PGCE Primary Education

When you work with primary-age children you really can make a difference every day.

In the primary classroom, children need motivating and engaging so that every day provides a new possibility to learn. There is nothing more rewarding than being the teacher leading that adventurous learning journey.

Course structure

We believe the most effective path to becoming an outstanding teacher is a gradual one, filled with plenty of support and opportunities to put what you’ve learnt into practice in stages. That’s why we’ve designed our PGCE Primary courses in three main stages. Each stage consists of University-based and School experience training.

How we’ll support you throughout your training

Every school experience will be full-time, during which you’ll gradually build up the amount of time you spend planning and teaching. By the end of stage 3, you'll be taking on more of the role of the class teacher but with their continued support and guidance. Throughout stages 1 and 2 you will return to the University for further support, guidance, and training.

Our School Partnerships team will source your placements for you. Before each placement, you will attend extensive and comprehensive preparatory sessions to support you in meeting the expectations of each block of your school-based training.

Throughout your placements, you’ll have the support of an expert mentor based at each of your schools. This mentor is trained by Leeds Trinity to support you as you complete your school experience and to review your ongoing training needs throughout the placements.

You’ll work with expert tutors at Leeds Trinity who will visit you at school and provide the vital connection between your school experience and your University learning. Their role is to provide quality assurance for your training in school, as well as to offer any support and advice you may need.

How we’ll assess you

You’ll be assessed in a range of ways across the programme. This will include subject knowledge auditing and tracking, regular classroom observations and ongoing directed activities. You'll also complete two level 7 Master's assignments to test your ability to be critically reflective and research-led in your approach to teaching.

Entry requirements

Our normal entry requirements for the Primary Education PGCE are:

• An honours degree
• GCSE Grade C (or 4) English, Mathematics and Science
• Suitable personal and intellectual qualities required for teaching in schools
• The commitment, attitudes and values appropriate to those of a primary teacher
• The ability to read effectively and communicate clearly and accurately in spoken and written standard English

Strong applicants also have experience in primary schools. 

At Leeds Trinity, we treat every applicant on their own merits and value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

PGCE Primary University-led Interviews

If your application is successful, you will be invited to an interview which comprises of two elements. Read more about our PGCE Primary Education University-led interview days.

GCSE Equivalency

If you do not already have the appropriate GCSEs, or if you are unable to provide proof of your grades, we can accept some GCSE equivalency tests. Further details are emailed to applicants who accept offers with us.

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