Intro

As a teacher of children aged 3 to 7 you'll play a central role in developing a love for reading, writing and numeracy and support social, emotional and physical development.

Our Primary Education (3-7 years) degree leads to QTS - the professional teaching qualification.

Through workshops, practical sessions and placements we'll help you develop the skills to be a confident and competent teacher. 

As a 91快活林 student teacher you'll learn with an Ofsted 'outstanding' provider from an expert team, with their own classroom experience, in our specialist facilities that replicate those used in schools.

Key facts

Location 91快活林: Falmer 

UCAS code X100

Full-time 3 years

Qualified Teacher Status is awarded by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)

Application and interview advice sessions

Get tips for your teaching course application and interview at one of our online advice sessions. 

What are my next steps?

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels
BBB.

BTEC
DDM.

International Baccalaureate
30 points with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
pass with 60 credits overall. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at distinction and the rest at merit.

T-level
Merit in the Education and Early Years or the Education and Childcare T-level. Other T-level subjects are not accepted.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
at least five subjects including English language, mathematics and science. 

If you do not have the required GCSEs, find out which equivalent qualifications we accept instead.

Interviews
Interviews for this course can be in-person at the university or online. If we invite you to an interview you'll be able to choose a date and which option suits you best.

Experience

While experience in a school is not a condition of entry for initial teacher education courses we recommend that you take up opportunities to gain a realistic understanding of whether teaching is right for you. The Get Into Teaching offers opportunities across the country to book a day’s worth of experience.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits, or relevant experience may count towards your course at 91快活林, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, at least 6.0 in all four skills.

Other

  • Applicants from minority ethnic and other groups under-represented in the profession, including men in primary teaching, are particularly welcome.
  • All offers are subject to an occupational health check and Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced disclosure check.
  • We are committed to . As part of our selection and interview process, we will undertake additional checks to confirm the suitability of candidates.

Contextual admissions

When you apply to 91快活林 we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more about contextual admissions.

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Course content

Top reasons to choose this course

  • You'll train to teach with an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ provider.
  • 2nd in the UK for education courses  – Guardian University Guide 2025.
  • 95% of graduates in work or further study 15 months after their degree – Graduate Outcomes Survey.
  • School placements in each year of the degree with opportunities in large, small, urban and rural settings.
  • Gain a knowledge and understanding of the full primary curriculum with option modules to develop your expertise in the subjects that interest you most.
  • Learn in specialist classrooms that replicate those used in schools and our curriculum centre with its 30,000 resources for student teachers.
  • Our teaching graduates benefit from excellent employment rates that are consistently above the sector average.
  • No written exams.
Group of children in blue uniform in classroom

Course structure

This course is delivered through workshops, practical sessions and school-based training.

There are no written exams on this route. You will be assessed in a variety of ways, such as assignments and collaborative group presentations. Your school-based training is assessed in conjunction with our partnership schools.

You will learn to provide developmental support to learners from foundation to Key Stage 1, encouraging a love of learning to help children reach their full potential.

You will gain a knowledge and understanding of the full primary curriculum, with subject studies to strengthen your specialist knowledge in your chosen area, while you start to develop your leadership and management skills.

Some course details may change as we work to ensure our courses are up to date with new government education policy, initiatives, and changes in the education system.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through .

male_and_female_teacher_reception_classroom

Year 1

Modules

  • Education Studies: How Children Learn

    This module will support you to develop an understanding of pedagogy and professionalism in an early years and primary context.

  • English and Language Acquisition

    This module will introduce you to relevant theory, research and practice, enabling you to understand children’s development as speakers, listeners, readers and writers (including the nature and function of the teacher’s role in this process). You will develop your subject knowledge and understanding of the teaching of English and the principles that underpin effective practice in the EYFS and primary phase. This will be framed in the context of current legislation and curricular policy to support preparation for your first placement.

  • Exploring Learning and Teaching in Mathematics and Computing

    This module will introduce you to relevant theory, research and practice in order to develop confidence and positive attitude towards mathematics and computing.

    You will develop your understanding of how children develop as mathematicians and will be introduced to the core concepts and key processes of computer science. It will be underpinned by current government legislation and curricular policy to support you in your school based training.

  • Teaching Primary Science

    This module will enable you to become aware of your capabilities in relation to subject knowledge and to challenge and address personal misconceptions in scientific concepts.

    It will introduce you to relevant theory, research and practice in order to gain a broad understanding of how children learn science and the methodology associated with it. You will be guided to make effective and creative pedagogic choices in order to support pupil progress. This will be framed in the context of current government legislation and curricula and prepare you for your school based training.

  • Introducing the Foundation Subjects

    In this module you will develop your curriculum awareness and understanding of the effective planning, resourcing and teaching of art, design and technology, modern foreign languages, music, geography, history, physical education, religious education, and PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) across the early years and primary age phases, as appropriate.

  • School Based Training 1

    This module is the first of three school based training modules, and will provide you with opportunities to gain specific experiences in order to develop and demonstrate professional attributes, skills, knowledge and understanding linked explicitly to the Teachers’ Standards. You will develop insights into pupils’ learning and the role of planning and assessment to facilitate pupil progress. It will enable you to reflect upon and evaluate your experiences, identify professional strengths and development needs and set targets for improvement.

A child explaining something to his teacher

Year 2

Modules

  • Education Studies: Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment
  • Teaching English, Principled Practice and Current Policy
  • Deepening Subject and Pedagogic Knowledge to Impact on Children's Mathematical Understanding
  • Curriculum Design and Enhanced Practice in Foundation Subjects and RE
  • School-based Training 2

Options*

  • Developing Expertise in Teaching and Learning in Art and Design
  • Story: How We Use Language to Imagine Entertain and Understand
  • Developing Curriculum Expertise in Primary History and Geography
  • Developing Mathematical Thinking
  • Developing Expertise in Primary Personal, Social and Health Education
  • Science, Scientists and Working Scientifically

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Primary PE QTS bench work

Final year

Modules

  • Contemporary Curriculum Studies and Professional Development
  • Education Studies: Preparing to Lead Children’s Learning
  • Individual Professional Project
  • School-based Training 3

Options*

  • Processes and Practices: Developing a Rationale for Art, Craft and Design in the Primary Classroom
  • Teaching Primary Computing
  • Contemporary Developments, Theories and Practices in Primary English
  • Creative Curriculum Design in History or Geography
  • Contemporary Issues in the Teaching and Learning of Primary Mathematics
  • Outdoor and Adventurous Activities, and Swimming and Water Safety
  • Developing Expertise in Citizenship Education and Religious Education
  • Science Beyond the Classroom

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Primary D&T students in workshop with teacher

 School-based training

School-based training in a partnership placement school forms an important element of each year of study.

You will be asked to complete a school-based training information form when you start your primary education degree course and we will use this information to match you to a suitable placement. We will consider your previous experience, travelling distance, the age phases you wish to teach, and your current needs.

You will be fully prepared leading up to your school-based training and will be supported by both the university and a school-based mentor throughout your training. Almost all of our placements will be with partner schools in south-east England, most of them in East and West Sussex.

In your first year you will spend a week in school in semester 1 followed by a block of approximately seven weeks in school in semester 2. You will be paired with another trainee and will teach a maximum 50% timetable.

In your second year you will be in school for a block of approximately two months. This will again be a paired placement and you will teach to a 50% timetable that builds to 75% towards the end of School-Based Training 2.

In your final year you will be in school for another three months but this time you will teach with increased autonomy and up to a 75% timetable. The final placement is not paired.

I have really loved all four of my teaching placements, which have been incredibly varied, from a small village school with mixed year groups to a large urban primary school with a diverse intake.

Jennifer Lamb, Primary Education with QTS (3–7 years) BA(Hons)

Before going on placement, the university provided lots of information so I felt fully prepared. I was warmly welcomed by the teaching staff who made every effort to support my needs and offered many opportunities for observing and learning.

Lucy Albone, Primary Education with QTS (3–7 years) BA(Hons)

Meet the team

Tim Laing, course leader

Tim is the course leaders of our Primary Education with QTS courses specialising in primary physical education and has over 20 years’ experience in primary education

Tim gained a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science before starting his career in primary education. He worked as a support teacher for children with complex needs and as a PE and school sport teacher in a preparatory school before completing a PGCE in Primary Education. He moved to 91快活林 as a year 4 class teacher in his NQT year and over the next 10 years taught across all age phases as a class teacher, as well as taking on the role of PE subject leader. Tim then created a role as the school’s first primary PE specialist teacher which enabled him to transform and sustainably improve the school’s PE and school sport provision, which he was then able to replicate across a number of local schools.

Tim's career at the University of 91快活林 started as a part-time lecturer in primary PE, teaching one day per week alongside his work as a primary class teacher and PE specialist in school. He developed his role to Senior Lecturer in Primary Education, teaching Education Studies alongside PE. Tim now leads both primary PE subject study modules, as well as teaching primary PE across all primary education courses at the university. 

Tim says of being a primary school class teacher: “I love making a positive difference to the lives of children. As a primary school teacher, I love being an ambassador and advocate for all subjects – getting to be an art, science, history, geography, English, PE, RE, science, maths, computing, music and PSHE teacher is incredible. I love that no day is the same. I love learning as much from the children as they learn from me!” 

“We support all students by putting them at the heart of all we do. I am proud of each and every one of our students as they complete the course, take their first steps in their teaching careers and begin to improve the lives of the children in their care.”

Tim Laing

Facilities

Our facilities include a which contains more than 30,000 specialist resources for trainee teachers including books, DVDs, games and an online catalogue.

Our Falmer campus also houses specialist classrooms that replicate those used in schools so you’ll feel at home when you go on your school-based training and start your career.

Teaching facilities include:

  • performance studio.

Student teacher in curriculum centre

Ofsted 'outstanding'

Graded 'outstanding' by Ofsted for primary and secondary in our 2024 .

Ofsted commended us on many aspects of our courses saying:

  • Trainees shine at 91快活林’s long-established and highly impressive teacher training programmes.
  • The care and dedication shown by staff towards trainees is superb.
  • Trainees are at the heart of everything. They are valued and expertly supported throughout the course.
  • The curriculum skilfully equips trainees in safeguarding, behaviour management and supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
  • Trainees impress the placement settings they work in because of their professionalism and aptitude to apply what they have learned.
Ofsted Outstanding provider

More about this subject at 91快活林

Careers

Preparing for your teaching career 

This course leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), the professional qualification for teachers. QTS enables you to teach in schools in England, it is also recognised in Wales once registered with The Education Workforce Council (EWC). 

95% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after this degree – Graduate Outcomes Survey. 

You’ll benefit from our partnership with over 600 schools, where you’ll gain practical school-based experience in a wide range of settings – large, small, rural and urban.

You will gain a knowledge and understanding of the full primary curriculum, with subject studies to strengthen your specialist knowledge in your chosen area, while you start to develop your leadership and management skills.

If you are considering whether a career in teaching is for you, and you are a UK resident, the Department for Education’s offers 1 to 10 days’ classroom experience in a secondary school.

A primary school pupil with his hand in the air in front of his teacher

School-based training 

Your three school-based training phases will give you supported experience and help you gain confidence in your teaching ability.

Our staff will ensure that you are well prepared for each phase of school-based training, and that you have all the support and guidance you need to make the most of these opportunities.

We have partnerships with over 600 schools and settings which offer you opportunities in large, small, urban and rural settings ensuring you will have a well-rounded experience. You will experience time in two carefully selected schools during your course.

Your school-based training experiences will include:

  • writing lesson plans and evaluations for the classes you teach
  • engaging in both formative and summative assessment of pupils learning and performance.
  • completing your e-portfolio as evidence of meeting the Teachers’ Standards.

Each year we organise over 2,500 placements for our students with partner schools and colleges, offering varied placement opportunities. We work hard to ensure that your school-based training will provide you with learning opportunities and valuable experience with the age group you are qualifying to teach.

School-based experience will enable you to demonstrate and grow your knowledge. It will also enable you to make valuable contacts in schools which will help when you are looking for your first teaching role.

Graduate destinations 

Our teaching graduates benefit from excellent employment rates, that are consistently above the sector average.

University of 91快活林 trained teachers are highly sought after by our partnership schools. They are known for their creative and innovative approaches to teaching.

Many of our graduates take on mentoring and leadership roles, or opt for specialist roles such as special education needs.

Our careers service holds an annual teaching recruitment fair on campus which our partner schools attend looking to recruit newly qualified teachers for the next school year.

West Blatchington School pupils in the classroom

Further study 

Should you wish to continue your studies, our Education MA further integrates academic study with work-based learning and research.

There are also a range of research degrees.

students walking around our Falmer campus

Supporting your employability 

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more about our Careers Service...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Employable

Early career support

We will continue to support you after you qualify through our .

We’ll offer resources, advice, events and drop-in sessions to help you overcome the key challenges that many new teachers face in their first few years of working as a qualified teacher. We’ll help you with the next stage of your journey and offer support that will enable you to develop and thrive in your early career.

Our website provides guidance and support for after you graduate, including the latest teaching job vacancies, personal statement feedback, short mock interviews, useful contacts for advice and a variety of helpful resources including videos.

The university tutors supported me long after finishing the course. During my NQT year at a community college they continued to provide me with advice and check on my professional progress and my wellbeing.

Brenda, graduate and teacher

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,900 GBP

Transport costs associated with travel to and from your placement will be reimbursed.

Fee information for this course for 2025 entry will be updated here no later than December 2024.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2024–25.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

What's included

Here you’ll find details of specific resources and services that are included in the tuition fee for our education and teaching students. To help you to budget for your studies, there is also information on any additional costs that you may have to pay or can choose to pay in addition to your tuition fee.

Check out our finance pages for info about fees, funding and scholarships along with advice on international and island fee-paying status.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information.

What’s included in your tuition fee

  • Course books, magazines and journals are available in the university libraries. You do not need to have your own copies. See the in the library for an up-to-date list of key subject journal databases.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software on campus – and can borrow a laptop from us if yours is broken or you don’t have a computer at home. Specialist equipment is provided to cover essential learning.

Find out how tuition fees enable us to support all of our students with important services, facilities and resources across the university.

Additional course costs

  • For courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your travel expenses but you may be able to claim some travel costs back from the university, depending on where your placement is in relation to where you live.
  • You’ll need to budget for printing and stationery for personal study, and books if you decide to buy your own.
  • You may wish to budget up to £25 for stationery/teaching materials.
  • Many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices, but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from 91快活林 city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects including education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. 91快活林 and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes and the students' union shop and bar.

The campus has extensive sport and leisure facilities including a fitness suite, swimming pool, outdoor grass football and rugby pitches, sports hall, tennis and badminton courts, and dance and spin studios.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students, and labs and a strength and conditioning suite used by sport students. We’ve recently redeveloped the Falmer campus - learn more about the many facilities our students have access to.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine-minute journey to central 91快活林.

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Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

91快活林: Falmer

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

  • You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls offer a range of rooms on our Falmer campus, minutes from your classes, and on the edge of the South Downs.
    • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Falmer campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

student outside the sport and health complex at Falmer

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

About 91快活林

The University of 91快活林 is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. 91快活林 is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the 91快活林 Festival, the Fringe, 91快活林 Digital Festival, 91快活林 Science Festival, the London to 91快活林 bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the 91快活林 Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in 91快活林 enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from 91快活林 to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from 91快活林
91快活林 Beach sunset

Maps

Falmer campus

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our 91快活林 Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.

Sport at 91快活林

Sport 91快活林

Sport 91快活林 brings together our sport and recreation services. As a 91快活林 student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

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Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Student Views  

Oliver Moutrey

After deciding that I wanted to pursue a career in education, the choice to choose 91快活林 was so easy. The university is rated outstanding for teaching and I lived 45 minutes away from campus and saw it an easy commute to make.

The course is absolutely incredible, it’s very practical and hands on but it can be challenging as well. The most interesting aspects of the course have to be working collaboratively as a group, there are so many ideas bouncing off one another and it’s a truly great environment to be in.

All of the staff have been absolutely incredible. They are engaging and aspiring people and have a lot of knowledge about what they teach.

This course helps you to prepare you for your future career. Staff show you how to plan, teach, assess and improve in your own teaching from this. School-based training on top of this ultimately helps shape you as a teacher and is a really powerful resource

I can safely say that the lecturers really do provide an insight on their experiences - they help you understand and underpin relevant strategies and ways to teach children and how to best support them in most situations. I can already see an incredible transformation in myself as a teacher from when I first started the course to where I am now.

Oliver Moutrey, education student

Abby Pope

I have always had a passion for teaching since a very young age. I saw teachers as being very inspirational as they have the potential to make a huge impact on children’s lives, and I knew that I wanted to do that in my life.

The insight and experiences the staff share open your ways of thinking as they support you in understanding the relevant teaching strategies and help build your own pedagogical views and style of teaching. I’m currently in my second year and I can already see a huge difference in my confidence and subject knowledge as I start to become the teacher I envisaged at the start of the course. 

One thing which I have absolutely loved about the course is the opportunity to work with other students. I have found this very helpful as you are able to hear different perspectives and bounce off ideas from one another. I have also enjoyed every single lecture as they are very practical and engaging but often challenge your own thinking and reflections of your own school career.

The university has had a positive impact on my life. It has transformed me into a person who is lot more confident, experienced, and ready to take on my own classroom in 2024.

I am excited to see what the future holds, and I know that I will have a solid foundation to be an excellent teacher because of the skills and knowledge I have learnt during my time at the University of 91快活林. 

Abby Pope

Stay in touch

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at 91快活林. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to 91快活林.

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Course specification

Course specifications are the approved description of each course. They contain a breakdown of the content and structure of the course, learning outcomes and assessment. Course specs are updated following course changes.

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