Primary (University Centred) PGCE

Course overview

York St John University was established as a teacher training college in 1841. We have a long history of training students to become successful and effective teachers.

On this course you will study a combination of both education theory and practice. This will help you to become an informed and reflective teacher. You will research current local and national educational issues which will shape your teaching practice.

You will gain a thorough understanding of the current primary and early years curriculum, including core and foundation subjects. We also emphasise the importance of meeting the individual needs of children from diverse backgrounds. 

You will develop knowledge and skills in:

• Planning, teaching and assessment of learning for young children in either the 3-7 or 7-11 age range

• Managing and organising teaching and learning to promote inclusion for young children from a range of backgrounds and with a range of individual needs

• Ensuring children are safe and healthy

• Promoting good progress in learning for all children

• Appropriate subject knowledge to support teaching and learning

• Using existing research and conducting your own research in schools

We have established excellent partnerships with teaching schools across the north of England. This allows us to work closely with schools to support you throughout the course. On graduation you will be qualified to teach the full 3-11 age range, but you will have a specialism in either lower or upper primary.

How you will study

You can study this postgraduate course full time.

The course will take 1 year to complete. You will study:

• 2 compulsory 30 credit modules

• 3 compulsory School Experience modules

Learning and Teaching in the Primary Curriculum

This module covers a range of topics covering foundation subjects of both the National Curriculum and the Early Years curriculum. You will consider how learners from diverse cultural backgrounds can be supported in education and care settings. The issues you will investigate include:

• Inclusion

• Ethnicity

• English as an Additional Language (EAL)

• Special Educational Needs

• Disability

You will also investigate how settings cater for children with a range of abilities. Aspects such as behaviour and classroom management, vital to the practice of the outstanding class teacher, will be covered across a variety of sessions.

The Developing Professional (Primary)

This module focuses on educational issues which are common to all teachers. It reflects on local and national policy and practice. You will build your understanding of complex concepts surrounding teaching and learning, and will encourage you to consider wider professional issues and develop your own professional identity.

School Experience modules

The PGCE Primary course involves school experience (SE) placements across the year. SE1 is in the autumn term, while SE2 and SE3 are in the spring and summer terms. Each placement must be successfully passed in order to progress to the next school experience.