Primary Initial Teacher Education with QTS: English-medium
Earn your Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by training in partner schools which are carefully chosen for their exceptional teaching standards, outstanding mentorship, and strong commitment to developing future educators.
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Key Course Details
This course is delivered through the medium of English and focuses on the development of knowledge in the Areas of Learning and Experience, practical skills, wider skills and the professional competencies required to become a highly effective teacher.
Designed For
Creative, innovative students who possess a diverse skillset and a passion for learning and teaching in the primary school age phase.
Career Paths
- Primary School Teaching
- Training or education roles in libraries (with further training)
- Training or education roles in museums (with further training)
- Training or education roles in private sector organisation
Skills taught
- Teaching
- Influencing Learners
- Advancing Learning
- Collaboration
- Leadership
Course Highlights
Module Overview
This Initial Teacher Education course will provide you with excellent personal and professional learning opportunities both inside university and in your school experience placements. You will be supported to develop your Welsh language skills, to use Welsh confidently in the classroom and to develop your understanding of Welsh culture for the benefit of your learners.
Curriculum and school experience – embedding the pedagogical principles
This module has a focus on subject study knowledge and practical experience. Through a combination of university-based lectures and school-based experiences, the module supports student teachers to develop and reflect as resilient, lifelong learners, purposefully engaged in their own professional learning.
Reflective practice – developing research and enquiry to become agents of change
This module embeds and consolidates pedagogical principles whilst supporting further enquiry, critical reflection and evaluation through critiquing research and a Close to Practice Project conducted in the final placement.
Course Highlights
How you’ll learn
You’ll experience a blended learning approach with a mix of lectures, seminars, discussions and practical sessions so that you can demonstrate a range of flexible learning opportunities and can highlight effective pedagogical principles.
Lectures draw your attention to current research, curriculum reform and development and pedagogical approaches, whereas specific subject study practical sessions will support you to develop in the Areas of Learning and Experience in the Curriculum for Wales, through the four purposes and twelve pedagogical principles. Tutorials also provide opportunities for academic and school-based discussion and personal reflection. You will complete your placements alongside university teaching so that you are fully supported throughout your journey.
Assessment includes written academic assignments, journal article critiques, presentations, a close-to-practice project which is presented as an e-book and a practical digital assessment. Progress will be assessed throughout the year towards the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
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Placements
You’ll undertake school experiences across the course where you will work with school mentors and university tutors to develop your teaching skills and make progress towards achieving or exceeding the requirements for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), as outlined in the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership. Each School Experience is organised by the teaching team and School Experience Officer, in approved schools which are carefully chosen for their exceptional teaching standards and high level of mentorship.
In each block of school experience, you’ll be observed by a qualified member of school staff, your lecturer, or both. Teaching starts with small group teaching, or teaching of a short activity to larger groups, building to teaching whole lessons and then a sequence of lessons and whole days. To allow you to graduate with the widest breadth of experience, you’ll teach in two different types of schools and teach a range of age phases.
You’ll meet weekly with mentors to discuss your learning and to learn about wider school-related professional duties. This is also your chance to reach out for support and guidance from our expert team.
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Facilities
On campus, you will learn in an environment that fully prepares you for the world of work. You’ll use specialist simulated primary school classrooms, outdoor learning spaces and digital spaces which will provide you with authentic learning environments. These learning spaces are designed to simulate the school environment, from classrooms to mock parents' evening’s, enabling you to develop confidence for the workplace in realistic settings.
Our Initial Teacher Education course makes use of a range of technology. You will have access to the Hydra Minerva simulation suite where you will experience real-world situations, within a protected environment, and be involved in the discussion and resolution of scenarios that could occur in daily school life.
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Teaching Staff
Our course team comprises dedicated, experienced professionals who will guide you on your journey to professional excellence. All our teaching staff have first-hand experience of primary teaching and are immersed in research with children from a variety of areas and age phases.
You will also be taught and supported by a range of experienced mentors in our partnership schools, based in South-east Wales.
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Typical qualification requirements:
Entry criteria detail typical offers, but USW considers all applications on an individual basis, which means that we could make offers based on qualifications, personal profile and experience. The exception to this, is that Welsh Government require that all candidates have a minimum GCSE grade C/grade 4 (or equivalent) in English Language, Mathematics and Science at the point of entry on any ITE course. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed may also be acceptable.
Entry to the PGCE programme is conditional on: An Honours degree in an area related to primary education, of at least 2:2 classification; or any honours degree of at least 2:2 classification where an A level grade C or above (or equivalent) has been obtained in a primary curriculum subject area. Selection is based on a successful interview.
Interview: An interview is required for this course. Those applying will be provided with further details if successful at the initial selection stage. Those interviewed must demonstrate an aptitude for teaching as well as their intellectual abilities through a process of group discussion and individual questions. Those applying will be required to pass literacy and numeracy tests and must demonstrate appropriate knowledge of digital competency.
All entrants will have met the requirements of the Education Health Standards prior to commencing the course. Statutory obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) will be followed and reasonable adjustments put in place to ensure applicants are not discriminated against in the application process or whilst on the ITE course. Staff members will meet the statutory requirements placed on the institution by the disability equity duty.
Additional Requirements:
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics and English Language at Grade C or above (for ITE courses) and Science at Grade C.
If you do not have the GCSE grade C requirements in Mathematics, English Language and/or Science, but you hold a GCSE grade D, then you are able to gain equivalency of a grade C by successfully completing a module in Mathematics, English and/or Science. Further details can be found here: Equivalency GCSE Modules for English, Maths and Science.
You can view the accepted Equivalencies to GCSE English Language or Welsh Language and Mathematics C grade for entry to Initial Teacher Training Education here.
Relevant work experience: In addition to the formal qualifications, work experience with children in a school setting is normally required. This can be, for example, full or part-time paid or voluntary work in an educational setting.
This work experience should be equivalent to at least ten days and must normally be completed before an application is submitted. The student will be required to explain how they have met this requirement in their personal statement. The candidate may be asked to submit an additional reference relating to their work experience confirming they have completed the required experience in a school setting.
DBS: An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on the Child Workforce and Child Barring List and subscription to the DBS Update Service is required – details will be sent to applicants at the appropriate time.
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence please view our dedicated country pages.
English language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
We're here to help
Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.
Fees and Funding
ADDITIONAL COSTS
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
*Obligatory
Students will be expected to pay for a DBS or certificate of good behaviour from their home country. The DBS fee includes £49.50 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee
Cost: £64.74
Subscription required for each year of the course for a yearly fee of £16. Please note the service has to be joined within 30 days of receipt of your enhanced DBS certificate
Cost: £16
Travel to and from placement and any additional costs levied by placements.
School Experience 1 and School Experience 2 cost is dependent on placement location and is an additional cost to be met by students.
University Quality Assurance
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
Studying at USW
Our courses are designed with industry leaders and provide the practical skills and experiences industry demands. Our flexible courses reflect the need for life-long learning. If you value education in practice, not just in theory, then USW is for you.
How to apply
There is an online application process for this course. Please choose the application form for your preferred start date and mode of study (i.e. full-time or part-time).
International admissions
Please see our international admissions advice for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.
