PGDE (Primary)

PGDE (Primary) Overview

This PGDE (Primary) provides the formal teaching qualification for provisional registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). It gives you the skills, knowledge and experience to build a career as a primary school teacher.

You will cover a wide range of subjects that feature in the primary school curriculum including English/Literacy, Health and Wellbeing, and Mathematics/Numeracy.

The PGDE enables you to develop core skills in planning, teaching, assessment and evaluation strategies, classroom organisation, building relationships in the classroom, and contemporary issues in Scottish education.

Course Highlights

• You will gain practical experience through 18 weeks of school experience placements that occur in at least two primary schools or education and childcare settings within local authorities in Scotland

• Upon graduating, you will receive the formal teaching qualification necessary for provisional registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland – a requirement for entry into the guaranteed one-year Teacher Induction Scheme

Course Details

You will cover a wide range of subjects that feature in the primary school curriculum.

The PGDE Primary is an intense course, comprising 18 weeks of university teaching and 18 weeks of placement in primary schools. The main pedagogy is interactive lectures and workshops. Collaborative tasks and group learning are integral to the programme. 

The course comprises three core modules:

• The Primary Curriculum (core, 40 credits)

• School Experience (core, 40 credits)

• School and Professional Studies (core, 40 credits)

All modules are studies at SCQF Level 10. Students have the opportunity to be assessed at Level 11 in School and Professional Studies.

Course content

For the Professional Graduate Diploma Education (PGDE), you will study the following modules:

• PGDE (Primary) Curriculum (core, 40 credits)

• PGDE (Primary) School Experience (core, 40 credits)

Plus:

• PGDE School & Professional Studies (L10) (optional, 40 credits)

Or:

• PGDE School & Professional Studies (L11) (optional, 40 credits)

Teaching & assessment

The PGDE Primary programme is an intense course, comprising 18 weeks of university teaching and 18 weeks of placement in primary schools.

The main pedagogy is interactive lectures and workshops. Collaborative tasks and group learning are integral to the programme.

Assessment

The module Primary Curriculum is assessed by both examination and assignment.

The module School Experience is assessed based on the GTCS Standards for Provisional Registration.

The module School and Professional Studies is assessed by assignment.