Postgraduate courses in Education, Children and Teaching

Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers as you help to shape the lives of young people.

Here at Staffordshire University’s Institute of Education, we can support you at every stage of your professional journey, from qualifying as a teacher through to leadership.

We specialise in postgraduate courses that prepare you for the ever-changing demands of the workplace.

But you get so much more than just a professional qualification. We offer the whole University experience, including:

  • Access to a thriving academic community, with expertise in a wide range of school support initiatives and research areas
  • Our new Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School. The nursery provision caters for the children of University students and is also enabling us to develop specialist knowledge within the early years sector
  • Connections with dozens of schools, including many that provide placements for our trainee teachers

The Institute of Education has a well-established suite of PGCEs. You can focus on primary education or train for a career as a secondary teacher in different specialist subjects. We also offer postgraduate qualifications for people wanting to teach in post-16 education, including colleges and universities.

The support doesn’t have to end with qualified teacher status.

Continue your professional development by taking our flagship Education MA either on campus or part-time via distance learning. The course provides a critical examination of education practice, policy and research and is relevant to the entire education sector.

Then there’s our Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD), a research degree for professionals wanting to take their expertise to the next level.

Whatever your career stage, we can help you develop your skills and education practice.

Courses

Taught courses

Research courses

Teacher training

The PGCE team are friendly, supportive and at the forefront of educational research."
Billy Goldstraw - Secondary Biology PGCE

Our students

The placement is wonderful and Staffs Uni really took personal circumstances into account when arranging the placement.

The staff are fantastic and amazingly supportive – they all want to help the most that they can. The content which is delivered is not only useful for future careers, but also interesting and thought provoking.

The placement is wonderful and Staffs Uni really took personal circumstances into account when arranging the placement. The communication between the Uni and the placement have been fantastic.

Kim Holloway

Secondary Biology PGCE

The PGCE team are friendly, supportive, and at the forefront of educational research.

I would encourage anyone considering studying the PGCE in Secondary Biology to apply! The PGCE team are friendly, supportive, and at the forefront of educational research. The PGCE is a hard course but the PGCE has been developed to have our wellbeing at the heart to ensure we can be the most effective practitioners.  

I have specifically enjoyed the placement school. I have been supported highly by the staff at the school and from the PGCE team. The placement I was matched with was in the local area. My school placement has been very supportive at all times. They have been excellent at providing on-going training that complements the taught material at university. 

Billy Goldstraw

Secondary Biology PGCE

The group sizes were definitely one of the strengths of the course.

Staffordshire University was an attractive option to start my teaching career because of the local links with schools as well as the staff who are committed to developing and honing your skills and abilities. 

The group sizes were definitely one of the strengths of the course: they were small enough for us to become a support system for one another, as well as our subject staff – nothing was too much trouble. 

The placements were well organised and the support from the University in making sure that we were being treated appropriately and fairly from our placements was essential in growing us as teachers. 

Elysia Carr

PGCE Secondary English

I have been a freelance illustrator for nearly 20 years and my clients included Moynat, Coutts Bank, CBRE, Leica, VOGUE. I chose to study this course at Staffs because of the reputation of the university, the impressive links with regional educational institutions and the outstanding tutoring available.

I am fascinated by all the aspects of the Art and Design field and wanted to share this passion with students; therefore, it was an obvious choice for me. It’s a demanding but equally rewarding and exciting course. I feel ‘Proud To Be Staffs!’ 

Anna Goncharenko

Secondary Art and Design PGCE

Completing my PGCE at Staffordshire University was the best decision I have ever made. 

Throughout the course we were all supported and received the best education and training. Each subject cohort was given the opportunity to attend specific CPD workshops so we could develop our skills further and as an Art and Design student this was important. We attended photoshop, sewing and clay workshops as well as many others so when we were teaching, we felt confident with a range of materials.

We could contact our university mentors at any point, and they would get back to us promptly and if we had any issues, they supported us throughout.

Alex Fitzgerald

Secondary Art and Design PGCE

The course so far has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

I chose my subject as I have a passion for teaching and wish to develop my skills so that I am able to make a difference to the lives and experience of education of many young people.

This course will qualify me for teaching roles in primary schools, and the course so far has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and it is a course that I would recommend to anybody who is considering going into teaching.

Jacob Bode

PGCE Primary with PE Specialism

Features

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Gabrielle “Steps Up” to teach next generation

An aspiring primary school teacher who thought that university was “out of reach” is celebrating after her own return to the classroom.
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Next generation kicking homophobia out of football

Staffordshire University students are helping to educate schoolchildren across the county to kick homophobia out of football

Blog: 8 reasons to study early childhood education

Welcome to our blog post! In this post we’re highlighting some of the key reasons why studying early childhood education is a fantastic choice.

Blog: What can you do with an early childhood studies degree?

Early Childhood Studies course leader, Amanda Tayler, talks you through what you can do with an early childhood studies degree.

Staff

Kate Dale

Course Director

I love solving problems and seeing pupils enjoy and succeed in mathematics. My focus is now on supporting the next generation of teachers to become reflective, research-informed teachers who support and develop all pupils to become mathematicians.

Kate's profile

Tina Richardson

Senior Lecturer

I have extensive expertise of working in the secondary and post compulsory sector as well as experience of teaching in Greece and China. I am also an external examiner for PGCE Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) courses.

Tina's profile

Dr Sandra Murray

Lecturer

I am passionate about learning and constantly seeking new challenges. My focus is now on developing the next generation of Further Education teachers alongside developing a research profile whilst supporting and developing the research of others

Sandra's profile

Dr Duncan Hindmarch

Course Director

My enthusiasm for learning led me to qualify, design and deliver to initial and subject specialist teacher training courses. I have an interest in developing virtual learning environments to support learning.

Duncan's profile

Robert Stannard

Course Director

I joined Staffs Uni in 2021 as Course Director for Initial Teacher Training. I am a experienced educator having led undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in Education, ITE, Creative Writing, and the Liberal Arts in several universities.

Robert's profile

Professor Gillian Forrester

Professor Of Education Policy

I lead the Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD), which is a vibrant research degree programme for professional educators. I supervise doctoral students (PhD and EdD) and I am involved in several externally funded research projects.

Gillian's profile

Dr Lynn Machin

Senior Lecturer

I have 25 years teaching experience in further and higher education. For much of this time I've been involved in leadership, management and curriculum development within FE and HE.

Lynn's profile

Sarah Misra

Senior Lecturer

Sarah is passionate about social justice and inclusion and ensuring that all children are offered a rich and varied curriculum at primary level. Her Masters in Special Educational Needs looked at improving access to support for parents.

Sarah's profile

Dr Rebecca House

Lecturer

Rebecca is a Lecturer in Physical Education and a PhD Researcher in Sport Sociology. In particular, her main areas of academic interest include inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals in PE and sport, PE curriculum designs, and alternative activities in PE.

Rebecca's profile

Cathy Rutherford

Senior Lecturer

I am a Joint Leader in the Primary Education Team and I’m passionate about children receiving a well-rounded education which develops a love of learning. I enjoy sharing my love of teaching maths with our students so that they can love it too!

Cathy's profile

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

Mark Barlow

Senior Lecturer

Mark’s most recent work enables him to share his significant experience in developing teachers of the future, focusing on professional development, safeguarding in schools, and simulated learning for trainee teachers.

Mark's profile

Dr Jo Basford

Course Director Assoc Prof

Education is transformative. It enables us to see the world differently, to challenge our thinking and to try new things. My ambition is that student’s learning with the Institute of Education will be a transformative experience.

Jo's profile

Discover more

PGCE Secondary Geography - Abigail Green

Video

Discover why Abigail chose PGCE Secondary Geography at Staffordshire University - and the course prepared her for her teaching career.

Why study a PGCE at Staffordshire University?

Video

Find out more about the benefits of studying a PGCE at Staffordshire University

Claudia Poppy - Secondary Computer Science PGCE

Video

Secondary Computer Science PGCE Claudia explains why our PGCE was the next step in her career - and describes her experiences on the course.

PGCE Secondary Physical Education - Harry Podmore

Video

Harry talks about why he chose to study a PGCE, his inspiration for choosing Physical Education, and what he is most looking forward to in his upcoming placement.

Bethany Porter - PGCE Primary (General)

Video

PGCE Primary (General) graduate Bethany talks about how she's always wanted to be a teacher and how practically everyone who was on her course now has a teaching job lined up.

Our friendly enquiries team are on hand to answer any questions you may have about your course, life at University of Staffordshire and much more.

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