PGCE Primary (3-7)

Our PGCE Primary courses have been designed specifically to provide supported development of your teaching skills and a gradual introduction to your new profession.

Stage one – Introducing and Preparing (September to December)

University-based training

During the first stage you will spend time at University taking part in seminars and workshops that prepare you for your school-based training. These will focus on three main elements:

Primary Professional Studies

You’ll learn strategies to tackle issues that you will face in your training placements. These strategies will help to develop your understanding of teaching and learning, the primary curriculum and educational policy. Key domains covered include behaviour management, pedagogy, curriculum, assessment and professional behaviours.

Subject knowledge and applied pedagogy

You will develop Early Years and Key Stage 1 curriculum knowledge and understanding in English, Mathematics and Science. You’ll also explore the broader curriculum and observe and reflect on best practice across the whole curriculum.

CPD

You’ll spend time focusing on CPD activities that will enhance your teaching applications and make you more employable.

School-based training

As part of stage 1 you will complete an assessed block of school-based training. Working alongside an experienced class teacher and mentor you will have the opportunity to put into practice what you’ve learnt so far, focusing on teaching English and Mathematics and one other curriculum area.

Stage two – Developing and Securing (January to March)

University-based training

Your University-based training will comprise the same elements as stage 1, but you’ll focus on building on the knowledge you’ve already developed to prepare for your next school-based training block. There will be an opportunity to reflect on your experiences in the first stage and to set developmental targets ahead of your second block of school-based training. You will receive top-up training and further information regarding planning and delivering sequences of learning. You will continue to receive training in Primary Professional Studies. 

School-based training

During your second placement, you will develop your teaching skills further, usually in a different school, teaching a contrasting age phase to your first placement. You'll continue to focus on English and Mathematics, alongside PE and broader areas of the curriculum.

Stage three – Refining and Embedding (March to June)

University-based training

Having developed and applied your subject and curriculum knowledge, you’ll spend some time at University completing CPD activities that will prepare for your teaching career. These activities will include responses to current priorities in primary education, support for your first employment and optional enhancements to develop your professional profile.

School-based training

You’ll usually stay in the same school as your stage 2 placement until the end of the programme, teaching another age phase. Putting everything you’ve learned into practice, you’ll teach all subjects and areas of provision in stage 3. You will take on the role of the class teacher and will take on wider responsibilities across the school. You will continue to have coaching and mentoring from school staff.

Transition placement

After you’ve completed all three stages of your placements, you’ll complete a two-week transition placement which you’ll source yourself, with support from the School Partnerships team. This placement will help you prepare for graduate employment as a teacher, as well as giving you the chance to explore any aspects of primary teaching that have particularly interested you. Past trainees have completed this placement in pupil referral units, nurseries, special provision and even at a school in Kenya.

Qualified Teacher Status

During each stage of school-based training, you will be formatively assessed and your progress mapped against core competence statements. A summary judgment will be made at the end of each stage. This summary will provide you with further information about your areas of strength and targets to develop moving forwards. By the end of your training in school (stage 3) you will be expected to have met the Teachers’ Standards and a Summative Assessment will be made using the standards as a bench mark. When you meet the Teachers’ Standards you are then recommended for QTS.

You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Our PGCE Primary courses are one-year, full-time programmes structured in three stages to gradually build the knowledge and experience you’ll need to become a confident, resilient teacher. Each stage consists of University-based training and school-based training.

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

• high quality teaching
• an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
• a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

• Student Involvement and Engagement
• Inclusion
• Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
• Digital Literacy and Skills
• Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

• Personalised support
• Expert lecturers
• Strong connections with employers
• An international outlook
• Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Assessment

You’ll be assessed on your subject knowledge in English (including phonics), Mathematics and other subject areas through directed tasks.

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.

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

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

Our normal entry requirements for the Primary PGCE are:

• An honours degree
• GCSE Grade C (or 4, or accepted equivalent) English, Mathematics and Science. Suitable personal and intellectual qualities required for teaching in school. If you do not already have the appropriate GCSEs, or if you are unable to provide proof of your grades, please refer to the GCSE Equivalency information below.
• 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.

GCSE Equivalency

We no longer offer a Leeds Trinity GCSE equivalency exam, however, if you do not already have the appropriate GCSEs, or if you are unable to provide proof of your grades, we can accept GCSE equivalency tests taken with A Star Equivalency, equivalencytesting.com or Birmingham City University (BCU) bcu.ac.uk. Further details are emailed to applicants who accept offers with us.

For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.

Apply through the gov.uk website

Applications for our PGCE courses must be made through the Apply for teacher training service. There is no official closing date for applications, but once the course is full, it will be listed as having no vacancies on the gov.uk website. Complete all sections of the application form in full.

You can make three choices.

Reference advice

When submitting your two chosen referees, please include someone who can comment on your potential to train to teach. 

Applicants who require a Student Route Visa

If you require a Student Route Visa in order to study in the UK, then you must apply to us by Tuesday 31 May 2022. You must also meet all the conditions of your offer and present all supporting documentation required for the visa application no later than Thursday 30 June 2022.

Attend an interview

You’ll have an individual interview with a member of staff, which will vary depending on the course you’ve applied for. If you’re invited to an interview through our University-led or SCITT route, you’ll receive an email from us that explains everything you need to know about your interview. This includes the date, time and method of interview, as well as what to prepare beforehand and what will happen on the day, so it’s really important to read this email very carefully. 

For School Direct PGCEs, you may receive an email or a letter directly from the school which will clearly explain your interview date and time and what you need to prepare for your interview.

You will always be notified by the gov.uk website if your application has been unsuccessful.

Read more about our PGCE Primary University-led interviews.

Receive your offer

You’ll receive a letter letting you know if you’ve been made an offer or if you’ve been unsuccessful at the interview stage. The gov.uk website will also be updated.

All offers are conditional on the following criteria being met:

• Produce evidence of qualifications
• DBS check
• Medical check
• You may be asked to do a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course to boost your subject knowledge.

Accept or decline your offer

When you’ve received decisions on all your choices, you’ll then have ten days to make your final decision on which offer(s) to decline/accept, You won’t be able to do this whilst you have applications without a final decision, this is so that you can make your final choice having all of your options open to you. You’ll do this through the gov.uk website.

Present your documents

You’ll need to present your GCSE and degree certificates, your offer will explain how this will happen and you’ll be contacted later in the cycle with further details about the way in which to do this.

Receive an unconditional offer

When you’ve met all the conditions of your offer, it will become unconditional on the gov.uk website.