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Train as a primary school teacher part-time while continuing in your current job or placement in a school. Inspire young people and use your skills to give something back. Ensure every pupil gets access to a quality education and the opportunity to succeed.
This part-time primary teacher training course can be studied over two years and placements must be undertaken wholly in England. The degree is taught online via distance learning with some focused on-campus learning sessions and classroom-based practice in school. The PGCE Primary Education course is designed to fit around your commitments whilst leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
The part-time PGCE course covers the development of teaching and learning across all National Curriculum subjects and Professional Learning – including safeguarding, behaviour management and overcoming barriers to learning. You will complete Practice of Teaching modules where you will develop your theoretical understanding in practical situations in Early Years and/or primary classrooms to prepare you for achieving QTS. You will have the opportunity to specialise in the 3-7 years route or the 7-11 years route, leading to a PGCE in Primary Education with QTS.
The part-time PGCE Primary Education course is taught through online and distance learning methods, face to face lectures and workshops, and online forums with personal tutors. You will also engage in work-based training through bespoke teaching placements. Assessment is through a range of methods including electronic assignment submissions, case studies, observations, presentations and production, and evaluation of learning resources.
You will be expected to study approximately 16 hours a week. You will spend two weekends on campus, one in Year 1 and one in Year 2. In order to be eligible for the award of PGCE with QTS, you must also spend a minimum of 120 days in school.
Although you can complete your teaching placement in the school you currently work in, as part of your assessed placement, you will be required to complete six weeks in a different school setting during your second year of study. You will need to be able to negotiate time away from your current employer for these six weeks.
Prior to starting this part-time PGCE course, you may wish to carry out a five-day pre-programme placement, assisting and observing in a primary school of your own choice, with a focus on your elected route. This ensures that all students starting the course have recent and relevant experience in school settings, which will subsequently be built upon during lectures at the University and in the teaching practice that follows. During the pre-programme placement, you will complete a pre-placement handbook, which is used as a record of the tasks carried out and a starting point for discussion with your personal tutor.
Researching the various types of teacher training qualifications can be a struggle, so what really is the difference between PGCE and QTS, and which is the most suitable for you? We’re giving you a breakdown of each of these qualifications to help you make an informed decision when choosing your teacher training course.
Read more about the differences between PGCE and QTS
Teaching placements are an integral part of your initial teacher training, and we offer placement opportunities across several of our undergraduate and postgraduate education courses so you can gain relevant work experience. Discover more about what to expect on your teaching placement including how to prepare, the skills and knowledge you’ll gain, and the support you’ll receive.
Learn what to expect on your teaching placement
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Find out more about primary education.
We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.
You'll usually need a 2:2 (or above) honours degree from a UK Higher Education institution or an equivalent qualification and be deemed suitable to train to teach by the School of Education at the University of Sunderland.
You must have a grade C or above in mathematics, science, and English language, or equivalent qualifications. If you've studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade, you'll need to achieve a grade 4 or above. We'll only accept equivalencies from equivalencytesting.com.
In addition to academic qualifications, you must also:
Your numeracy and literacy competency will be assessed continuously throughout the course following the DfE’s removal of the Professional Skills Test.
You may have work experience in a mainstream primary school to gain knowledge of Key Stage 1 and 2, but this isn't essential. You'll be assessed on your potential to learn and not your experience.
All successful applicants will be invited to an interview. Interviews start early November, so we recommend that you apply as soon as UCAS opens in October.
Please note, applicants with a foundation degree will need to supplement this qualification with at least 60 credits at level 6 (HE level 3) in order to attain an equivalent single qualification.
This course is subject to revalidation to meet the requirements for Initial Teacher Training from 2024.
Fees are £4,625.
Please note, applications are not open to international students.
If you're not sure whether you qualify as a UK, EU, or international student, find out more in our Help and Advice article.
Tuition fees for this course are eligible for funding through the Student Loans Company (SLC). Please apply through the SLC’s website, or contact our Student Financial Guidance team.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
This degree awards Qualified Teacher Status, which means that when you graduate you’ll be qualified to teach in any state-maintained primary school in England. Most graduates from this course go on to become a primary school teacher.
Good teachers area always in high demand. All qualified teachers will have a starting salary of at least £30,000, and this will be higher for teachers working in London. The amount you earn will then increase until you reach the top end of your pay scale, after which you can choose to progress into more senior roles, such as leading practitioner or head teacher.
The teachers’ pension scheme is also one of the most generous public sector pension schemes in the UK, one of the few guaranteed by the Government.
The University of Sunderland has partnerships with over 650 schools, colleges and other educational establishments across the North East and beyond. We’ll work with you to try and find you the perfect teaching placement – schools that can nurture and support your aspirations and interests, and help you become the best primary school teacher you can be. When you’re ready to start searching for a teaching job, you will already have valuable first-hand teaching experience, as well as a wide network of professional contacts who can help you find the right career opportunities.
