
Primary Education with Specialism in Mathematics with QTS - PGCE
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry.
If you want to gain a flying start to your teaching career by gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), but also want to highlight your mathematics expertise, this course is ideal for you. Our PGCE Primary Education with Specialism in Mathematics with QTS puts the ‘value of children’ at the heart of everything you learn....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City South
- Award PGCE
- Start date September 2024
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Education and Social Work
- Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
If you want to gain a flying start to your teaching career by gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), but also want to highlight your mathematics expertise, this course is ideal for you.
Our PGCE Primary Education with Specialism in Mathematics with QTS puts the ‘value of children’ at the heart of everything you learn. We’ll provide you with the skills and understanding that you need so that you can inspire every child in your primary school classroom and encourage them, particularly in mathematics.
What's covered in this course?
You’ll discover that the way we teach you and the time you spend in schools in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands area will give you a broad experience of working with children who come from a wide range of different social, economic and cultural backgrounds, so you’ll be confident, committed and creative teacher ready to take on the Early Career Framework.
Our intent is for Mathematics Specialists to be able to demonstrate a passion for mathematics and a commitment to providing all children with the best opportunity to be successful mathematicians. Through collaborative working aim to enable you to inspire, motivate and engage children in mathematics learning by developing your learning through the our ITE Curriculum Key Themes.
This will be implemented throughout your training where you will develop subject knowledge as well as an understanding of the pedagogical approaches that have been shown to have a positive impact on the outcomes for all pupils. It is expected that you will continue to refine and learn new skills to enhance your practice during both the early stages of your career and beyond.
Specialist Mathematics sessions enable you to develop a deeper understanding of theoretical and practical issues inherent in the teaching of primary mathematics. These give a high profile to the nature of mathematical thinking, including problem solving and reasoning, and to the analysis of ‘teaching for mastery’. The Primary Mathematics Specialist route also develops your understanding of progression in children’s mathematical learning which enhances your leadership potential.
DBS
Applicants must meet requirements of being medically fit and successfully completing an enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Learn more.
Why Choose Us?
- We play a huge role in training and educating the teaching workforce across the West Midlands region; we have trained over 1400 primary and early years teachers since 2018 and over half of them continue to work and teach in our region (HESA).
- Our curriculum is designed by research-active subject experts to be integrated between university and school-based training with input from our partnership schools, ensuring you’re equipped to meet the needs of the teaching workforce now and in the future.
- We have partnerships right across the West Midlands and beyond so you can benefit from training in a range of schools and early years settings, preparing you for work in a wide variety of schools when you qualify.
- Study in our specialist facilities, such as the Primary Innovation Room, art room, music rooms and science lab.
- We have international links in countries such as Spain, France and Germany to enable you to experience primary education in another country if you wish.
- We meet the Department for Education's (DfE) Criteria for Initial Teacher Training and successful candidates on our Initial Teacher Training courses will be recommended to the DfE for Qualified Teacher Status.
OPEN DAY
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to meet us in person. Booking for the next event isn’t open yet. Register your interest below and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.
Next Event: 29 June 2024
Entry Requirements
UK students
Essential |
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A Bachelor's Honours degree, normally at upper Second Class (2:2) level or above from a UK higher education institution or a recognised equivalent in a subject that provides the necessary foundation for work as a primary teacher. |
You must have an appropriate degree or equivalent understanding / experience for example, a degree with mathematics content or further study of mathematics for example A Level Mathematics. |
GCSE at grade 4 (C) or above (or its equivalent) in English (Language or Literature), mathematics and a science subject at grade 5 (B) or above is also necessary at the point of enrolment. |
A good understanding of mathematics at GCSE level with an appreciation of mathematics as being about pattern, structure and relationships; a propensity to look for and make connections in mathematics; a genuine interest and enthusiasm for the subject; and positive beliefs and attitudes towards mathematics teaching and learning and a willingness to question and reflect throughout your training. If you do not already have GCSEs in English and mathematics, or their equivalent, and are not registered to take them, you should visit Equivalency Testing. We also offer our own in-house equivalency tests. If you are successful at interview and need to pass an equivalency test to meet the entry requirements, our Admissions team will refer you to the details of our test. |
International qualifications
A minimum IELTS score of 7.0 is required with no individual component less than 6.5. Candidates who have undertaken IELTS will also need to successfully pass our GCSE English equivalency test. |
You must also meet the DfE's requirements for Initial Teacher Training, which means being medically fit and successfully completing an enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
The way you apply for teacher training has changed. The Department for Education (DfE) has developed a GOV.UK application service for postgraduate teacher training called ‘Apply for teacher training’, which you will need to use to make an application.
Course code: 3387
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Financial support
You may be able to obtain financial support to help you during your studies. For more information visit the Department for Education's Get Into Teaching website.
Course in Depth
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 40 credits)
The PGCE Primary and Early Years programme provides high quality initial teacher training for those wishing to teach in primary schools and early years settings. This module provides opportunities for trainee teachers to explore the nature of the core subjects (Mathematics, English and Science) and prime and specific areas of the EYFS in the context of learning and teaching in the primary school and early years settings. The module provides substantial support for trainees’ professional practice in such settings, assessed through the School Experience modules. This module provides a strong philosophical underpinning to the importance of trainees’ subject knowledge in the primary school and EYFS curricula. By undertaking this module trainees will be shaping their own rationale for their approach to the teaching of the above subjects/areas and to meet the needs of all learners.
The PGCE Primary and Early Years programme provides high quality initial teacher training for those wishing to teach in primary schools and early years settings. This module provides opportunities for trainee teachers to explore the nature of the foundation subjects for key stages 1 & 2 (History, Geography, Art, Music, Computing, Design & Technology, Physical Education, Foreign Languages and Religious Education) and certain prime and specific areas of the EYFS including Physical Development, Understanding the world (not ‘science’ elements) and Expressive Arts and Design. The module provides substantial support for trainees’ professional practice in such settings, assessed through the School Experience modules. This module provides a strong philosophical underpinning to the importance of trainees’ subject knowledge in the primary school and EYFS curricula. By undertaking this module trainees will be shaping their own rationale for their approach to the teaching of the above subjects/areas and to meet the needs of all learners. Trainees will develop an understanding of cross-curricular approaches and how they support the development of knowledge, understanding and skills in the foundation subjects /areas of learning.
This module belongs to the School Based Training strand of the programme. Working in partnership with schools over a sustained period of time in school, this module, School Based Training 1, provides opportunities for you as a trainee teacher to meet the professional standards and expectations of teaching through practical experience. You will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced teachers and other education professionals to develop your knowledge, understanding and skill in the classroom and the wider school environment. Schools will undertake to provide trainees with a variety of opportunities to observe best practice which addresses the trainees’ development needs. You will be able to implement theory and evidence-based understanding on an on-going and development basis into your teaching into the classroom.
Working in partnership with schools over a sustained period of time in school, this module, School Based Training 2, enables you to build on and demonstrate your mastery and achievement of the professional standards and expectations of teaching through practical, school-based experience. You will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced teachers and other education professionals to develop your knowledge, understanding and skill in the classroom and the wider school environment. You will be able to implement theory and evidence-based understanding into your teaching into the classroom and within a professional, safe and supportive community of practice become a confident, creative and committed teacher demonstrating a working understanding of and progress towards, the professional standards that underpin learning and teaching in a primary or early years settings. You will be assessed against the current professional competences for teaching through a learning, teaching and assessment strategy that describes the stages of development as emerging, establishing, embedding, and enhancing.
This module provides opportunities for trainee teachers to explore the nature of teaching and leadership in the context of primary school and early years settings. The module provides substantial support for trainees’ professional practice in such settings, assessed through the School Experience modules. This module provides a strong practical understanding of the importance of trainees’ wider professional awareness and responsibilities in the primary school and EYFS settings. By undertaking this module trainees will be shaping their own rationale for their approach to teaching and meeting the needs of all learners.
Download course specification
Download nowCourse structure
This is a one-year course, based at the University’s School of Education and Social Work at our City South Campus in Edgbaston.
Although the PGCE offers you a valuable academic qualification, one of its major attractions is the fact that you will spend two-thirds of your time –120 days – working in schools and gaining valuable real-life experience.
You’ll work towards your qualification by attending workshops and group discussions, but this course is essentially very practical and hands-on.
This is a full-time, one-year course, which will train you to teach young people between the ages of five and 11.
All trainees learn to teach across the range of subjects in the Primary National Curriculum, but there is a strong focus on mathematics and English.
School Based Activities
Approximately two thirds of this well-structured and supervised programme includes blocked time in schools/settings where trainees will gain direct teaching experience and work with experienced practitioners in the classroom. School based sessions are undertaken predominately in West Midland primary schools. Placements will include schools recognised for their strengths in Mathematics.
Teaching is graded as pass or fail and by the end of the second practice trainees will have gained experience of teaching approximately 80 per cent of the timetable in a supportive and guided context.
Assessment methods
There are assessments on course work, teaching practice and the achievement of The Department for Education for the award of QTS. You will also undertake written assessments and some presentations derived from both faculty-based modules and school experiences. Academic work will need to be of the high standard required of postgraduate level 7 study.
Standards for the award of QTS are assessed in a number of ways, including course work, school experience assessments and evidence portfolios.
Employability
Enhance Employability Skills
Whatever subjects you choose, we focus on giving up-to-date knowledge. Making use of your strong knowledge of mathematics, along with the real-life experience you gain from going on placements, should also give you a real head start in the career stakes.
Placements
We work hard to maintain strong relationships with more than 900 primary schools in the region.
All have signed a Partnership Agreement pledging their commitment to offering our trainees a high-quality experience. You’ll go on block placements to at least two different schools which are relevant to the age group you want to teach.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
Our facilities
Our School of Education and Social Work is based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.
We’ve spent £41million expanding the education facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice. Alongside classrooms and lecture theatres, we also have a range of specialist teaching and learning spaces for specific subjects including science, design and technology, drama and physical education.
As well as subject-specific rooms, our facilities include the Primary Innovation Lab, which houses £24,000 worth of LEGO. This room is a special resource for our education students, offering an innovative and creative way to approach subjects across the curriculum – from computing to English, mathematics to art. The lab responds to research that children and young people learn best from practical experience.
Our Social Work students have access to a home environment room and mock hospital wards which offer an opportunity to gain experience of working with service users in different situations.
Computer facilities
The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.
Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:
- Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
- Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
- Microsoft Office software
- Research and statistical software
- Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home
Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.
In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.
Our staff
Paul Purser
Associate Professor of Education & Social Work
Having completed a Science degree, Paul undertook a PGCE and qualified in 1990. He has always led Science within school in addition to his teaching and leadership commitments. Alongside this he developed his skills in whole school leadership, leading year groups and phases within school. This range of experience enabled Paul to become deputy head...
More about Paul