Primary (General) PGCE

UCAS code X100

Duration

9 Months

9 Months

Location

Lichfield campus

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Guide children through their first years in education with our Primary PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education). We’ll organise placements at local schools to give you experience and arrange study sessions on campus to help you perfect your teaching style.

As a primary school teacher, it will be your responsibility to inspire children, give them the basic skills they need for their future and make learning exciting.

We’ve designed this course to help you understand how children learn. You’ll develop the skills you need to make sure your students get the best start.

Throughout your training, you’ll get hands-on experience on placement, join professional studies sessions, and attend curriculum workshops.

From getting the most out of your induction, to tips on teaching your first lesson, your personal tutor will be there to support you every step of your Primary PGCE journey. 

As a primary school teacher, it will be your responsibility to inspire children, give them the basic skills they need for their future and make learning exciting.

We’ve designed this course to help you understand how children learn. You’ll develop the skills you need to make sure your students get the best start.

Throughout your training, you’ll get hands-on experience on placement, join professional studies sessions, and attend curriculum workshops.

From getting the most out of your induction, to tips on teaching your first lesson, your personal tutor will be there to support you every step of your Primary PGCE journey. 

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: PGCE Primary (General)

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: PGCE Primary (General)

Work placements

At Staffordshire University, we have close links with partner schools across the region.

We’ll always aim to arrange placements within 40 minutes of where you live.

Work placements

At the University of Staffordshire, we have close links with partner schools across the region.

We’ll always aim to arrange placements within 40 minutes of where you live.

Course content

Our Primary PGCE takes 36 weeks to complete. You’ll spend 12 weeks of this time studying on campus. This will include a one-week induction to prepare you for placement, and sessions to develop your knowledge of the curriculum..

To give you experience in the classroom, you’ll spend at least 120 days working in two local schools. But, don’t worry, you won’t have the pressure of teaching an entire lesson straight away.

Your training will begin with observing a teacher and helping with group work. Then you’ll share the classes with the teacher and work towards teaching lessons independently.

Alongside teaching, you’ll join in with day-to-day life at the school. Each school has a professional mentor to help you understand the ethos, pastoral care systems, legal and social framework, and supporting services.

You’ll also have weekly meetings with your subject or class mentor to help you prepare for teaching, review lessons, and develop your subject knowledge.

Our Primary PGCE takes 36 weeks to complete. You’ll spend 12 weeks of this time studying on campus. This will include a one-week induction to prepare you for placement, and sessions to develop your knowledge of the curriculum..

To give you experience in the classroom, you’ll spend at least 120 days working in two local schools. But, don’t worry, you won’t have the pressure of teaching an entire lesson straight away.

Your training will begin with observing a teacher and helping with group work. Then you’ll share the classes with the teacher and work towards teaching lessons independently.

Alongside teaching, you’ll join in with day-to-day life at the school. Each school has a professional mentor to help you understand the ethos, pastoral care systems, legal and social framework, and supporting services.

You’ll also have weekly meetings with your subject or class mentor to help you prepare for teaching, review lessons, and develop your subject knowledge.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Educational And Professional Issues - Primary 40 credits
Teaching A Knowledge Rich Curriculum - Primary 20 credits
Teaching Practice 1 (The Emerging Teaching) - Primary N/A
Teaching Practice 2 (The Established Teacher) - Primary N/A

Entry requirements

You can apply for this course via Gov.uk. Please click on this link to start your application.

For this course, you need an Honours Degree with a 2:2 classification or higher in an appropriate subject and a GCSE grade C/4 or above in both English Language, Mathematics and Science.

We also expect you to be confident in technology and have some experience working with primary age students in a school setting.

After you apply, we’ll arrange a selection interview. We’ll assess your subject knowledge and personal qualities, such as communication skills, resilience for teaching, and how easy you’ll find it to relate to primary age students.

If you accept a formal offer, you’ll need to meet the Department for Education’s standards for physical and mental fitness to teach and you’ll need clearance to work with children (Enhanced DBS).

Returning to education? We’ll help you every step of the way. Find out more about our support for mature students (anyone over 21).

You can apply for this course via Gov.uk. Please click on this link to start your application.

For this course, you need an Honours Degree with a 2:2 classification or higher in an appropriate subject and a GCSE grade C/4 or above in both English Language, Mathematics and Science.

Where applicants are taking or have taken double or triple award science, all grades must be at or above 4-3.

We also expect you to be confident in technology and have some experience working with primary age students in a school setting.

After you apply, we’ll arrange a selection interview. We’ll assess your subject knowledge and personal qualities, such as communication skills, resilience for teaching, and how easy you’ll find it to relate to primary age students.

If you accept a formal offer, you’ll need to meet the Department for Education’s standards for physical and mental fitness to teach and you’ll need clearance to work with children (Enhanced DBS).

Returning to education? We’ll help you every step of the way. Find out more about our support for mature students (anyone over 21).

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

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Facilities

Libraries

We have Libraries and service desks at both sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. Our experienced and friendly staff can answer your IT queries, help you to access resources, show you how to research for your assignments and help with referencing.

Careers

With a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you’ll be ready to teach in primary schools across England.

Most of our graduates find their first teaching position soon after they qualify. Many of them secure roles in our partnership schools.

After you’ve completed this course, you can join our Masters in Education. Your PGCE gives you Masters credits which means you’ll be fast tracked and can complete this course by the end of your second year of teaching.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

When you’re not on placement, we’ll help you reflect on your experiences, exchange ideas and overcome challenges. You’ll also:

  • Learn in small groups
  • Use roleplay to develop your knowledge of the primary curriculum
  • Discuss ideas and challenges you face in group and individual tutorials
  • Reflect on your placement experiences

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your lectures wherever you are.

When you’re not on placement, we’ll help you reflect on your experiences, exchange ideas and overcome challenges. You’ll also:

  • Learn in small groups
  • Use roleplay to develop your knowledge of the primary curriculum
  • Discuss ideas and challenges you face in group and individual tutorials
  • Reflect on your placement experiences

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your lectures wherever you are.

Assessment

Assessment for your PGCE involves portfolio work, assignments, and observed classroom practice. We’ll often ask you to reflect on approaches you’ve used in the classroom and their effectiveness.

You’ll also be regularly observed by your school-based mentor and university tutor. Working with your placement schools, we’ll identify areas of professional practice that you find challenging.

Assessment for your PGCE involves portfolio work, assignments, and observed classroom practice. We’ll often ask you to reflect on approaches you’ve used in the classroom and their effectiveness.

You’ll also be regularly observed by your school-based mentor and university tutor. Working with your placement schools, we’ll identify areas of professional practice that you find challenging.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

  • Study skills (including reading, note-taking, presentation skills)
  • Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
  • Academic writing (including how to reference)
  • Research skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Enabling Centre is here to help sure nothing stands in your way.

Feedback

We know that it’s important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do. We usually give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.

We know that it’s important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do. We usually give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.

Independent learning

You’ll complete assignments, portfolio work, and projects to expand your understanding of teaching and learning. You’ll also need to set aside time for lesson planning and marking.

While on placement, you might be expected to attend events such as parents’ evenings, extra-curricular activities, and after-school clubs.

You’ll complete assignments, portfolio work, and projects to expand your understanding of teaching and learning. You’ll also need to set aside time for lesson planning and marking.

While on placement, you might be expected to attend events such as parents’ evenings, extra-curricular activities, and after-school clubs.

Staff

You'll be taught by staff who have a range of academic and industry experience. 

Emma Clayson

Senior Lecturer

I am a senior lecturer within the primary education team. As a qualified teacher, I am passionate about education and in particular, inclusion and support our students to develop their skills in adaptive teaching.

Emma's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 8 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,250 per course £16,750 per course
Included in the fees:

If you accept a place with us, we’ll cover the cost of your Enhanced DBS check. You’ll also receive Level 1 Safeguarding training during induction week.

If you accept a place with us, we’ll cover the cost of your Enhanced DBS check. You’ll also receive Level 1 Safeguarding training during induction week.
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

You can apply to the Student Loans Company (SLC) for the following support:

  • Tuition Fee Loan – To cover the cost of your tuition fees.
  • Maintenance Loan – To support you with living costs such as food, accommodation and travel.

For more information and how to apply visit www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding.

Scholarships and additional funding

You could receive up to £32K or £34K in total - £26K as a tax free bursary or £28K scholarship with additional payments of £6K after tax once in teaching.

Your eligibility for financial support, and the amount you can expect to receive, will depend on the subject you choose to teach and your degree classification or highest relevant academic qualification.

For more information and how to apply visit https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-my-teacher-training/bursaries-and-scholarships-for-teacher-training.

You may be eligible for a Staffordshire University bursary when you choose to study one of our postgraduate Education courses. Visit our Fees and Bursaries page to find out more.

Scholarships and additional funding

You could receive up to £32K or £34K in total - £26K as a tax free bursary or £28K scholarship with additional payments of £6K after tax once in teaching.

Your eligibility for financial support, and the amount you can expect to receive, will depend on the subject you choose to teach and your degree classification or highest relevant academic qualification.

For more information and how to apply visit https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-my-teacher-training/bursaries-and-scholarships-for-teacher-training.

You may be eligible for a University of Staffordshire bursary when you choose to study one of our postgraduate Education courses. Visit our Fees and Bursaries page to find out more.

Our students

I’ve made friends that I’ll keep for life.

Starting Staffs was like joining a new family. I’ve made friends that I’ll keep for life and I’ve made friends that I can talk to whenever I’ve got a worry or whenever I want to celebrate something – they’re both my mentors and my peers on the course.

I think my placement really started bringing out my confidence in myself, bringing out my personality to make me a good teacher and then polishing the skills to make me an outstanding teacher.

Steph Walker

Graduate, PGCE Primary

You’re guided through every step of the way and I really don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a job lined up.  

I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. My favourite thing about studying my PGCE at Staffs is the amount of time you spend in a school as opposed to in uni. You really do spend the time as a teacher. In terms of career progression, everyone's so helpful in helping you move on. You’re guided through every step of the way and I really don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a job lined up.  

Bethany Porter

PGCE Primary (General)

Apply

Applications are not currently available for this course.

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations. 

Have you considered?

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021