Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Primary (3-7 or 5-11) (2024 Entry)

The Primary Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a high-quality programme founded on the Warwick Teacher Values of Social Justice, Intellectual Curiosity and Creativity. Warwick's Centre for Teacher Education has strong partnerships with schools across the region. With us you will become an effective and confident teacher and make a real difference to young people’s futures.

The course is fully accredited by the DfE and the ambitious curriculum both encompasses and goes beyond the ITT Core Content Framework.

Course overview

Our Primary Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) focuses on the 5-11 age range and our Early Years Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) focuses on the 3-7 age range. Our courses will develop you into a highly effective teacher, equipped with the values, skills, and knowledge to become a successful school leader.

On the course you will learn key pedagogic principles e.g. behaviour management, assessment for learning and how to meet the needs of all through creating an inclusive classroom.

You will develop your subject knowledge whilst learning how to plan and teach across all National Curriculum subjects, and the Foundation Stage Curriculum (Early Years Programme). Enhanced training in SEND teaching and learning is a distinctive aspect of our school and professional experience.

You will have access to excellent personal, academic and pastoral support. From our partner schools, you can expect a programme of mentor support and professional training and development, which complements the University-based elements of the course, and which will support your development of classroom practice.

In partnership with regional schools, we will ensure that you have the skills and knowledge needed to forge a strong personal and professional identity, which you will continue to develop throughout your career. The Warwick Teacher Values, of Social Justice, Intellectual Curiosity and Creativity run through all our programmes.

Core modules

Professional Enquiry

This module is concerned with pedagogy – the method and practice of teaching. It addresses central issues such as, teaching methods, how children learn, meeting individual needs, assessment, adaptative teaching and behaviour management. The module includes input from specialist teachers and will help you develop teaching that is effective and inclusive of all learners.

Subject Studies

This module focuses on the evidence base, subject knowledge and practice of teaching all the subjects across the curriculum for your chosen age phase.

Primary students are trained to teach the Core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, as well as all of the National Curriculum foundation subjects across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

Early Years trainees are trained to teach all the Early Years Foundation Stage areas of learning in addition to the Key Stage 1 National Curriculum subjects.

Professional Practice

This module connects the taught curriculum and school placements, focusing on how you are embedding new knowledge and robust evidence into your own teaching in a school placement.

Teaching

Regular tutorials and a flexible seminar programme ensure that you are treated as an individual from the outset and are supported to progress according to your ability, taking account of your professional and personal development needs.

Teaching is mainly through small group workshop sessions that provide time to explore how your own teaching is informed by what you learn on the course.

Assessment

You will be assessed through written Master's level assignments, which are aimed at assessing your professional and subject specific learning. You will also be assessed on whether you meet the Teachers’ Standards at a level appropriate for an Early Career teacher.