Primary Teacher Education (Campus-Based)

Critical Analysis of Educational Research (15 credits)

You’ll build on the core educational skills you gained in Year 1. You’ll develop essential skills for succeeding in your dissertation as you increase your knowledge of effective research methods. You’ll gain fantastic research skills for your future career, as you learn how to identify relevant research from the wide literature of educational research, and relate it to pressing, current issues. You’ll discover how to critique other people’s research and develop your ability to write critically.

Inclusive Pedagogy (15 credits)

You’ll discover how to teach in a way that helps all children to learn. You’ll investigate four themes from the six ‘pillars of inclusion’, which are:

• access
• attitudes
• choice
• partnerships
• communication
• policy.

You’ll develop rich learning opportunities, giving all learners the potential to thrive and excel in classroom life. You’ll consider how to support learners with special educational needs, English as an additional language or who experience other barriers to learning. You’ll also discover how to create a positive classroom atmosphere through behaviour management and motivating your students.

Primary English: Teaching Writing in Key Stage 1 and 2 (15 credits)

You’ll deepen your knowledge of teaching English in primary school. You’ll build on your skills and knowledge from your Year 1 English module. You’ll focus particularly on the teaching and learning of writing across Key Stages 1 and 2. You’ll tackle key areas such as the following: 

• techniques and strategies for writing barriers to writing
• contexts and purposes for writing
• the importance of talk to supporting children as writers
• investigating how to deepen and develop children’s vocabulary, and how this supports them as writers
• spelling and systematic synthetic phonicsat Key Stage 2 multimedia approaches to teaching English, including digital literacies.

Science and Technology in the Primary Curriculum (15 credits)

You’ll apply the science skills you gained in Year 1 to creating an exciting science and technology curriculum for students, based around projects. You’ll increase your knowledge of how children learn best, as you combine science and technology objectives and learn how to help pupils solve problems. 

You’ll enact scenarios which apply to primary school settings, and learn how to represent advances in science and technology in our rapidly changing world. You’ll gain fantastic teamwork skills, key to your career as a teacher, as you work with your peers to discover the skills and techniques that develop children’s scientific and technological knowledge. You’ll also use ICT resources to support students with science.

Developing the Mathematics Curriculum (15 credits)

You’ll develop a strong grounding in the primary mathematics curriculum. You’ll build on the mathematical knowledge you gained in your Thinking Mathematically and Being Mathematical module. 

You’ll enhance your knowledge of the mathematical processes of:

• fluency
• reasoning
• problem solving

You’ll also gain crucial knowledge of the subject areas in the mathematics curriculum for Years 4 to 6 of primary education. You’ll draw on information from the National Curriculum for Mathematics primary programmes of study, and other key information. You will be taught how to use a backwards planning model to sequence learning and to start to build up concepts over time. You will be introduced to NCETM planning materials to develop an understanding of Mastery approaches to teaching maths.

Enquiring in the Humanities (15 credits)

This module introduces you to geographical, historical and social understanding and to religious education in the primary curriculum. You’ll discover how children’s learning can be developed through the curriculum requirements for geography, history and relevant aspects of citizenship, as well as the model syllabuses for religious education. You’ll work on an extended project on a cross-disciplinary humanities theme, giving you space to explore imaginative and creative ways of teaching these subjects.

The Broader Curriculum Through the Performing Arts (15 credits)

You can build on the skills you developed in The Wider Curriculum: Humanities, DT and the Arts. Through exposure to a rich range of resources and experiences, you’ll deepen your own confidence and enjoyment of these parts of the curriculum, while exploring opportunities for learning through the performing arts.

SBC2: School Based Training 2

You’ll continue your progress towards becoming a primary classroom teacher on this placement. You’ll  have the opportunity to observe experienced specialist teachers, where you’ll gain insight into specialist areas of the curriculum. You’ll begin to implement teaching strategies and practise skills such as planning, assessing and behaviour management - to meet the needs of children within your specialist area. You’ll further develop purposeful, professional and collaborative relationships with your teaching partner and placement school staff.

Independent Study: Education and Employability, Term 1 + 2 or 3 + 4 (30 credits)

Only available to students who have been unsuccessful in School-based Training 2 and/or 3

This module will draw on your knowledge and experience of primary education as a basis for exploring employability routes both in education and beyond. These might include the role of the classroom Teaching Assistant, links to the role of ICT in primary pedagogy, and leadership and management roles in a non-teaching professional context. The structure of the independent study allows you to explore a wide range of potential career options. You’ll be able to review your learning and experience in areas such as:

• how children learn
• subject knowledge in the primary curriculum
• planning, teaching and assessment.

Curriculum Design through Thematic Planning (15 credits)

You’ll extend your understanding and critical analysis of learning outside the classroom. You’ll work with education officers and university tutors in a selection of venues in order to plan a scheme of work with children outside the classroom. You’ll also study and research the theory behind learning outside the classroom. Your planning might include themes such as: 

• global citizenship
• cultural diversity
• cultural heritage.

Extending Professional Practice (15 credits)

You’ll receive the support you need for your final assessed school-based placement and moving into your induction year. You’ll develop your professional knowledge, pedagogical skills and the ability to evaluate classroom practice. You’ll encounter such questions and issues as: 

• how do we understand good teaching?
• how do we inspire pupils and develop their thinking skills?
• the value of critical evaluation and target setting in your ongoing professional development
• how to establish priorities and manage your workload to ensure your personal well-being.

Literature in the Primary School (15 credits)

How can we put stories at the heart of children’s learning? In this module, you’ll build on your knowledge of children’s reading and literature from Years 1 and 2. You’ll enhance your knowledge of children’s literature across a range of reading materials. You’ll develop fantastic sensitivity to your own learning, core to being a successful teacher, as you consider the gaps in your own reading and enhance your skills in critically evaluating texts. You’ll acquire the skills and confidence to support the needs and tastes of all children in their reading.

Extending Mathematical Understanding and Pedagogy (15 credits)

You’ll use a framework to reflect upon elements of maths teaching and their impact upon learning within video lessons. You’ll develop your ideas on how to plan, teach and assess primary mathematics effectively. You’ll also look at the wider context of progression from Foundation Stage to Key Stage 2. With this learning in place, you’ll be able to undertake a critical and informed evaluation of current and pivotal issues in primary mathematics, including curriculum innovations.

Dissertation (30 credits)

You’ll conduct independent research on a topic of personal interest. You will enhance your expertise as you create and manage your own project. You’ll gain core research skills whilst conducting a literature review.

SBC3: School Based Training 3

During SBC3 you will focus on developing your teaching and assessing skills working towards Qualified Teacher Status. Throughout the placement, you’ll receive guidance and support from teacher mentors and university tutors. You will be encouraged to develop your role within  a wider school community.

Envelope Module (15 credits)

For your envelope module, you'll choose one module from the five optional modules listed below.

You'll gain specialist teaching knowledge in the area you choose.

Enrichment of Learning: Health and Wellbeing

Why is health so key to a child’s development? In this module, you’ll discover the inspirational role of a PE or PSHE teacher as you explore how physical wellbeing supports a child’s personal development, and prepares them for teenage and adult life. You’ll build on your previous knowledge of health and wellbeing, and discover how to place these factors at the heart of school life. You’ll understand the crucial links between physical activity, attainment and achievement.

Enrichment of Learning: Science

Would you like to inspire others to love science as much as you do? This module aims to make you even more curious and enthusiastic about teaching and learning this core curriculum subject. Strengthening your scientific knowledge and understanding of pedagogy, you’ll learn and practise the skills you’ll need to become a science subject leader. You’ll take part in co-operative planning and evaluation exercises, building your ability to support colleagues in their knowledge and teaching. You’ll develop insight into issues such as using external enrichment to stimulate pupils’ curiosity and awe. You’ll also have time to consider:

• recent research on primary school science teaching
• curriculum development
• show to situate science theory and research in your own teaching practice
• how to raise the profile of science in schools.

Enrichment of Learning: Inclusion

You’ll enhance your skills, knowledge and understanding of teaching children with diverse needs in an inclusive classroom setting. Including children and young people with a broad range of special educational needs and/or disabilities, social, emotional and mental health needs. You’ll investigate in depth and be able to recognise and develop appropriate strategies for supporting individual differences, particularly those with high incidence SENDs. You’ll be given the grounding to grow into an outstanding practitioner, gaining the skills for teaching in a special school or setting, and/or to become a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) or Inclusion Co-ordinator (INCO) in a mainstream school.

Enrichment of Learning: Mathematics

If you’re keen to develop a specialism in mathematics, this module is for you. Building on earlier maths modules, it will give you a deeper understanding of current key issues and initiatives in the wider landscape of mathematics teaching. You’ll link theory to practice, and have time to consider the role of an early career maths subject leader. You’ll be able to take part in enrichment seminars and workshops, which could include storytelling, outdoor learning, art and music.

Enrichment of Learning: Storytelling

‘We tell ourselves stories in order to live,’ says the author Joan Didion. You’ll learn ways of developing children’s communication and language skills through stories. In practical workshops, you’ll encounter techniques for better storytelling, with input on vocal projection and variation to engage listeners. You’ll benefit from peer feedback on your performance skills, and experience professional examples of storytelling in settings such as Oxford’s Story Museum or from visiting experts. There will also be the chance to learn about:

• oral storytelling (traditional tales and their significance in culture)
• creating narrative environments (immersive sensory spaces to foster imagination and develop engagement with text)
• using drama, props and objects to engage listeners
• puppetry skillsstories through computer games
• helping early years pupils to create their own stories.