Achieve your ambitions on one of the country’s top teacher training courses. We’ll work with you to ensure you become the best teacher you can be.
- Join a degree which has won national recognition for quality: we’ve received an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating
- Boost your career prospects: for the past three years, 100% of our BEd (Hons) Primary Education graduates have gone on to work or further study within six months of completing their degree
- Enjoy exciting school placements where you can develop your professional skills and enhance your employability
- Personalise your degree to match your interests by choosing from our range of curriculum enhancement pathways
- Learn from an experienced, lively and caring teaching team who are committed to your success: in the latest Newly Qualified Teacher Survey, our students rated their training as among the best in the country.
You may also be interested in our four-year Integrated Masters in Education (MEdu) (in curriculum enhancement) with Qualified Teacher Status.
If you already know you’d like to become a primary teacher, this course is an excellent choice. It combines a highly regarded honours degree with the recommendation of the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) – so you’ll be able to go straight into your first teaching position when you graduate.
This course enjoys a strong reputation locally, nationally and internationally. Supported by a large partnership of quality assured primary, infant, junior, middle and special schools, you will undertake school-based as well as university-based training as stipulated by the National College (NCTL).
Our BEd (Hons) Primary Eduation with QTS degree aims to:
- Develop outstanding teachers within the primary age phase who are resilient, critical, and reflective classroom practitioners, and who have the confidence to challenge policy, practice and ways of teaching
- Equip you with advanced teaching and academic skills to support professional and transformative practice that is inclusive and sensitive to the learning needs of children to ensure good outcomes for all
- Foster an inquiry based approach to the understanding of methods of teaching, subject knowledge and skills
- Develop an understanding of inspirational and innovative classroom practice to motivate, challenge and empower learners
- Establish your personal and professional philosophy of education which will underpin practice
- Harness knowledge, skills and understanding to effectively lead, manage and work collaboratively with other professionals, agencies and the wider community to ensure the wellbeing and holistic development of all learners
Exciting and varied placements
We’re passionate about making sure you’re ready for your new career in teaching. You’ll undertake a placement in a different school at each stage of the course. Throughout your placements you’ll receive ongoing mentor support from experienced teachers.
You’ll build your skills working with children in different year groups so that you can understand the whole primary phase. The course also includes experience in a special educational needs setting, so that you can appreciate and respond to the diverse needs of children.
We have a dedicated Placement Unit who will help you find the right opportunities and settings, drawing on our partnerships with around 400 schools across the region.
To enhance your placement experience, you’ll have access to an array of classroom resources made available through Derby Library Services for a small fee per item. Our students have enriched their teaching by borrowing everything from story boxes to a full suit of armour and a Chinese dragon.
A degree tailored to your interests
There are opportunities to personalise your degree to reflect your professional interests and career ambitions. At the start of your studies, you’ll gain a broad foundation of knowledge so that you can make more informed choices about the kind of teacher you want to become.
As the course progresses, you can then select curriculum enhancement pathways – possible choices may include English, Mathematics, Science and Computing, Humanities, SEND, Physical Activity and Creative Arts – and enjoy placements in alternative educational settings. In addition, you will conduct an Independent Study where you can research an area of your own interest in depth.
Experiences to inspire you
We provide you with rich and varied learning experiences beyond the classroom. Our students have undertaken fieldtrips to places as diverse as multi-faith centres, Elvaston Castle and the Thornton’s factory, for example. There may even be the opportunity for overseas school visits.
Social justice lies at the heart of our course and all our students are encouraged to give something back to the local community. You’ll take part in community projects working with children and staff in settings such as schools, charities, museums and galleries.
You can also contribute to our annual Charity Week, coming up with imaginative ways to raise money for good causes.
A vibrant community
We pride ourselves on offering a friendly, welcoming learning environment where you will receive plenty of encouragement and guidance. The course attracts students from all ages and backgrounds, which makes for a dynamic and lively atmosphere.
Our tutors are approachable, dedicated and passionate about their subjects. You’ll be taught by influential researchers and published authors whose work is helping to shape the future of the teaching profession. You’ll also hear from visiting specialists who deliver thought-provoking guest lectures.
FAQs
If you have any questions, please see our FAQs page or feel free to get in touch.
You will study modules such as:
Stage one
- Professional Practice 1
- Child Development
- Mathematics and English: Starting Points for Learning and Teaching
- Science and Computing: Starting Points for Learning and Teaching
- Wider Curriculum: Starting Points for Learning and Teaching
- Keeping Safe
- Educational Theory, Policy and Practice
Stage two
- Professional Practice 2
- Mathematics and English: Progressing Learning and Teaching
- Science and Computing: Progressing Learning and Teaching
- Wider Curriculum: Progressing Learning and Teaching
- Diversity Matters
- Educational Settings
- Research Methods for Teacher Inquiry
Stage three
- Professional practice 3
- Curriculum Enhancement*
- English, Mathematics and Science: Enhancement of Learning and Teaching
- Professional Accountability
- Educational Inquiry
- Optional module – choose from:
- Conditions for Learning
- Inclusion: Making a Difference
- Curriculum Design
Possible choices for Curriculum Enhancement may include Creative Arts, English, Mathematics, Science and Computing, SEND, Primary Foreign Languages, Physical Activity and Humanities.
You’ll learn through lectures, workshops, seminars, tutorials, guest speakers, and creative partners in our primary education facilities. Your studies will consist of both university-based and school-based education. School placements are a vital part of your development, and you’ll also have the opportunity to broaden your experiences through museum visits, overseas school visits, and visits to special educational needs settings, early years and Key Stage 3 settings.
Work placements
During the course, you'll spend approximately 26 weeks on placement in a number of different schools. This will include a mixture of placements from EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) through to the end of Key Stage 2. You will also complete a placement in a special educational needs setting to help build your skills when working with diverse groups.
How you're assessed
There are no exams, so you’ll be assessed through essays, personal reflections, presentations, posters, reports, tests, and audits. There is an assessed school placement every year.
September 2018 typical entry requirements
| UCAS points | 120-128 (up to 16 from AS-levels) |
| Specific requirements at A-level | N/A |
| Specific requirements at GCSE | Five GCSEs at or above Grade C (or Grade 4), including Maths, English Language and a Science (there are currently a range of equivalences which can be considered. Please contact our Admissions team if you need clarification). |
| Interview / Audition | Yes - see interview details Yes - please see below |
| Portfolio | N/A |
If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.
You’ll be required to attend an interview at the University. You must also meet all of the National College for Teaching and Leadership entry requirements for Initial Teacher Education courses, which include completion of an Occupational Health Questionnaire and completion of the Skills Tests prior to the start of the course. This process begins upon application, but you must have registered for the tests prior to your interview. You must have passed your Skills Tests before 1 August to secure your place on an Initial Teacher Education course.
If you have lived outside of the UK in the past five years (excluding holidays), you will need to provide a current satisfactory Certificate of Good Conduct from the country you were resident in. You will need to submit this at your course induction. Further information can be found on the gov.uk website.
An Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service certificate cleared by the University is required for this course. We will contact you with information on how to complete this once you have applied. More information.
Our entry requirements for this course should be read together with the University's general entry requirements, which details subjects we accept, alternative qualifications and what we're looking for at Derby.
September 2019 typical entry requirements
| UCAS points | 128 (up to 16 from AS-levels) |
| Specific requirements at A-level | N/A |
| Specific requirements at GCSE | GCSEs at Grade C (or Grade 4) or above, including Maths, English Language and a Science (there are currently a range of equivalences which can be accepted. Please contact our Admissions team if you need clarification). |
| Interview / Audition | Yes - see interview details |
| Portfolio | N/A |
Alternative entry qualitications
- BTEC - DDM
- Access to HE Diploma 60 credits: 45 at level 3 with a minimum of Dist: 15 Merit: 24 Pass: 6
Only 24 points will be taken from A-level General Studies if this is used as the third A-level qualification. QTS Maths and English Skills Tests are needed. A good application/performance will be taken into account if you do not meet the criteria/offer conditions.
Additional requirements
A Prohibition List check will automaticially be carried our after we have received a Firm acceptance of an offer. Find out more about the Prohibition List check
A Disqualification by Association (DBA) statement is required for this course. In some circumstances an Ofsted Waiver may also be required. We will contact you with information on how to complete this when required. Find out more about the Disqualification by Association statement
An Occupational Health Assessment and Clearance by the University is required for this course. We will contact you with information on how to complete this when required. More information
An Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service certificate cleared by the University is required for this course. We will contact you with information on how to complete this once you have applied. More information.
Our entry requirements for this course should be read together with the University's general entry requirements, which details subjects we accept, alternative qualifications and what we're looking for at Derby.
Our newly qualified teachers are highly regarded within the education sector and our employability statistics speak for themselves. For the last three years, 100% of our Primary Education graduates have progressed to work or further study within six months of completing the course. Many go on to secure jobs at schools where they undertook their placements.
When you graduate, you could choose to continue studying with us by taking our MA Education course, which will help you to explore the wider impact of education and increase your confidence as a practitioner. The MA Education is especially valuable if you have set your sights on more senior roles such as head teacher or deputy head teacher.
As a newly qualified teacher, you can also benefit from the University’s continuing support as you take your career forward. We offer a range of resources, subject updates, events, conferences and development opportunities to ease your transition into professional practice.
Download programme specification
Teaching hours
Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.
Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.
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