Course Summary

At Durham University, we are passionate about developing high-quality teachers who aspire, through their scholarly, reflective and inspirational practice, to make a difference to the lives of their students, both now and in the future. At the core of our vision is a more equitable world in which education plays an important role in enabling individuals, communities and societies to flourish. The Primary Education degree offers Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and is ideal for those committed to a teaching career in a primary school. In addition to preparing you to teach the whole curriculum, the course enables you to become a specialist in a particular curriculum area: English, Mathematics or Science. The degree aims to help you develop an appropriate repertoire of professional knowledge and understanding to provide a foundation for effective teaching in a primary school; an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the core subjects of the National Curriculum; personal skills which would enable you to contribute to a school as a curriculum specialist in one of the core areas; knowledge and understanding of the other subjects in the primary curriculum to a level which will support effective teaching; understanding of schools and the National Curriculum as the framework within which children’s formal learning takes place; classroom effectiveness by drawing upon the expertise of practising teachers; a personal educational philosophy and a professional approach to your work; an understanding of the responsibilities and roles of the primary teacher. The Primary Education degree offer closely aligns with the research focus and outputs of the department, offering evidence-based, recent and relevant materials alongside other academic elements, which will fully support the developing primary practitioner. There is an opportunity to personalise the degree from the range of optional modules on offer in Years 1 and 2. There are excellent opportunities for the consideration of international and intercultural perspectives; increasingly relevant with current UK policy looking to overseas pedagogies to inform curriculum development. The course also offers forward-looking professional development opportunities such as the development of the role of the teacher-researcher and the opportunity to explore the role of subject leadership within schools for future career development. **Professional Development** During the course, you will be assigned to one of our Partnership School Training Centres, where you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in a teaching background supported by the school, your School Training Centre Co-ordinator and a University Tutor. The school-based activities involve structured classroom observations, planning and research projects and practical teaching - the latter starting by teaching individual pupils, eventually leading through group work to full classroom teaching. You will each have a designated teacher-mentor who will guide your work in schools. In all three years of the course, there are weekly serial visits and block placements in school; increasing in length from 4 weeks in Year 1 to 12 weeks in Year 3.

Course Details - Modules

Year 1 Core modules: • The Evidence Informed Primary Teacher: Developing the Practice • Shifting the Focus: From the “Three Rs” to the “Three Cs”. Optional modules include: • Context of Education • Introduction to Intercultural and International Education • Evidence in Education • Foundations of Psychology in Education • Disability and Educational Needs: What’s so ‘Special’ about SEND? Year 2 Core modules: • The Evidence Informed Primary Teacher: Enhancing expertise • The Three Cs: Criticality, Concepts and Curriculum • Educational Research Methods. Optional modules include: • Identity, Culture and Education • Constructions of Childhood • Assessing Education • Learning and Development in Childhood • Disability and Educational Needs: Impairment, Empowerment and Education. Year 3 Core modules: • Future Leaders: Subject Co-ordination and Leadership • Beyond the Three Cs: An Adventure in Primary Pedagogy • Double Dissertation: Disciplinary Contexts of Education. Please note that the list of optional modules available in any year will vary depending on available teaching staff. The lists above provide an example of the type of modules which may be offered.

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: X101

Institution code: D86

Campus Name: Collingwood College

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

Specific subjects excluded for entry: General Studies and Critical Thinking. Information: Applicants taking Science A-levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This refers only to English A Levels.

Departments will normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. In the absence of 3 Advanced Highers, where these are not offered by the applicant’s school, offers comprising of Advanced Highers and Highers or a number of Highers may be made on a case by case basis.

We require 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 (or equivalent). Applicants may be required to meet additional subject-specific requirements for particular courses at Durham.

General information on subjects/grades required for entry: Sixteen points (6, 5, 5) from Higher level subjects required.

The subject area studied should normally reflect the content of the Primary National Curriculum and/or relate to the study of Childhood.


Grade 4 or C in GCSE English, Mathematics and Science is a standard offer requirement. Our contextual offer for this programme is A level BBC (or equivalent). Grade 4 or C in GCSE English Language, Mathematics and Science is a contextual offer requirement. To find out if you’re eligible, please visit: www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/contextualoffers/.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/entry/

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Minimum Further Information are not listed for this Course.

English language requirements

Test Grade AdditionalDetails
English Language Entry Requirement Information are not listed for this Course.

Unistats information

Student satisfaction : 87%

Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs): 75%

Go onto work and study: 91%

Fees and funding

Republic of Ireland 9250.0 Year 1
Channel Islands 9250.0 Year 1
EU 22700.0 Year 1
England 9250.0 Year 1
Northern Ireland 9250.0 Year 1
Scotland 9250.0 Year 1
Wales 9250.0 Year 1
International 22700.0 Year 1

Additional Fee Information

Additional Fee Information are not listed for this Course.

Provider information

The Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Address3 are not listed for this Course.
Durham
DH1 3LE

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