a 'flexible' place).
Our Primary PGCE Flexible Route allows students on any of the phase pathways (3-7, 5-11 or 7-11) to complete approximately half their modules in Year 1 and half in Year 2, with one assessed placement in each year. For at least 12 weeks in each year (during induction and school placements) 'flexible' students are required to attend full time. During the remainder of the years, standard university weeks will demand the equivalent of 2 days attendance. The timing of those 2 days (equivalent) and of school placements relates closely to the timetable followed by full time students which will be finalised by July 2012. Applicants are not required to express interest in our Flexible Route until and unless they are invited to interview.
You'll complete a training plan, which outlines the length and content of your programme (in most cases this will cover the full range of modules). If you take the flexible route, you will be able to tailor your programme within the opportunities offered at the University.
Entry requirements
You must apply for this course through GTTR - visit www.gttr.ac.uk for details. You must have a ...
