University of Sunderland

Primary Education

* Exceptions may apply.  Please see Fees and Finance for further information.

Introduction

The three year BA (Hons) Primary Education, with QTS, enables you to become a qualified primary school teacher.

You develop the knowledge and competence needed to teach all subjects in the primary curriculum, across Key Stages 1 and 2 (5 – 11 year olds). In addition, you will also develop understanding of important professional issues, such as lesson planning and behaviours management.  At the end of the first year, you will choose an optional module route to study during years two and three of the programme. These modules are likely to be mathematics, science and modern foreign languages.

School Experience is an immensely valuable part of the programme.  Part of each year is spent in school-based placements, covering Key Stages 1 and 2.  The University of Sunderland works in partnership with a wide range of primary schools throughout the north east and during the three-year programme, you will undertake placements in a variety of settings and locations.

All applicants to this course are required to have undergone the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure process prior to commencement of study on their chosen programme.

Applicants are also required to complete a medical pro forma.

The provisions of DES Circular 9/93 concerning the disclosure of criminal convictions of those with access to children apply to all Education programmes.

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Course Content

Level 1

Core curriculum subjects

• Education Studies
• Foundation Subjects
• Study Skills (Transition to Higher Education)
• School Experience 1 (serial days and blocked experience)

Level 2

Core curriculum subjects

• Foundation Subjects
• Information and Communications Technology

Optional module

• School Experience 2 (serial days and blocked experience)

Level 3

Core curriculum subjects

• Recent Developments in Primary Education
• Curriculum Innovation Project

Optional module at level 3

• School Experience 3 (serial days and blocked experience)

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Entry Requirements

Our typical offer will be 300 points from a minimum of 3 A-levels/AVCEs or equivalent (e.g. 1 x AVCE double award). This should include at least one subject at B grade.

We also require five passes at GCSE grade C or above which must include Mathematics and English Language and Science

Scottish Highers: 300 points

Irish Leaving Certificate: 300 points

Access Course: We would require successful completion of a Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Access programme with a minimum DDD (excluding toolbox) and that you would have a minimum of GCSE grade C Mathematics, English and Science (or have obtained the equivalent as part of an Access to higher education course).

Note: Since 2000, all students undertaking any programme offering qualified teacher status are required to sit national Literacy, Numeracy and Information Communication Technology tests before being granted Qualified Teacher Status.

Entry to Teacher Training
Entry to Teacher Training programmes is governed by the following regulations:

All students must have passes at grade C or above in GCSE Mathematics and English or a recognised equivalent qualification. For Primary Education, applicants are also required to have Science at grade C or above.

Students who intend to follow a programme of Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) after graduation are reminded that entry to all such programmes is also governed by these regulations.

The latest requirements for initial teacher training include the requirements for a CRB check.

Provisions for medical assessments are based upon the DFEE Circular 8/92 and apply to all Education Programmes.

General Teaching Council (GTC) Requirements

There is, in addition a requirement to provisionally register with the GTC. Consequently, all applicants will be sent a self declaration pro forma, which must be completed and returned prior to registration on their chosen course. The University reserves the right to withdraw any conditional offer where the applicant does not meet the conditions specified by the GTC. Details may be obtained from the GTC website.

Applicants who are successful in their application will be offered an interview. This will be a group interview. Candidates who are subsequently offered a place on the programme will be notified in due course.

All successful applicants will be interviewed

Selection procedure

The purpose of the selection procedure is to find out whether teaching is the right career for you and to determine whether you have the ability, skills and personal qualities (including commitment and resilience), which are essential in order to become a primary school teacher.

Selection takes place in two stages:

Stage 1

• Introduction to the course and the University (Parents and Guests welcome)
• Maths and English tests
• Aptitude questionnaire

Candidates who are successful in the first stage of the process will be invited to progress to Stage 2.

Stage 2

• Group and individual interview – approximately six – eight candidates per group

On the day of the interview, you will be asked to prepare a two minute presentation on a topic chosen by the primary education team at the university. Resources and a time period will be provided to enable you to prepare. You will then present your work to your interview group. This important task provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to organise ideas around a set question, your awareness of current issues in education and your communication skills.   

In addition, you will engage in a short group task which assesses your capacity to work as part of a team.

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Fees and Finance

The fees for this course are as specified in the table at the top of the page.

Please note that different fees apply to students studying for "Equivalent or Lower Qualifications" (ELQs). For more information about ELQs, please see the page Information for applicants who already have an HE Qualification.

For information about University scholarships and bursaries please see the page Fees and Finance.

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Teaching and Assessment

Teaching

Teaching and learning takes place both in centre-based training (the University) and in partnership schools throughout the region.  Throughout the programme, you will experience the following contexts for learning;

• lectures
• workshops (students engage in practical tasks, such as Art and Design)
• tutorials (small group, or one-to-one)
• seminars
• group tasks (during lectures/seminars, or as part of a module assessment)
• video presentations
• practical tasks and activities
• use of ICT
• fieldwork (may include study visits to places of interest in the local area, eg. The Glass Centre)
• guided reading/directed study (reading tasks may be set in preparation for lectures)
• self-directed study (students direct their own learning, for example, when preparing for assessed pieces of work)
• observation
• self evaluation

During School Experience, you will work with the support of classroom practitioners, to carry out activities ranging from observation, to group and whole class teaching.

A strong emphasis is placed on the important partnership that exists between student, university and placement schools. 

Assessment

A range of assessment strategies is used throughout the programme, to ascertain the extent to which module outcomes have been achieved.   During School Experience, achievement is assessed through evidence provided for the TDA standards for QTS, which is validated by a school-based mentor, or university tutor.

Methods of assessment used in centre-based (university) may include;

• written assignments
• task/resource files
• presentations, individual and group
• annotated records
• portfolios
• poster display
• design tasks
• research project
• evaluation of teaching
• podcasts
• vodcasts

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Work Experience

School  Experience

During the three-year programme, you will spend at least 24 weeks in school settings.

In addition, you are required to complete a five-day pre-programme placement in a primary school of your choice.  This will take place before the taught element, based at the university, begins.  This placement must be carried out early in the autumn term of the year in which you start the programme, as previous experience cannot contribute to the five days required. 

School Experience is organised into serial days and a blocked phase.  The former is known as Theory Linked Practice days (TLPs), whereby weekly, one-day visits are made to a placement school, where tasks are carried out which link classroom practice with university modules.  TLP days will enable you to see how theories of teaching and learning are applied in schools and will provide you with opportunities to build confidence in working with children.

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Career Opportunities

Successful completion of the programme leads to both an honours degree and to qualified teacher status.

Most graduates go directly into the teaching profession.

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Facilities

*World Class Web/Design Tools*
The University of Sunderland has made a significant investment in providing students with access to the latest releases of Adobe products.

Selected PCs within the St Peter's and Murray Libraries have been pre-loaded with the Creative Suite 4 (CS4) Adobe Design Premium Suite for your exclusive use.

CS4 Creative includes key products such as Indesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver as well as Photoshop and a range of many others. 

Further information is available from:

http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/creativesuite/design/

For information regarding locations of PC or Macs within your own faculty that have access to Adobe products please contact your Faculty IT Support.

If you are interested in purchasing Adobe products for your own PC/Mac Adobe offer significant savings for student purchases via any of its approved re-sellers.

Please visit:

http://www.student-software.co.uk/

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Related Courses

• PGCE Primary Education (5-11 years)
• PGCE Primary Education with Enhancement in the Teaching of French (5-11 years)

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