Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Primary 3-7 (with QTS) Oxford Brookes University

Our PGCE Primary 3-7 course provides you with the professional skills required to become an effective teacher. And teaches you how to inspire primary school children aged between 3-7 years old.

You will be confirmed by the Teaching Regulation Agency as a newly qualified teacher (NQT) upon successful completion of the course.

A key element of your training involves substantial periods of practical placement across the age ranges. Our course helps you to develop the professional skills needed to become an effective classroom practitioner in primary or nursery school settings, with children aged 3-7 years. These include:

• professional attributes
• knowledge
• understanding.

Places for postgraduate teacher training are highly competitive so we recommend that you apply as early as possible. There is no deadline for applications. Early application is especially advised if you live locally and would like to work in our partnership schools.

Study modules

Compulsory modules

Introduction to Professional Learning (20 credits)

This gives you an introduction to practical theories of learning and curriculum before you begin your first experience of substantive teaching. You’ll develop your knowledge and understanding of pedagogy and its evidence base so that you’ll be ready to apply this to your own practical classroom skills.

Key Issues in Learning and Teaching (20 credits)

You’ll look at key issues, themes and debates in education. You’ll focus on a selection of issues that are relevant to your Pathway/age phase, and you’ll have the option of reflecting on your own developing classroom practice. This will allow you to be better supported in entering your NQT year.

The potential issues and themes include:

• assessment
• behaviour for Learning
• SEND/Inclusion issues
• supporting learning with TAs
• socio-economic and cultural issues
• working with parents and carers.

Supporting Evidence-Informed Practice (20 credits)

You’ll focus on the role and importance of research in education, with the ultimate aim of improving your teaching and your student's learning. You’ll gain a grounding in issues and debates surrounding educational research. You’ll move on to undertake your own literature-based research project, choosing an area of education that fascinates you. Through this module, you’ll strengthen your research skills as well as build a deeper knowledge of your topic area.

Outstanding Practice 3-7

You’ll learn about child development and how it affects learning in children aged three to seven. You’ll build your understanding of inclusive practice, and how it can be used to improve children’s progress. Topics will include:

• SEND, EAL and behaviour management
• PSHE: how it permeates the curriculum, and its impact on learning for children in this age group.

As well as observing and analysing teaching, you’ll be planning and delivering short teaching tasks to your peers – practical tasks that will help you understand how to plan and teach across the EYFS and KS 1 curriculum. You’ll also gain experience in a week-long teaching placement.

English 3-7

You’ll work on the knowledge and skills you need to teach language and literacy effectively. Reflecting on your own learning will be an important part of the process. You’ll explore topics like:

• your own self-awareness as a language user
• developing and assessing children’s communication skills in reading and writing including systematic synthetic phonics and grammar
• learning about languages: how they work and the links between them
• links between language, culture and identity
• the role of media technologies in developing children’s language and literacy
• literature in the EYFS and primary classroom
• using drama strategies in developing children’s language and literacy.

Mathematics 3-7

Here you’ll develop your knowledge, skills and confidence in mathematics. You’ll gain the grounding you need to help children progress and enjoy maths across the EYFS and KS 1. You’ll enhance your understanding with cross-curricular work linking mathematics with other subjects.

You’ll improve your own knowledge and confidence in mathematics and your understanding of numbers, algebra, geometry, measures and data handling, as well as exploring topics such as:

• applying mathematics across the curriculum
• understanding how children learn mathematics, and how to address their misconceptions
• the role of reasoning and communication in teaching, learning and doing mathematics
• developing creative, inspirational and challenging approaches to teaching mathematics across the attainment range.

Science 3-7

You’ll develop your knowledge, skills and confidence in science and understanding of the world. You’ll gain the knowledge and understanding you need to help children progress and enjoy science in the EYFS and KS 1. You’ll enhance your understanding with cross-curricular work that links science with other subjects.

We’ll focus on the importance of planning lessons that use purposeful, practical science to stimulate children’s higher-order thinking. And we’ll consider topics such as:

• the integral role of practical activities in early years and primary science
• the importance of pupil talk in developing their understanding of scientific concepts
• understanding pupils’ common misconceptions in science, and good ways to address these
• using ICT applications such as data logging and digital microscopes
• provision for SEND, Gifted and Talented and EAL pupils
• working safely in science.

Arts and Humanities 3-7

Here you’ll gain a foundation in the arts and humanities from the EYFS to KS 1. With practical workshop sessions and project-based work, you’ll build your confidence and enjoyment of the arts and humanities. We’ll investigate topics like:

• national and local initiatives to support arts and humanities teaching
• learning outside the classroom
• using the expertise of educational officers and tutors in a variety of venues
• embedding active citizenship, cultural diversity and cultural heritage
• using ICT effectively in the arts and humanities
• cross-curricular approaches, making particular links with physical education and design and technology.

PE and computing 3-7

In this module, you’ll work on the knowledge and understanding you need to help children progress in physical development and their use of computing. You’ll focus on:

• developing and assessing children’s physical development in the three to seven age range
• links between children’s physical development and skills acquisition across the EYFS and KS 1 curriculum
• computing in the EYFS and KS 1 curriculum
• the role of technologies in developing children’s learning.

School-based curriculum

Compulsory modules

School-based curriculum 1

This is the first of three main blocks of school-based training placements (SBT) that you’ll undertake. This first placement will be in a nursery setting. You’ll engage in introductory activities based on the classroom environment, where you’ll consider how learning takes place.

Through this module, you’ll gain insight into the full professional life of a teacher. You’ll put into practice your skills of planning, teaching, maintaining behaviour and creating a suitable ethos for learning.

You’ll explore issues such as:

• diversity, inclusion, equal opportunity
• teachers’ professional duties and statutory frameworks, including safeguarding
• planning, teaching and assessment for children’s learning with an emphasis on Assessment for Learning (AFL)
• the school and classroom as an environment for learning
• class management and children’s behaviour.

School-based curriculum 2

Your second placement will be in a KS 1 setting. Here, you’ll develop activities based on the classroom environment, where you’ll consider how learning and assessment take place.

Through this module, you’ll discover more about the full professional life of a teacher. You’ll develop your skills of planning, teaching, maintaining behaviour and creating a suitable ethos for learning.

School-based curriculum 3

This final placement will be in a Foundation Stage setting. You’ll be delivering sustained teaching across the curriculum and taking on the full role of the classroom teacher in preparation for your first teaching post.

You’ll be aiming to demonstrate good subject knowledge in all the primary curriculum subjects, and your ability to plan and teach great lessons for your age group. You’ll have a professional approach to your working relationship with colleagues, pupils, parents and carers.

By completing placements in a variety of local primary schools, you will build excellent relationships with headteachers helping your future employment prospects. Many of our graduates go on to gain employment in the schools where they have previously been placed.

Professional Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Teaching Regulation Agency to grant Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in the UK. You will be provisionally registered with the Teaching Regulation Agency at the beginning of your course. Students who successfully complete the course will be recommended for QTS.

Please be aware that following the UK's departure from the European Union, QTS awarded by UK higher education institutions are not currently recognised in the EU.