The course combines academic study and practical teaching experience at every level. These two sides of the degree feed into each other as you learn, with the knowledge and theory you gain on campus informing your teaching practice on school placements. Your university-based study will cover both the primary curriculum, building your subject knowledge and pedagogy in preparation for your placements and professional studies modules which give you the skills and understanding to ensure all children in the classroom make progress in their learning.
You will have opportunities to personalise your course, specialising in the areas which interest you most. When you apply you will choose either the 3-7 or 5-11 route. These two Primary Education programmes study some modules together but others separately, giving you specialist knowledge for the age group you will work with. In your final year you can choose a further specialism selecting a module from a range of options. You will also have the opportunity to design, plan and carry out a research project with a focus of your choosing.
The key aim of the Primary Education programme is to deliver a high quality current and relevant programme of training and education that equips you with the professional knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes that you need to become highly effective teachers (and leaders) with both a strong subject and wider professional identity. The programme combines school experience with taught academic sessions in order to achieve this.
To support this, you will follow an ambitious curriculum that is underpinned by the Initial Teacher Training Core Content Framework and York St John Partnership five key themes, that has been designed to integrate theory and practice.
The combination of experienced university, school based and other external colleagues working in partnership, makes a powerful and inspiring teaching team for you. You will have both university and school based academic sessions and training, where you will be encouraged to critically reflect on educational theory into practice to support development of pedagogy.
• You are supported throughout the programme to develop subject knowledge and your understanding of current educational policy and initiatives.
• Academic assignments are designed to support your developing practice.
• Throughout the programme there is strong support for you by both university and school-based staff and you also will benefit from the full range of university services (e.g. writing and academic support, wellbeing services, library and IT, careers etc.)
School placements
School placements, one per year, provide structured opportunities to observe experienced teachers and other professionals, and support you in progressively building your confidence towards independent teaching. You will gradually take on more and more responsibility as you progress through the course until you are ready to lead a class of your own.
We have very good relationships with our school partnerships across the region and you will get involved in all aspects of school life while you are on your placements.
About York St Joh University
So, in partnership, we work together with a wide range of schools to provide education and training that is current and relevant and underpinned by high quality research and evidence.
Initial Teacher Education has been a key part of York St John University since its inception in 1841. York St John University is an accredited Initial Teacher Training provider and on successful completion of this course you will be recommended for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by the Teaching Regulation Agency.
We have a strong employment record and contribute to the local and national teaching community.
Once qualified and as you become an Early Career Teacher you will have access to university support resources in order to further support your transition from ITE into your first teaching role.
Course Details - Modules
The programme will be delivered through a series of modules (16 in total over three years). You will be taught in a variety of ways; a minority of sessions in whole group lectures (over 100 students), a vast majority of sessions in workshops and seminars (groups of 25 - 30 students) and tutorials (1- 6 students). In the first two years there will be compulsory modules covering Foundation Stage Curriculum and National Curriculum subjects, professional issues e.g. classroom management, school experience and thematic approaches to the whole primary curriculum. In the third year of the programme you will be able to choose two areas of specialism for deeper study: an advanced professional focus (APF) and an advanced subject focus (ASF). There are four main strands to the degree: School Experience; Professional Studies; Curriculum Studies; Final Year Specialisms.
Course Details – Assessment Method
Assessment Methods are not listed for this Course.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
X310
Institution code:
Y75
Campus Name:
Main Site
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
