Primary 5-11 (with QTS)
PGCE
Key facts
Department
School of Education
Overview
Our PGCE Primary 5-11 course provides you with the professional skills required to become an effective teacher. And teaches you how to inspire primary school children aged between 5-11 years old.
You will be confirmed by the National College of Teaching and Leadership as a newly qualified teacher (NQT) upon successful completion of the course.
Course content is based on a reflective and critical approach to education theory, policy and practice. It includes university-based teaching sessions and school-based professional training, such as practical teaching placement across the age ranges.
You will gain the:
- professional attributes
- knowledge
- understanding
- skills
required to become an effective teacher.
Places for postgraduate teacher training are highly competitive so we recommend that you apply as early as possible. There is no deadline for applications. Early application is especially advised if you live locally and would like to work in our partnership schools.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
GCSE: Passes at GCSE Level 4 (grade C) or above in English Language, Mathematics and Science (or equivalent).
Recognised UK degree, or degree equivalent, typically at second class honours.
Before applying for the course, it is strongly recommended that you gain school experience.
Satisfactory health and criminal record audits.
You will have to apply for your teacher training course through the UCAS for teacher training application form.
All candidates whose application forms indicate appropriate qualification and experience will be invited for interview.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
Screening
All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be made.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
Apply for this course through UCAS for teacher training.
We are fully committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, from people at all stages of life, and seek to make all our courses as inclusive as possible.
Although there is no deadline for applications we recommend that you apply as early as possible as places for postgraduate teacher training are highly competitive. Early application is especially advised if you live locally and would like to work in our partnership schools
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
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.
Financial support and scholarships
All Oxford Brookes alumni, friends and family may be eligible for a 10% fees discount on postgraduate study.
General sources of funding and fees for postgraduate students can be found here.
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, if any, are detailed below.
On this course you’ll be going on placements in schools. This means you’ll need a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check. This costs about £50. You may also need to pay an extra fee of about £15 to keep your DBS up-to-date.
Learning and assessment
You will complete up to three of the module credits at Level seven (masters level) as part of this course.
The Oxford Brookes Primary Partnership of schools is well established. Mentors and teachers are involved in all aspects of your training. You will undertake periods of school experience teaching across classes within your chosen age range, in at least two partnership schools.
Ofsted feedback:
- the good attainment and outstanding progress of students, irrespective of their varied starting points
- communication across the partnership, which ensures high expectations and consistency
- very effective team working among enthusiastic, committed and knowledgeable trainers at all levels
- the commitment and enthusiasm of trainees, their outstanding professional attitudes to their development, and the capacity to identify their own learning priorities
- the outstanding support provided for individual trainees, particularly those who are at risk of failure.
Study modules
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
You will be taught through the following methods:
- lectures
- directed reading
- workshops
- seminars
- practical and project work with professional tutor support.
Attendance at lectures, workshops, seminars and school based training is a compulsory component of successful completion of the course. It is monitored throughout and reflected in trainee references.
Teaching staff are drawn primarily from the School of Education. You will receive further input from visiting speakers from:
- partnership schools
- teaching unions.
Teaching staff are drawn primarily from the School of Education. You will also have further input from visiting speakers from:
- partnership schools
- teaching unions
- newly qualified teachers (NQTs)
- other experts within the field of education.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
All academic modules are rigorously assessed, mostly by written assignments. The school based training is assessed against the Teachers' Standards during school placements.
Assessment is based on:
- coursework
- assignments
- achievement against the Teachers' Standards for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Research
The School of Education 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
After you graduate
Career prospects
There is currently a demographic bulge in the primary age population so career prospects for trained primary teachers are currently excellent. By completing placements in a variety of local primary schools, you will build excellent relationships with head teachers helping your future employment prospects.
In 2016/17, 100% of completing students found employment following the end of the course.
Student profiles
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.