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.

Completion of this course provides you with an excellent introduction to primary education teaching and the opportunity to enter a hugely rewarding profession.

When applying for your first job you will have access to the expertise of school leaders, who will support you throughout the initial application process.

Students who complete this course benefit from high employment rates and most often secure teaching roles in environments such as schools, nurseries, local authority and private early years settings.

Graduates may also take advantage of opportunities further afield and gain employment teaching abroad.

Around 50% of our graduates typically secure their first teaching before completion of their course, with this figure increasing to 90% within three months of graduation.

Successful completion of the Primary Education PGCE will also support your further study should you wish to progress to a master’s qualification.