PGCE Primary (5-11)
Become a qualified primary school teacher for ages 5-11
Become a qualified primary school teacher for ages 5-11
- Qualify as a primary teacher in just one year
- Learn at a university with over 180 years' experience in teacher training
- Blend of professional placements and creative theoretical teaching
- Smaller class sizes for better learning
Overview
Qualify as a primary school teacher in just one year
Learn the art of teaching
You will focus on teaching the primary curriculum and will receive high-quality training in partnership with local schools to build your classroom experience.
This is achieved through the study of knowledge, skills and attitudes required in the teaching profession, the fundamentals of the national curriculum and a dedicated focus on the development of your understanding of the role of the primary teacher.
In addition, you will gain vital hands-on experience of working within the classroom through our 120-day school placement programme, which will develop your confidence and competence to teach effectively.
As part of the PGCE course you will develop your knowledge and understanding of inclusive practice to meet the needs of all learners. During a two-week enhanced placement in a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) setting, you will be able to apply your understanding of key pedagogies and theories and deepen your knowledge of specialist provision by working with expert colleagues.
After successful completion, you will be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) so that you can begin working as a teacher in a primary school.
Outstanding Ofsted provider
The University of Chichester is proud to have received a rating of Outstanding from Ofsted at its inspection this year.
The Ofsted report recognised that “trainees leave very well-placed to continue on their journey towards being aspirational, inspirational and motivational teachers.”
“…trainees flourish at the University of Chichester and develop into skilled and knowledgeable global citizens.”
“University and school staff support trainees to thrive through their highly effective ‘team around the trainee’ approach.”
“Trainees value the nurturing family ethos at Chichester, with one trainee commenting, ‘they are there to catch you when you fall, but they are also there to stop you falling in the first place’.”
Ofsted Report 2023
Proud history of teacher training
The University of Chichester has been training teachers for over 180 years and we look to train employable professionals who can get out there and make a difference.
You will be taught by experienced education specialists and our dedication to small teaching groups allows you develop strong professional relationships with the University teaching team.
On this course you will:
- Gain Qualified Teacher Status upon completion of the course that will allow you to teach in primary schools in England and Wales.
- Develop your competence and confidence working within the classroom environment.
- Gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes required by the teaching profession.
- Understand the cornerstone of the national curriculum for primary education.
The Course
Develop your knowledge and understanding of teaching at primary school level
As a PGCE Primary student, you will learn the national curriculum and how to deliver it to young children in exciting and engaging ways.
You will learn the fundamentals of teaching English, maths and science, as well as the key theories of learning development to better understand how to ensure that all children can succeed and thrive in school.
You will also learn how to teach subjects that form the wider curriculum, including aspects of ICT/computing, PE, modern foreign languages, music, art, history, geography, design technology, religious education and drama
The university-based study is divided into three key areas which will develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required to plan and manage creative and effective lessons while ensuring that pupils of all abilities are motivated to learn.
This list is indicative and subject to change.
Core curriculum
You will study core curriculum modules that will develop your confidence and enjoyment of primary teaching:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
The course will equip you to take a critical and reflective view of each subject’s curriculum and pedagogies. You will develop a detailed understanding of the distinctive features of each subject area and explore relevant research concerning children’s learning in that subject.
By linking your learning to school experience, the module will promote the necessary understanding you need to plan, teach and assess the core curriculum effectively.
English
Read more to find out about the curriculum subject knowledge and skills that will be covered.
Curriculum subject knowledge:
- Literacy skills underpin the entire curriculum and stem from the ‘Communication and Language’ and ‘Literacy’ areas of the EYFS
- Three Programmes of Study in the English National Curriculum (Spoken Language, Reading, Writing) encompass four inextricably linked language modes: Speaking, listening, reading and writing
- A language-rich environment is essential and the teacher has a crucial role in developing vocabulary
- Reading comprises two elements: Word reading (decoding) and comprehension. The route to decoding words is through phonic knowledge
Knowledge and skills to be covered:
- Disciplinary knowledge: Knowledge of how skilled speakers, readers and writers create, shape and share meaning for different purposes and audiences, thinking both critically and creatively
- Substantive knowledge: Knowledge of a wide range of texts, language, grammar and punctuation (i.e. what is identified in the National Curriculum)
- The richness and scope of English: Through the use of high-quality texts, English can also make a significant contribution to children’s personal, moral, spiritual, social and cultural development
Maths
Read more to find out about the curriculum subject knowledge and skills that will be covered.
Curriculum subject knowledge:
- Developing understanding in spatial reasoning, pattern and connections, and number underpins the mathematical outcomes of the EYFS
- The aims of the mathematics curriculum (fluency, reasoning and problem solving) underpin all work on curriculum content
- Teachers should be aware of the progression in each strand of the primary national curriculum for mathematics, and the key concepts and vocabulary associated with these
Knowledge and skills to be covered:
- Substantive and syntactic knowledge relating to declarative, procedural and conditional subject-matter knowledge
- Pedagogical exploration draws on examples from across EYFS and primary curriculum content, through which key teaching and learning points are identified
- Understanding of different visuals and manipulatives available, and how these can be used most effectively to develop conceptual understanding
- Recognition of connections between mathematical strands and other curriculum subjects
- Anticipation of complexity, including development of strategies for adaptive teaching
- Knowledge of common misconceptions and how to address these
Science
Read more to find out about the curriculum subject knowledge and skills that will be covered.
Curriculum subject knowledge:
- Know how science emerges in Understanding the World in EYFS
- There are three disciplines the science National Curriculum: biology, chemistry and physics. Teachers should be familiar with the key concepts and vocabulary of all three areas
- Children regularly revisit concepts through a spiral curriculum, whereby themes are revisited periodically and each time explored in greater depth in order to develop and create more complex schemas
Knowledge and skills to be covered:
- Substantive and disciplinary knowledge
- Know how the different types of science enquiry can support children with their scientific understanding (develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science)
- Explore science capital; recognise and challenge stereotypes, assumptions and generalisations that are barriers to learning science
- Address and challenge misconceptions when teaching to help pupils master important concepts in science
- Have a depth and breadth of subject and pedagogical knowledge- including adaptive teaching that enables progressive and sequential learning across multiple science lessons
- Have a secure knowledge of how to foster and maintain pupils’ interest in science
Wider curriculum
In this module you will:
- Systematically identify the range of knowledge, skills and understanding children need to develop in the foundation subjects (wider curriculum), and know how to synthesise this into a holistic and creative approach to learning and teaching;
- Be able to critically evaluate a range of pedagogical approaches applied in the foundation curriculum, with reference to advanced scholarly activity, current research and inspection evidence to inform best practice in pedagogy;
- Systematically review and apply approaches to develop inclusive practices in the foundation curriculum that challenge disadvantage;
- Be a good role model by modelling high-quality oral and written language.
Professional studies
We’ll help you develop a deep understanding of the principles that underpin primary education. On this module you will:
- Demonstrate a systematic understanding of primary education and its underlying philosophies and theories, and a critical awareness of current problems and new insights regarding primary teaching, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of educational theory and practice
- Demonstrate a critical awareness of inclusion and knowledge of how to apply their understanding of pupils’ backgrounds and needs to engage, motivate and support learners to succeed
- Show originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge about pedagogy
- Demonstrate conceptual understanding that enables the student to evaluate critically current research, inspect evidence and advanced scholarship in education; and to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new applications to teaching
- Deal with complex pedagogic issues both systematically and creatively, make sound professional judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Continue to advance their knowledge and understanding through professional development, and to develop new skills to a high level
Modules
Core Curriculum
This module aims to develop your subject knowledge, enthusiasm for and enjoyment of English, mathematics and science.
You will begin to develop a critical understanding of the distinctive features of each subject area and the research concerning children’s learning in that subject. By linking your learning to your school experience, each component aims to promote the necessary competences and understanding your need to plan, teach and assess the core curriculum effectively.
The core curriculum module aims to enable you to begin to develop your own personal educational philosophies with regards to pedagogy, so that you can apply these in the classroom and articulate them to other professionals.
Core Curriculum English 1
This module introduces the relevant curriculum documentation and its interdependence, with a study of the development of children as speakers, listeners, readers and writers across the foundation and primary age range.
It will familiarise you with using the documents to plan appropriate learning outcomes and teaching and assessment strategies for shared, guided and independent work in communication, language and literacy/English.
It will help you to develop the subject knowledge necessary to teach the foundation and primary age range and to identify their personal development needs, through completion of a baseline audit and on-going profile of subject knowledge.
Core Curriculum English 2
This module examines the research and other evidence that has influenced the curriculum guidance for the foundation stage (CGFS), national curriculum (NC) and the national literacy strategy (NLS). This may include, for example, the work of Usha Goswami on phonological awareness; genre theory, e.g. the work of Bev Deriewanka, and Wray and Medwell’s work on effective teachers of literacy.
You will also look at using inspection evidence and data, e.g. assessment data from end of key stage tests, to formulate development work in classrooms.
You will focus specifically on the inclusive classroom, i.e. equal opportunities and supporting English as an additional language (EAL) and special educational needs (SEN) including high ability pupils, appropriately.
Core Curriculum Mathematics Module 1 – Teaching and Learning of Numbers
This module explores the underlying concepts and principles of the mathematics curriculum for numeracy. You will examine a wide range of topics, including the approaches to mental and written calculations, the appropriate use of calculators and understanding and managing pupil progression.
Core Curriculum Mathematics Module 2 – Successful Teaching and Learning of Mathematics
This module continues and expands your knowledge and understanding of how to teach mathematics successfully. You will understand how to teach mathematical reasoning, geometry, shape and space, data and probability, amongst others.
Core Curriculum Science
In this module, you will learn the key aspects to teaching science as part of the core curriculum. You will keep a science portfolio for recording progress in their science knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes (KUSA); for showing understanding of children’s learning in science; and recording experiences of managing and evaluating classroom science.
Professional Studies
This module develops your critical and rigorous understanding of the principles that underpin primary education. You will expand your knowledge and understanding of the nature of the primary curriculum and children’s developmental needs.
It will introduce and critique educational research methodology, analysis and ethics.
It will advance your abilities to critically apply such knowledge and understanding in a professional context through lesson planning, teaching, assessment and behaviour management and critical reflection on these.
A particular focus will be on issues of inclusion, equality and diversity and the module will develop your abilities to be able to apply your knowledge and understanding of such issues in the classroom.
Wider Curriculum
This module develops your critical understanding of and enthusiasm for the primary curriculum via the introduction of the foundation subjects.
For each of the foundation subjects, you will learn about their distinctiveness, associated pedagogies as well as addressing relevant subject knowledge. By linking your learning to your school experience, it will prepare you to plan, teach and assess the foundation subjects effectively.
You will develop a systematic knowledge and understanding of key curriculum and framework documents and a critical awareness of current issues and debates surrounding the primary curriculum.
You will consider the distinctive opportunities, challenges and concerns, associated with particular curriculum subjects as well as common issues, e.g. the development of creativity.
Classroom Resources
Over 20,000 classroom resources available to use on placement
As a PGCE Primary student, you will gain access to our dedicated library of teaching materials.
You can find thousands of classroom resources that you can borrow to use while on placement.
From posters to books, classroom kits to DVDs, our library of resources has options for all ages and needs.
You can take resources out for up to six weeks, and they can be taken on placement to aid with your teaching or help you develop your skills and confidence within our classroom environments.
All ages
Find resources that fit a variety of age ranges whether you are teaching early years, primary or secondary aged children.
Kits
Our collection of visual resources includes everything from model skeletons, fluffy toys, dress up outfits and replica war artefacts.
Posters
A wide range of posters are available on a number of topics to enhance visual displays at your school or nursery.
Dual language
Discover a large selection of French and Spanish books to aid students looking to teach modern foreign languages.
Big books
Borrow a large-sized book to ensure that everyone in your class can see the pictures.
Picture books
Choose from our large variety of picture books to share with your class.
Short stories and fiction
Explore our selection of short stories for the end of the day or to link to a major calendar event (e.g. Christmas, Halloween). We also have a large collection of longer fiction titles.
Experience
Discover dedicated facilities that help support your learning
Classroom resources
Discover over 20,000 classroom resources available to use on your placements and to support your academic learning.
University of Chichester Academy Trust
Utilise our network of 15 local schools to find work placement and future career opportunities.
Expert staff
Learn from experienced specialists in teacher training, all of whom have a background in education.
Close community
Our commitment to a friendly and close-knit student community contributes to a high degree of success for our graduates.
Learning Resource Centre
The Learning Resource centre (LRC) contains the library, a café, IT/teaching rooms and the Student Information Zone (SIZ).
Library
Our campus library holds more than 200,000 books and over 500,000 eBooks.
Subject specific librarians
If you have difficulty finding material for an essay, seminar or project, subject librarians will be happy to provide assistance.
Teaching and Assessment
Innovative teaching methods that develop your full potential as a future teacher
Teaching
We use strategies that are designed to enable you to effectively master a broad base of concepts, skills, knowledge and understanding that will inform your teaching practice.
You will join lectures and small seminars led by experienced tutors, in which discussion and debate are key to developing your knowledge and skills.
Our dedicated learning areas simulate real world classrooms, allowing you to become more familiar, confident and comfortable in teaching spaces ahead of your professional placements.
Many of our staff have a strong background within education and use their experience to inform their teaching, as they support your development into a professional and capable teacher.
Assessment
Your teaching is built to support your theoretical learning and and develop your communication skills, through essays, lesson plans, research reports, risk assessments or development plans.
Portfolio requirements
In order to qualify for the award of Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you must pass all school experiences and pass a 12,000-word portfolio at master’s level.
The portfolio consists of a number of tasks that you will complete during the year and share with your Academic Advisor.
They will provide feedback on your work and support you to achieve. Each of the tasks is designed to support your development as an early years teacher and is directly relevant to your practice in the classroom.
School experiences are assessed against the Teachers’ Standards – you will be regularly observed by your mentor and link tutor and will collect evidence of your progress.
School Placements
Gain vital experience as you develop your confidence at the heart of the classroom
The PGCE programme is taught in close partnership with a range of local schools. During the course, you will experience a number of different placements.
In addition, you will gain vital hands-on experience of working within the classroom through our 120-days (plus itaps) school placement programme, which will develop your confidence and competence to teach effectively.
At the start of the course, you will be teaching small groups of pupils. By the end, you’ll be teaching subjects across the curriculum to a whole class. During the extended placements, you will be supported by a school-based mentor and a link tutor from the University.
These placements develop your understanding of progression, inclusion and signature pedagogy.
These placements will usually provide distinctive opportunities in which to develop your professional and teaching skills.
In particular, efforts will be made to place you in schools with different organisational characteristics and in contrasting socio-economic catchment areas.
Careers
Take the first steps towards your career within early years education
This programme will enable you to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and work as an early years teacher.
While the vast majority of graduates choose to work in a primary school, in previous years, some students have been employed in secondary schools, special schools or the wider education sector.
Many of our previous students have progressed in their careers and now hold senior posts in their schools.
Course Costs
Course fees 2024/25
UK fee
International fee
For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fees page.
For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.
To find out about any additional costs on this course, please see our Additional Costs page.
Course specific costs
You will be required to have a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check costing £40 which needs to be paid for before the start of the course.
Entry Requirements
- Applicants will require an undergraduate honours degree or equivalent.
- C/4 or above in English Language, Mathematics and Science at GCSE level.
- Where relevant, IELTS 7.0 including 7.0 in academic writing with other components no less than 6.5 – or equivalent qualification.
GCSE requirements
We will consider applicants who are taking the relevant GCSEs whilst applying.
We would normally expect applicants to have taken and passed the full GCSE course, however in some circumstances we do accept equivalent qualifications or equivalency tests. Please note, however, that we are unable to accept Level 2 Functional Skills courses that do not cover the full breadth of a GCSE. If you are unable to enrol for the full GCSE course, please contact Admissions to discuss which equivalent qualification we may accept.
Personal statement
Your personal statement is important; it should convince us that you are serious about teaching as a career. You will need to demonstrate a strong awareness of the complex role of the teacher in supporting learning. You should ensure that you refer to any voluntary or paid experiences in schools or early years settings.
Interview
We pride ourselves on the interview experience. You’ll learn about the University and the course while we learn more about you and see your potential to teach.
The interview will be made up of the following elements:
- Registration, DBS and qualification checks
- Presentation from a university tutor
- Paired interviews.
DBS check
PGCE applicants are required to have an enhanced Disclosure Barring Service check which needs to be paid for before the start of the course.
Occupational Health Assessment
A satisfactory occupational health assessment is required.
Cost incurred during placements
School experiences are organised in our partnership schools which extend across East & West Sussex, Hampshire and Isle of Wight and into Surrey.
Travel to placements, which can be by car or public transport, varies but your commute will not usually exceed an hour from your term-time address to the placement school (assuming your term-time address is within our partnership area).
Students may receive a contribution towards travel costs depending upon the distance.
Whilst on School Experience appropriate professional dress will be required.
Students may wish to purchase a laptop/tablet to use whilst on school experience as schools are not required to provide these.
