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PGCE Primary 5-11 (with QTS)

PGCE

Book a 1:1 chat with the tutor and find out more about the course every Monday in September

UCAS code: PGCE (5-11) 2254

Start dates: September 2027

Full time: 1 year

Location: Headington

School(s): School of Education, Humanities and Languages

Overview Course details Careers Entry requirements How to apply Tuition fees
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Overview

Join a course whose graduates inspire thousands of children and teach in many schools across Oxfordshire and beyond. Our PGCE will help you develop the subject and pedagogical knowledge you need to become an effective, reflective classroom teacher. Schools value our graduates for their preparation, professionalism and ability to meet the high standards expected of teachers. 

You’ll develop the knowledge, skills and professional understanding to make a positive difference to every child you teach. You’ll learn from university lecturers who bring extensive experience from schools, including senior leadership roles, alongside expertise in their specialist subjects. On placement, expert colleagues in our partnership schools will provide mentoring, feedback and support as you apply and refine your learning in the classroom.

On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be eligible to be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), ready to begin your teaching career and continue your professional learning as a reflective and inclusive teacher.

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Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Purposefully designed placements

    Put your training into practice with placements in at least two different schools and key stages and learn how to make a difference in the lives of every child you teach

  • Excellence for all

    The programme is underpinned by the principles of character, equity and inclusion, with a focus on adaptive inclusive pedagogies

  • Evidence informed practice

    Masters level modules that foster curiosity and aspiration to make a difference

  • Expert support

    Incremental and sustained trainee progress - with nothing left to chance and tailored support available to all

  • Excellent career options

    Trainees secure jobs in schools that are right for them.

  • Accreditation(s)

    The Department for Education and The Teaching Regulation Agency.

    • ITET Curriculum

Course details

Course structure

The PGCE prepares you to teach effectively across the primary phase. Underpinned by Department for Education expectations, our curriculum develops the knowledge, skills you need to become a reflective and inclusive teacher who supports each pupil to thrive.

You’ll learn, review and revisit key ideas through three stages: Novice, Advanced Beginner and Effective. This approach helps you reflect on your practice, respond to feedback and make purposeful improvements.

Learning takes place on campus and in schools. You’ll observe, practise, refine and apply what you learn, making connections between research, university teaching and classroom practice.

Five core components underpin the programme:

  1. Professional Conduct and Responsibilities
  2. Climate for Learning; How Pupils Learn
  3. Subject and Curriculum Knowledge
  4. Planning and Preparation; and Assessment
  5. Adaptation and Feedback.

Students in conversation while looking at laptop screens

Learning and teaching

Learn from experts, practise with purpose.

You’ll be part of a vibrant and supportive learning community, learning from experienced subject specialists who bring current knowledge and expertise from education into the classroom. Our on-campus teaching develops your theoretical knowledge, practical skills and understanding of teaching.

You’ll practise and refine what you learn in a supportive environment before applying it in school.
On placement, expert colleagues in our partnership schools will mentor you as you develop your knowledge, skills and confidence through purposeful practice. 

Our team carefully organises your placement learning so you experience a range of school settings and develop a broad understanding of teaching. You’ll work across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, building the knowledge, skills and experience needed to become an effective and adaptive teacher.

Assessment

On this course you will develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes to become an effective early career teacher (ECT).

You are assessed on this course through a range of course assignments with no exams, including:

  • essays
  • projects
  • portfolios
  • presentations
  • trainee progress profile
  • professionalism and classroom practice 
  • deliberate practice.

Your progress towards meeting the Teachers’ Standards (DfE 2012) is tracked and monitored continuously throughout the programme, both in the University and during school placements, using the trainee progress profile.

Study modules

Through the course we’ll:

  • Develop your high expectations for every child by embedding our values of character, equity and inclusion from day one
  • Build your knowledge, skills and understanding so that you are well prepared to meet the Teachers’ Standards and be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
  • Support and assess your progress so that you develop into a confident, reflective teacher who can make a positive difference to the lives and learning of every child.

 

The modules you will study

Compulsory modules

  • Professional Studies, ITaP and Placement 1

    This module gives you the opportunity to acquire and secure the core professional habits, behaviours and pedagogical knowledge and skills necessary at the novice stage of your training. You will be introduced to and develop your understanding of the evidence that underpins excellent classroom practice.  

    You'll also be supported to develop a secure understanding of how to use this to inform your own classroom practice. You will also have the time to reflect on and refine your own developing practice.

  • Core Subjects

    Through this module you will equip yourself with the subject and pedagogical knowledge to teach the core primary subjects - English, maths and science. You'll be introduced to each subject area:
    • the relevant national curriculum expectations
    • Ofsted Research Reviews 
    • and the Oxford Brookes University Initial Teacher Education and Training curriculum and Knowledge Base.
    You'll be introduced to each subject area, significant concepts and the relevant national curriculum expectations. You'll also learn the importance of auditing, developing and establishing your subject and curriculum knowledge.

  • Foundation Subjects

    Building on experience and prior knowledge, this module will help to support you in developing a secure foundational understanding of subject knowledge and pedagogy in the following national curriculum subjects: 
    • Design and Technology
    • History
    • Geography
    • Art and Design
    • Music
    • Physical Education
    • Computing
    • Languages
    • Personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE)
    • and Relgious Education (RE). 

  • Masters 1: Equity in Education

    You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the causes and impact of inequity in education. You will consider examples of inequity and the implications of these for pupils and schools. 

    You'll also develop your understanding of and critique language around pupils and families used in policy and practice. There will be opportunities to consider how research into inequity has been interpreted and applied in policy and practise.

  • Professional Studies, ITaP and Placements 2

    This is your opportunity to acquire and secure the core professional behaviours, pedagogical knowledge and skills necessary at the advanced beginner stage of your training. 

    You'll develop your understanding of the evidence that underpins excellent classroom practice as well as a securing an understanding of how to use this to inform your own classroom practice. You will have the time to reflect on and refine your own developing practice.

  • Masters 2: Evidence Informed Practice

    You’ll explore the relationship between evidence, policy and classroom practice, considering how research and national policy are interpreted and translated into teaching.

    Using a National Curriculum foundation subject as a lens, you’ll critically examine the evidence underpinning teaching approaches and consider how this evidence has influenced policy and practice in schools. You’ll explore how teachers use their professional judgement and adaptive teaching to respond to pupils’ needs and different classroom contexts, while maintaining high expectations for all.

  • Professional Studies, ITaP and Placements 3

    Through this module, you'll have the opportunity to acquire and secure the core professional habits, behaviours, pedagogical knowledge and skills necessary at the effective stage of your training. 

    You'll develop your understanding of the evidence that underpins excellent classroom practice and will be supported to develop a solid understanding of how to use this to inform your own classroom practice. You will have the time to reflect on and refine your own developing practice.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Research

The School of Education, Humanities and Languages is a thriving centre for educational research and teacher professional development. Students on master's level programmes therefore join a large research community comprising researchers at all levels of higher education study.

We hold two major research conferences each year - the School of Education Research Conference and the EdD Colloquium. All students are invited to attend our annual Research

Seminar Series (which attracts both internal and external speakers). We also organise a number of conferences, lectures, seminars and debates, some of which have an international reach.

The School’s six research groups exist to encourage engagement in research, publication, conference presentations, seminars and workshops:

  • Inclusion and Wellbeing
  • Policy, Partnership and Leadership
  • STEAM pedagogy and learning
  • Humanistic Perspectives on Education
  • Early Years
  • Applied Linguistics

View all staff profiles for School of Education, Humanities and Languages

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Careers

Start your teaching career with confidence.

Teaching is a career where you can make a lasting difference to children’s lives. Throughout the course, you’ll develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to begin your career as a primary teacher and make a positive difference to every child you teach.

Through your placements, you’ll build strong professional relationships with teachers, mentors and school leaders across a range of schools. You’ll graduate with valuable classroom experience, a growing professional network and the confidence to take the next step into your teaching career. 

Professional Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Teaching Regulation Agency to grant Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in the UK. You will be provisionally registered with the Teaching Regulation Agency at the beginning of your course. Students who successfully complete the course will be recommended for QTS.

Student profiles

George Batty

"The small and personal nature of the course made it feel really supportive, and the flexibility to train as a Primary teacher without specialising in a single subject meant I could develop skills across a broad curriculum."

Read more about George

Maya El Khoury

"Placements allowed me to deepen my practical skills, work across different early years environments, and gain confidence in supporting children’s learning and development."

Read more about Maya

Najma Omar

"From lesson planning to classroom management, my time at Oxford Brookes gave me the foundation I needed to thrive as an educator."

Read more about Najma

Katherine Morton

"Teaching has always been something I’ve wanted to do and I knew the School of Education department at Oxford Brookes offered an excellent service"

Read more about Katherine
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Entry requirements

International qualifications and equivalences

How to apply

Application process

Apply for this course through DfE Apply. Applications are now closed for September 2026 entry. Applications will open for September 2027 entry on September 29, 2026.

Accommodation for this course

If you're applying for this course, please note that there are specific accommodation arrangements for some students. Find out more about accommodation options for this course.


Apply now - DfE Apply

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£9,790
International full time
£17,250
Home (UK) full time
£10,050
International full time
£18,500

Tuition fees

2026 / 27
Home (UK) full time
£9,790
International full time
£17,250
2027 / 28
Home (UK) full time
£10,050
International full time
£18,500

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

For further information please see our tuition fees FAQs.

Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students. 

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

£2,000 International Student Scholarship September entry Oxford Brookes Bursary for students starting 2024-25 or earlier Undergraduate maintenance loans for full-time UK students Undergraduate tuition fee loans for UK students Oxford Brookes Bursary for Students starting 2025/26 or later 20% Alumni Discount Scheme

Oxford Brookes alumni may be eligible for a 10% fees discount on postgraduate study.

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.