Primary Education PGCE

The Primary Education PGCE will provide you with understanding of educational theory and of how that relates to practice, alongside an in-depth understanding, and experience of, the National Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2, enabling you to kick-start a rewarding career in teaching.

Your university-based training will cover aspects such as educational theory, subject knowledge, safeguarding, philosophy of education which will underpin and impact upon your practice. School-based placements form a large part of the PGCE and you will complete a series of these over the course of your training.

Arranged by Northumbria University, your placements will include group and individual tasks, observation and the planning and delivery of lessons – all of which will provide you with a strong grounding in the roles and responsibilities of a teacher.

During the placements, you will be supported and mentored by experienced teachers and senior leaders. You will also be assigned to a link tutor from Northumbria, who will support both you and your school-based mentors to ensure that your school experience fully develops your skills as a teacher.

Successful completion of the PGCE Primary Education course will provide you with a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status. This allows you to immediately begin working in a school or other educational establishment.

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one

Curriculum, Creativity & Challenge (Core,30 Credits)

This module will help you to develop a deeper understanding of different approaches to curriculum design and delivery in school as part of the Primary Curriculum (2014).

Tutors will introduce you to discrete subject teaching and more integrated approaches. You will learn about a creative curriculum, thematic planning and learning opportunities outside the classroom.

You will be given guidance as you develop your subject knowledge expertise and help to define the pedagogical approaches and theory that underpins successful learning and teaching within a broad and balanced curriculum.
Much of what you learn in this module will be applied directly to planning, teaching and learning on your school based experience.

You will learn about the ideas and theories of learning and personal pedagogy and how this is central to your professional practice as a teacher, making links between theory and practice by reflecting on your observations and experience in the classroom.

Primary Professional Practice (30 Credits)

In this module you will learn how to apply your theoretical, pedagogical and subject knowledge (introduced through the other PGCE modules) in a school based setting. In short, you will learn how to teach by working alongside experienced teachers.

As you develop the knowledge and skills required to help children make progress in their learning you’ll gain first hand experience of a range of classroom environments and gain an excellent understanding of the professional role of a primary teacher.

You will learn how to plan, teach, and assess across a range of subjects in the age phases you are working with and see the impact you have on children’s progress.

An essential aspect of this will be the reflective approach you develop that will help you to analyse your performance and respond to feedback with the express purpose of improving children’s learning.

The ability to critically reflect, analyse and evaluate your personal and professional understanding and practice will help you to set and action professional targets that will underpin your recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status.

Professionalism & Inclusive Practice (Core,30 Credits)

This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of a range of learning and teaching issues related to current practice in primary education.

You will learn about the nature of pedagogy and how it is central to your professional practice as a teacher and be encouraged to make links between theory and practice by reflecting on your observations and experience in the classroom. Your learning will be set within the context of contemporary issues such as:

• Equality, Inclusion & Diversity in Education

• Behaviour for Learning

• Assessment: Principles & Practice

• Safeguarding

• Cultural & Political perspectives of Education

• Theoretical Principles, Learning & Children

• Professional Responsibility & Practice

Learning, Teaching & Assessment in Core Curriculum (Core,30 Credits)

This module will help you to develop a deeper understanding of how the core subjects of English, mathematics and science are delivered in school as part of the Primary Curriculum (2014).

Tutors will introduce you to the distinct nature of each subject, provide guidance as you develop your subject knowledge expertise and help you to define the pedagogical approaches and theory that underpins successful learning and teaching in these subjects.

You will learn how to use specific strategies in English and mathematics to ensure that the children you teach develop the literacy and numeracy skills to help them become confident, independent learners.

You will develop a thorough understanding of how approaches to assessment are integral to this process and you will learn how to use a range of formative and summative strategies to ensure your teaching is effective and children make progress.
Much of what you learn in this module will be applied directly to your school based experience. With the guidance of your school-based mentor, you will plan, teach and evaluate sequences of lessons; putting into practice what you have learnt as part of your university based training.

Seeing the impact that your teaching has on the progress of children will directly inform your thinking as you reflect on your own learning and subject knowledge development.