Primary Education with QTS: General Primary (5-11) Years (PGCE) PGCE

Are you passionate about helping children become the very best they can be? If so, what better way to fulfil that passion than learning to engage and motivate children’s learning, develop their skills, knowledge, and understanding by becoming a primary teacher at University of Cumbria.<br/><br/>Our well-respected PGCE General Primary with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) programme supports you through your journey from student to Early Career Teacher. The PGCE is an internationally renowned academic qualification, combined with the award award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) gives you the very best of evidence-based and informed practice. Our approach therefore provides you with the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to navigate the complex and exciting demands of the primary classroom.<br/><br/>This also means you can take up a position as a qualified primary school teacher the minute you graduate.<br/><br/>Our PGCE Primary Education with QTS program has intakes in both January and September. It is available as either a school-based or campus-based option at our Lancaster, Carlisle, and London locations.<br/><br/>*Accreditation for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for September 2025 entry is through the University of Warwick. From September 2026, all students will receive both their professional QTS qualification and their academic qualification from the University of Cumbria.<br/><br/>If you are an international applicant who requires a visa to study in the UK and are applying for our PGCE programmes starting on Monday 1st September 2025, the final deadline for applications is Monday 30th June 2025. This is to allow time to process your application and meet visa requirements. If your application is for PGCE Primary we may be able to consider your application for our January 2026 cohort instead. Applications for UK and Ireland based candidates remain open.<br/><br/><strong>Course Overview</strong><br/>Ready to inspire and change the lives of Primary aged children with the learning of our acclaimed PGCE General Primary? This programme provides you with all the skills, knowledge and experience to teach engaging and stimulating lessons in a primary school setting.<br/><br/>You’ll learn through a blend of theory and hands-on experience, working within the National Curriculum framework. Youll explore a range of key teaching skills and concepts from exploring how children learn, to managing behaviour, planning lessons and adapting teaching to a range of learners. You will also explore the theme of challenging and dismantling disadvantage and the key role a teacher has in raising aspirations.<br/><br/>Over half the course will be spent working with children on assessed placement, with school-based enrichment activities through Intensive Training and Practice (ITAP) alongside your university-based study. Youll take three assessed placements across a variety of schools and settings, building a wealth of experience to help advance your future career. These placements are planned intentionally throughout the programme to build on your curriculum, facilitate your enactment of it and designed to provide the level of challenge you need as the programme develops.<br/><br/><strong>On this course you will...</strong><br/>• Develop your passion for inspiring curiosity in children into a fulfilling career.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Benefit from high-quality support from our academics and staff on a programme designed around you.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Learn from an experienced, highly qualified programme team, working at the forefront of the academic field.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Enjoy the intimate feel of our course delivery, with small class sizes and your own personal tutor.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Utilise cutting edge research on a newly revalidated and up-to-date course.<br/><br/>