Summary
- Faculty of Education, Law & Social Sciences
- School
- The School of Primary and Early Years
- Campus
- City North , Perry Barr
- Duration
- Full-time: 3 years
- Fees
- Full-time: £3,290 per year
Full-time International: £9,250 per year
Overview
The qualification is an honours degree, recently rated through Ofsted inspection as a high quality course, which trains you:
To teach children in two key stages i.e. either aged between 3-7 or 5-11. You will not need to make a firm decision on this until you have begun the course
- To deliver the curriculum as relevant to your chosen age phase
- To develop the skills needed to become a curriculum or age phase leader
- To work in a wide variety of schools, particularly in the urban environment, selected because of the experience and support provided for students.
We are a leading provider of teacher training offering a wide range of placement opportunities across the West Midlands. As part of your studies, you will be able to gain practical experience in a range of schools with a rich variety of cultural and linguistic influences, religious beliefs and social diversity.
We have excellent specialist study facilities, including music, art, design and drama studios. Our tutors have all been outstanding classroom teachers.
This course qualifies you to specialise in age phases 3-7 or 5-11, qualifying you to teach in primary schools and early year’s settings.
Key Facts
- Course rated as outstanding by Ofsted
- Outstanding record of employment for graduates of this course
- Professional qualification as well as degree
Course Outline
Course Structure
The course consists of Professional Studies, Curriculum Studies as relevant to your age phase choice and School Experience. Professional Studies provide an understanding of learning and teaching and the knowledge and skills to teach across the Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1 and 2.
For those choosing the 3-7 specialist age phase there is an emphasis on the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and, for those specialising in the 5-11 phase, the focus is on the National Curriculum and the Primary National Frameworks.
Faculty-based work
This takes place at our City North Campus and includes Teaching Studies which cover:
- The curriculum as relevant to your age phase choice i.e. if your age phase choice is 3-7 your curriculum studies will focus on the Early Years Foundation studies will focus on the Early Years Foundation Stage. If you choose 5-11, you will cover all the National Curriculum subjects with an emphasis on the Core Subjects of Maths, English and Science.
- Professional Studies which focus on teaching and learning.
- A range of options to enable you to develop deeper understanding and knowledge in areas connected with learning and teaching in primary and early years education including: Art, Design and Technology, Drama, English, History, Geography, Music, Mathematics, PE, Primary Languages (Spanish), Religious Education, Science and Special Educational Needs, Children’s Well-being.
School-based work
Students undertake a large amount of school experience in a variety of schools.
Why study with us?
- Strong partnerships with local schools
- High graduate employment rates
- TDA ‘Category A’ provider of primary teacher training
- Consistently good Ofsted reports
- Productive, modern and supportive learning environment
- Fantastic resources within the Faculty
- Excellent feedback from past and present students
- Located in the heart of the West Midlands
- Gain experience in many ethnically plural schools
- Gain experience of schools in an urban environment.
Modules
In addition to these areas, you will undertake enhancement modules chosen from a range of interest areas relevant to primary and early year’s settings including:
- Art
- Children’s well-being
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- English
- Geography
- History
- Mathematics
- Primary Languages (Spanish)
- Music
- PE
- Religious Education
- Science
- Special Educational Needs
The course features lectures, seminars, workshops, electronic learning, research, guest speakers and practical study opportunities, including field work and school placements.
School experience is central to the course, with annual placements. You will teach your chosen age range, initially observing good classroom practice then going on to teach small groups of children and eventually engaging in whole-class teaching.
If you opt for modules in Primary Languages, you will undertake part of your teaching practice in Spanish primary schools, enabling you to develop your understanding of teaching a modern foreign language.
We have excellent links with tutors at the University of Cordoba who will be supporting students whilst they are in Spain. You are expected to have good speaking and writing skills in Spanish, though not necessarily an A Level in this subject. Primary Language graduates will be qualified to teach in primary schools in England and Wales.
From 2010 all primary schools are required to teach a modern foreign language as part of the National Curriculum therefore expertise in this subject area will be highly valued.
Our students are extremely satisfied with their course and rate the quality of their training much higher than the national average.
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Year 1
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Core Modules:
- Developing and managing self
- Understanding English, communication and languages (15)
- Mathematical understanding (15)
- Scientific and technological understanding (15)
- Understanding the arts (15)
- Historical, geographical and social understanding (15)
- Children’s development, health and wellbeing (15)
- Principles of learning and teaching (15)
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Enhancement module (15)
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Teaching practice (10)
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Certificate of Higher Education/Progression to Level 5
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Year 2
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Core Modules:
- English And Primary Languages In The FS And KS1 3-7/English And Primary Languages In KS1 AND KS2 5-11 (15)
- Mathematics In The FS And KS1 3-7/Mathematics In KS1 And KS2 5-11(15)
- Science And Technology In The FS And KS1 3-7/ Science And Technology In KS1 And KS2 5-11 (15)
- Personalised learning (15)
- Inclusive practice (15)
- Effective pedagogy in the early years 3-7/effective pedagogy in the primary school 5-11 (15)
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Enhancement module (15)
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Teaching practice/Foundation stage KS1/2 (15)
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Optional module: Creating and effective learning environment
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Diploma of Higher Education/Progression to Level 6
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Year 3
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Core Modules
- English For Reflective Practitioners In The FS And KS1 3-7/English For Reflective Practitioners In KS1 And KS2 5-11
- Mathematics For Reflective Practitioners In The FS And KS1 3-7/Mathematics For Reflective Practitioners In KS1 and KS2 5-11
- Managing thinking and learning across the curriculum
- Independent study
- Contemporary issues in education
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Teaching Practice: Foundation Stage KS1 or KS1/2
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Optional Module: The Primary School And The Community
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BA (Hons) Primary Education With QTS/BA (Hons) Primary Education *
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Assessments
There is a combination of assessed coursework and teaching practice in all years which cumulatively contributes towards meeting the TDA standards for newly-qualified teachers. Some assessments also contribute to the degree classification.
Placements
School experience is integrated closely with the work undertaken in the Faculty. The experiences are planned in a developmental and supportive manner with students progressively taking more responsibility for the classroom over the three years.
Each year has a range of school experience and a block practice. If you opt for the modules in Primary Languages you can undertake part of your training in Spanish primary schools, enabling you to develop your understanding of teaching a modern foreign language.
The Faculty has excellent links with tutors at the University of Cordoba who will be supporting students whilst they are in Spain. Successful applicants are expected to have good speaking and writing skills in Spanish, though not necessarily an A Level in this subject.
Primary Languages graduates will be qualified to teach in primary schools in England and Wales. From 2010 all primary schools are required to teach a modern foreign language as part of the National Curriculum therefore expertise in this subject area will be highly valued.
After your studies
Further Studies
The faculty offers a programme of continuing professional development for newly qualified teachers and serving teachers. Graduates may also consider pursuing their studies further on the MA Education programme.
Employment Opportunities
Employment prospects are outstanding compared to national averages - we expect all students to obtain teaching posts on graduation. League tables show that our primary graduates are consistently successful in gaining responsible teaching posts.
How to apply
Entry Requirements
You should normally offer a minimum of 5 GCSE passes (or equivalent) at grade C or above, which must include Maths, English Language and a Science Subject.
You must also achieve the following:
- A minimum of 300 UCAS tariff points at A Level, including a minimum of two A Levels (excluding General Studies) or equivalent. Please note that grades at AS Level cannot contribute towards the 300 points.
- For Access candidates we require a minimum of 18 (Level 3) Access credits to be achieved at Merit or higher. The remaining credits can be passes.
- Experience of working with children in a state primary school and/or early years setting. Successful candidates will be required to obtain Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance and be medically fit.
- Advanced Diplomas and Progression Diplomas are acceptable as all or part of the required tariff points.
- We welcome applications from all members of the community under-represented in education.
Application Details
UCAS (X120)
For general information about applying to study at Birmingham City University, please refer to the Making your Application section.
International enquirers may contact the International Office for further help and advice.
Fees Notes
If you already have an equivalent level qualification, you may be charged a higher fee for your course. For further information visit the fees area of the Student Info section.
Further Information
The University holds regular Open day events when timed presentations about the course are given.
Further visit days are offered when places on the course have been offered, enabling students to ask more specific questions about the course.
The Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences
Birmingham City University
Faculty Office
4th Floor,
Dawson Building
City North Campus
Perry Barr
Birmingham
B42 2SU
Tel: +44 (0)121 331 7300
Fax: +44 (0)121 331 6622
Email: education@bcu.ac.uk
Web: Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences