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Primary Education with QTS (School-Based) BA (Hons) (Edge Hill University)

Course Information

Course TypeUniversity Centre

Course LevelPGCE

Duration4 Years, part-time

Ehu detailed colour 200 Ofsted outstanding op colour

University: This course is delivered and validated by Edge Hill University.

Start Date: September 2025

Gain recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status as you develop the skills, knowledge and professional experience required to inspire children aged 5-11 on a degree that enables you to combine working or volunteering in a primary school with academic study.

Course Information

Successful completion of the programme leads to recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Become the inspiring, creative teacher that young children will always remember. On our part-time Primary Education degree, you will develop as a professional with all the qualities needed for a rewarding and challenging role nurturing young minds aged 5-11. This part-time initial teacher training programme is suitable for those who have experience of working in a school, such as higher level teaching assistants (HLTAs) or learning mentors. It is delivered through weekly campus-based sessions at Holy Cross College and University Centre (Bury).

You will gain practical experience and develop your own individual teaching personality and personal principles, along with the essential professional skills, knowledge and understanding required for a career in primary teaching. You will study in a dynamic teaching and learning environment where expert university and school-based colleagues work side by side to ensure that you have the best possible initial teacher training experience. Successful completion of the programme leads to recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status.

What will I study (thematic summary)?

There are three core pillars which are central to all our Initial Teacher Education (ITE) provision:

1. Personal and professional attitudes, values and beliefs.

2. Subject and curriculum knowledge.

3. The craft of teaching and pedagogy.

In accordance with these, this programme seeks to develop:

1. Resilient and ethical teachers with a self-reflexive understanding of educational values and purposes that will sustain them throughout their professional career.

2. Subject experts with a firm understanding of the specifics of teaching and curriculum design in their specialist subject(s) and age phase

3. Expert professionals with the research literacy and intellectual confidence to engage critically and responsibly with the latest developments in educational research and policy.

How will I study?

When you join this part-time programme, you must be employed or volunteering for a minimum of one day per week in a primary school. Your head teacher must agree to support your progress with the degree for the duration of the course. This will include support to attend sessions and release to attend up to three full-time professional placements.

Your learning experience will include lectures, seminars, workshop sessions and tutorials. This campus- based study will be supported by independent study through the virtual learning environment.

You will also undertake Intensive Training and Practice (ITAP) as a specific and focused element of our teacher training curriculum. This is designed to consolidate your knowledge for effective teaching, and enable you to rehearse and obtain feedback from experts on your practice. Our ITAPs are designed to utilise the latest research and technology as well as draw on the outstanding mentors, tutors, and teacher expertise from across the partnership.

University-based activities will be planned as weekly sessions on campus. At Holy Cross College and University Centre (Bury), you will study two twilights per week. Your university-based experiences will be underpinned by reference to current research with some modules giving you the opportunity to engage with your tutors’ current research interests and projects.

During your course you will undertake 3 formally assessed professional practices. These are required to be in two different schools and in both key stages. Therefore, subject to eligibility, two of the professional practices may be in your own school and one is required to be in an alternative school. During these experiences you will have opportunities to observe the work of expert practitioners. You will reflect on and discuss this practice with those practitioners and your trained school-based mentor. As you take on increasing responsibilities for children’s learning and development, you will start by working with small groups under the direction of the class teacher and progress to planning for and working with the whole class for significant periods of time, managing the learning of every child.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment strategies will include submitting portfolios of school-based work, written assignments, poster presentations, and group and individual oral presentations.

During professional practice your school-based mentor will assess your development through reflective conversations, reviewing and discussing your planning and assessment records, observing your teaching, and gathering the perspectives of other adults and of the children who work with you.

In all cases, you will be given clear assessment guidance. The assessment criteria will be shared with you and you will be given constructive feedback to help you to set targets and identify actions to help you make further progress. You will compile an electronic portfolio throughout your degree that builds to become a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate your professional development and your ability to meet the Teachers’ Standards.

There are no formal written examinations as part of the current assessment methods on this programme

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by a range of highly qualified and experienced teachers and tutors who are dedicated to excellence in primary education and who will model high quality practice to enable you to develop your own teaching style.

Alongside the Mentor Leadership Team, you will be guided by Edge Hill lead mentors, they play an important part in your teacher training as experts in their field. They have a deep knowledge of the trainee curriculum and support trainees and mentors to make progress providing guidance and support on aspects of the curriculum and assessment.

You will be supported by a partnership trainer in school and a Personal Tutor who will help you to manage your workload, engage with your academic studies, prepare for professional practice placements and secure your first teaching post.