BA (Hons) Education (Accelerated Degree)

Childhood to Adulthood

This dynamic module explores the journey of human development from conception through to adulthood, equipping you with a deep understanding of how individuals grow, change, and adapt across the lifespan.

You will examine the cognitive, social, physical, and emotional transformations that shape identity and experience, and consider how these changes influence behaviour, learning, and wellbeing in an increasingly complex and evolving world. 

Bringing theory to life, the module introduces key psychological perspectives on development and encourages evaluation of their relevance across diverse cultural contexts. You will gain insight into how development is experienced differently around the world, fostering a global and inclusive perspective. 

Through the exploration of real-world contexts—including a range of educational settings—you will develop the skills to apply theoretical knowledge to practice.

By the end of the module, you will be able to critically analyse developmental processes and transitions and understand their implications for individuals across different life stages.

Learning Communities – Children Learning, Children Thinking

This module explores the sociological influences relating to our success as learners.

You will use research on thinking, learning and development to consider how individuals can maximise learning opportunities for themselves and help others to learn.

In addition, you will explore influences on learning, development and identity and discuss how learners are included or excluded from education settings.

Central to the module is a sociocultural perspective on learning and education that looks beyond the individual to communities and the historical contexts in which learning takes place.

Science and Society

This module aims to explore the key theoretical and pedagogic knowledge and attitudes related to the learning of science in schools and early years settings, so that it is possible to build a scientifically literate population.

The module seeks to develop your understanding of the importance of science in society and educational settings, and how science capital may be fostered and developed.

In this module, you will explore science-specific pedagogy to engage learners in science learning episodes. This will involve you learning how to use the ‘outside classroom’ to teach and foster engagement.

You will consider the importance of cognitive science in the learning process, and you will identify how theory and practice are linked and how research informs practice. 

Forest Schools Principles and Practices

A forest school is a journey of self-discovery and awareness in the outdoors in which participants are given the freedom to explore their surroundings, themselves and others through their curiosity and imagination.

The approach is heralded by some as inspirational but described by others as re-branding of old ideas giving questionable impact.

This module explores principles that underpin the forest school approach and reflects on evidence for its effectiveness.

Diversity and Inclusion in Contemporary Education

This module aims to explore issues of equality and diversity within the context of contemporary education. Individual differences and attitudes towards these within contemporary education are explored in relation to other relevant contextual influences such as culture, policy and social systems.  

Inclusion, as a complex and contested concept, is examined in relation to individual differences, identity, and educational policy and practice.

The module will examine issues central to inclusion, human rights, equal opportunities and social justice. It will examine patterns of inequality and theoretical models will be used to inform analysis of contemporary policy and practice.  

Educational Perspectives

This thought-provoking module introduces you to the key ideas, movements, and debates that have shaped education over time. Drawing on historical, philosophical, sociological, psychological, and ideological perspectives, you will explore how different ways of thinking have influenced what education is, who it is for, and what it should achieve. 

You will critically engage with fundamental questions such as: What knowledge is most valuable? What should children learn—and why? How do political and social forces shape education?

Through examining competing perspectives, including child-centred, vocational, and critical approaches, you will begin to develop your own informed stance on the purpose and future of education. 

Speech, Language and Communication

This module explores speech, language and communication as fundamental aspects of human interaction, participation and human rights, recognising diverse ways in which people communicate and make meaning.

Grounded in a rights-based and inclusive framework, it moves beyond deficit-oriented and diagnostic models to focus on removing barriers within environments rather than locating difficulty solely within the individual. 

You will develop an understanding of the wide range of speech, language and communication profiles across all learners, and how these are shaped by social, cultural and educational contexts.

Emphasis is placed on universal and targeted approaches to communication-supportive practice, including the design of inclusive classroom environments, the use of visual supports, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), digital technologies, and multimodal forms of expression.

The World of Play

Compulsory module

More information on this module coming soon.

Professional Placement

You will undertake a placement experience in an education setting of your choice to broaden your knowledge and understanding of a range of educational contexts and develop insights beyond the classroom. 

Such placements might include time spent supporting individuals or groups in a SEND or early childhood context, or in another organisation with an educational element, for example, a theatre or museum.

This module might place you away from the university in a location contrasting sharply with West Sussex and chosen for its unfamiliarity and challenge; this may even be outside of the UK. In this environment, students will have the opportunity to look, think and question.

Using diverse evidence, you will build your understanding of the nature of education in that place. You will be introduced to the importance of context in education and the complexities of education at large.

You will be responsible for organising and then completing a placement , researching a mutually agreed topic and question. 

Exploring the Curriculum

This exciting module brings the foundation subjects to life, exploring how they inspire children and young adults to develop cultural awareness, historical understanding, and ethical insight.

You will discover how subjects such as history, languages, and religious education ignite curiosity about the world and help children make sense of diverse cultures, beliefs, and lived experiences. 

Through engaging with distinctive concepts and creative pedagogical approaches, you will explore how powerful approaches can spark imagination and deepen understanding.

The module encourages you to think critically about how we learn, why these subjects matter, and how teaching them in creative and meaningful ways can have a lasting impact. 

You will build your knowledge through discussion, research, and critical engagement with current educational evidence, developing confidence in connecting theory with practice.

You will also explore how to design learning experiences that foster curiosity, respect, and appreciation of different worldviews. 

By the end of the module, you will be equipped not only with a strong understanding of the foundation subjects, but also with the ability to critically evaluate how they are taught and to champion creative, inspiring approaches that enrich children’s learning and broaden their horizons.

Professionalism and Collaborative Practice

This module will enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of working in different contexts with children and young people who have a Special Educational Need and/or Disability (SEND), and their families.

You will examine the roles of key professionals in health, education and the social care, and how they need to coordinate their services to benefit families and individuals who have a SEND.

You will consider the importance of collaborative practice between professionals from different agencies.

Global Citizenship

This module meets the aspiration in the University of Chichester’s Vision Statement that our students should become Global Citizens. You will have the opportunity to critically engage with some of the key global issues of our time and learn to think beyond your immediate locality about how you are connected with people and environments that you may never have seen. You will examine the link between values, equality, rights and education.

Creative Approaches to Primary English and Mathematics

This module will inspire you to reflect on key themes that underpin creative English and mathematics education in the primary school.

Themes may include: curiosity and enjoyment, play and exploration, power and justice, meaning and understanding, pedagogical approaches, and inclusive practices.   

You will reflect on key ideas and concepts, and how these are translated into creative educational practices and curriculum design. 

Mental Health and Wellbeing

This module investigates the importance of good social, emotional and mental health for children, young people and into adulthood. It will examine the current climate of children’s mental health in the UK and in comparison, to other countries. You will consider some of the features in school environments that might result in poor mental health. It will also consider cultural influences on a decline in mental health in the population of the UK.

Creativity, Technology and Learning

This module will enable you to investigate, both academically and practically, how innovative technologies can be used in learning and teaching in a wide variety of mainstream and specialist educational settings.

Independent Project

This module aims to provide a context in which you can broaden and deepen your knowledge and understanding of an educational topic as well as the importance of research within educational contexts.

Areas of interest will be identified, developed and refined into a research project.

During this process, students will be provided with guidance and support to raise awareness of different approaches to the investigation and presentation of their project.