Find out more about studying Primary (General) PGCE at University of Staffordshire? We've gathered all the key details, entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate of Education
Stoke-on-Trent Campus
Full Time
Sep 2027
9 Month
As a primary school teacher, it will be your responsibility to inspire children, give them the basic skills they need for their future and make learning exciting.We’ve designed this course to help you understand how children learn. You’ll develop the skills you need to make sure your students get the best start.Throughout your training, you’ll get hands-on experience on placement, join professional studies sessions, and attend curriculum workshops.From getting the most out of your induction, to tips on teaching your first lesson, your personal tutor will be there to support you every step of your Primary PGCE journey.Our Primary PGCE takes 36 weeks to complete. You’ll spend 12 weeks of this time studying on campus. This will include a one-week induction to prepare you for placement, and sessions to develop your knowledge of the curriculum.. To give you experience in the classroom, you’ll spend at least 120 days working in two local schools. But, don’t worry, you won’t have the pressure of teaching an entire lesson straight away. Your training will begin with observing a teacher and helping with group work. Then you’ll share the classes with the teacher and work towards teaching lessons independently.CareersWith a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you’ll be ready to teach in primary schools across England. Most of our graduates find their first teaching position soon after they qualify. Many of them secure roles in our partnership schools. After you’ve completed this course, you can join our Masters in Education. Your PGCE gives you Masters credits which means you’ll be fast tracked and can complete this course by the end of your second year of teaching.
This module gives you opportunities to explore the place and role of your subject within the School Curriculum. You will explore the aims and objectives of subject education; subject curriculum history and current curriculum debate; and the nature of subject learning. This will be explored through a variety of contexts: KS5, KS4, KS3, 2, 1 and Early Years; and academic and vocational dimensions. You will also explore links with other subject areas and cross curricular issues, recent curriculum developments and potential future directions.This module also prepares you for Learning and Teaching. In this element of the module you will learn about setting learning objectives and lesson planning; how to develop learning resources; preparing a series of lessons and issues in progression; teaching strategies and common student misconceptions. You will also explore subject knowledge in the context of age, level, ability and programme of study and building challenge into subject learning.
Placements allow trainees to train in real-life situations. Each trainee will work closely with a school-based mentor and will observe experienced teachers in their day-to-day role and collaborate with others in planning, delivering and reviewing lessons.
This module is an impact action research project where you will identify a particular aspect of inclusion and evaluate the impact policies and practices implemented by your current placement school. You will learn how to conduct educational research and look at a variety of different methods of communicating your action research. This will enable you to compile a formal report justifying proposed practice developments regarding a specific aspect of inclusive practice at your placement, empowering you to make critically informed recommendations for improvement. In terms of developing your inclusive practice, specific topics to be covered include: Behaviour Equality, Diversity and Inclusion During this module you will also learn and develop your understanding of the following: How to conduct a small-scale research project Use of technology to create digital posters Critical use of literature and research Data methodologies and ethical considerations (differences between quantitative and qualitative data, methods of collection and interpretation of different types of data).
Placements allow trainees to train in real-life situations. Each trainee will work closely with a school-based mentor and will observe experienced teachers in their day-to-day role and collaborate with others in planning, delivering and reviewing lessons.
