At Worcester, you’ll learn from specialist staff across all Primary subjects and join a supportive education community. You’ll collaborate with peers, gain expert guidance, and complete an action research project that helps shape your teaching identity and professional goals.
Joint 1st in the UK for Quality Education
We're rated 'Outstanding' for teacher training
At the end of your course, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) Teaching in Primary Education. You will also be recommended to the Teaching Regulation Agency for Qualified Teacher Status.
University of the Year finalist
Recognised for our graduate success, we’re shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2025.
Overview
If you already have experience working or volunteering in an educational setting, this course offers an inspiring and supportive route to becoming a qualified teacher. You’ll build on your prior experience, learn teaching theory and apply this practically in your school or educational workplace.
Throughout the course, you’ll explore the full primary curriculum, including the Early Years Foundation Stage, while developing a strong understanding of how children learn and grow. You’ll link key theories to your classroom practice, helping you gain confidence, shape your teaching identity, and become an informed and reflective teacher.
Your training is grounded in up‑to‑date evidence and research, giving you the skills to provide high‑quality teaching that meets the needs of every pupil. You’ll strengthen your subject knowledge, deepen your creativity, and learn how to bring enthusiasm and energy into your classroom.
As you engage with different educational ideas and debates, you’ll develop your critical thinking and learn how to apply current issues in education to your own practice—ensuring every learner receives a positive, supportive and engaging experience.
Placement
With support from your employer, your current school or workplace will be your main placement setting. You’ll also complete a 6-week placement in a different school and 2 preparation days in an alternative school setting, giving you valuable experience in a different school environment.
Most weeks, you’ll spend two days on placement, working directly with pupils and applying what you learn on the course. You’ll also be assigned a dedicated mentor at each placement, who will offer personalised guidance, regular feedback and day‑to‑day support to help you grow in confidence as a trainee teacher.
A day in the life of a Primary School Teacher
Course content
These modules give you the knowledge and skills needed to be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status. You’ll learn what it means to be a professional teacher, explore your wider responsibilities, and build confidence through focused subject sessions covering the full Primary National Curriculum and Early Years curriculum.
You’ll also develop your understanding of evidence‑informed teaching and complete a research project in your school setting, helping you grow as a reflective and informed practitioner.
We regularly review our courses to reflect the latest research and developments in the subject area, as well as feedback from students, employers and the wider sector. As a result, modules may change to ensure the course remains current and relevant.
Careers
This course recommend you for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) which will allow you to teach in primary schools across the UK. Most of our students quickly find jobs after graduation, thanks to the confidence they’ve gained on the course, the connections they make on placement and our excellent reputation with schools in the region.
Many of our graduates pursue teaching roles within Primary Schools or other fields relating to teaching, such as social care or special educational needs coordinators.
Further study
This course would also provide you with the qualifications needed to continue onto a postgraduate course, such as our multiple pathway Education MA.
If you’re interested in teaching abroad the PGCE is an internationally recognised teaching qualification. You’ll be able to seek work in countries such as America, Australia, and Canada.
Course highlights
Teaching and assessment
With support from your university tutor and placement mentor, you’ll link what you learn at university with your work in school. This helps you become a confident independent learner, ready for future study and employment. You’ll use a mix of independent study, teaching experience and academic support through the personal tutoring system to reflect on your progress.
Teaching and assessment contents
Taught sessions at university will take place every Wednesday.
You'll be taught through a mix of:
- Tutor-led workshops and fieldwork
- Study of key texts and supplementary reading to enhance your understanding and encouraging you to critically reflect upon policy and practice
- Group discussions, presentations and debates
- Case studies and problem-solving tasks
Alongside support from your lecturers, you'll be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor who will provide you with personalised support throughout the course.
Meet our Primary Teaching team
Kate Howen
Learning to love our fellow human beings and understanding different perspectives is a vital component to any teacher, in any context, and this underpins Kate’s whole teaching philosophy.
Kate joined the university in 2017 and teaches on the Undergraduate and Postgraduate teaching courses. She has a focus on inclusion through adaptive and culturally responsive teaching with specialisms in teaching Music, History and English.
Kate is the PGCE cohort leader for the Part Time pathway, teaching across the modules and supporting trainees during their school experience. She also leads modules on the BA Teaching in Primary Education (TIPE) course to enable trainee teachers to develop their professional identities and become research informed practitioners.
Kaytie Holdstock
Kaytie is the course leader for the BA (Hons) Teaching in Primary Education (QTS) Top Up course, supporting school colleagues both working and volunteering in Primary Schools to achieve Qualified Teacher Status. She has 18 years experience working as a primary school teacher and has a passion for promoting creativity in the classroom.
Throughout her career, she has worked with children across the primary age range and held many in-school roles including Deputy Head teacher. Kaytie was awarded Advanced Skills Teacher status which gave her the opportunity to support other schools in developing engaging, creative and inspiring content for their own pupils. She later became a Teacher advisor for Worcestershire Local Authority specialising in The Arts.
Rosemarie Hill
Rosemarie has taught for 15 years across the primary age range in schools in Staffordshire and Worcestershire. During her primary teaching career, Rosemarie was responsible for leading History and Creative Curriculum across the school.
She lectures in History and English on the undergraduate and post-graduate courses.
Kate Howen
Learning to love our fellow human beings and understanding different perspectives is a vital component to any teacher, in any context, and this underpins Kate’s whole teaching philosophy.
Kate joined the university in 2017 and teaches on the Undergraduate and Postgraduate teaching courses. She has a focus on inclusion through adaptive and culturally responsive teaching with specialisms in teaching Music, History and English.
Kate is the PGCE cohort leader for the Part Time pathway, teaching across the modules and supporting trainees during their school experience. She also leads modules on the BA Teaching in Primary Education (TIPE) course to enable trainee teachers to develop their professional identities and become research informed practitioners.
Kaytie Holdstock
Kaytie is the course leader for the BA (Hons) Teaching in Primary Education (QTS) Top Up course, supporting school colleagues both working and volunteering in Primary Schools to achieve Qualified Teacher Status. She has 18 years experience working as a primary school teacher and has a passion for promoting creativity in the classroom.
Throughout her career, she has worked with children across the primary age range and held many in-school roles including Deputy Head teacher. Kaytie was awarded Advanced Skills Teacher status which gave her the opportunity to support other schools in developing engaging, creative and inspiring content for their own pupils. She later became a Teacher advisor for Worcestershire Local Authority specialising in The Arts.
Entry requirements
- You will need to have completed 120 credits Level 4 and 5, such as a Foundation Degree, in a related field for example, the University of Worcester's Foundation Degree in Teaching and Learning.
and
- achieved a standard equivalent to a grade 4 (formerly grade C) in the GCSE examinations in GCSE in English Language or Literature, Maths and Science. (applicants must have these qualifications by the start of the course).
Alternatively, we offer an equivalency test if you don’t have the required GCSE grade to apply for our courses.
Trainees who begin courses before providing evidence of the required GCSE standard (or equivalent) will not be eligible for financial incentives, such as bursaries or grants until they achieve the required standard.
You will need to source a home school or be employed in a school setting (or equivalent educational setting)to complete your placement. The Headteacher will need to support your application and commit to the requirements of the programme
As work-based learning agreements need to be put in place before schools close for the summer, the closing date for this course is Friday 3rd July. Any applications received after this date will be deferred until the following academic year.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.
Fees
Fees contents
UK and EU students
The standard tuition fees for part-time UK and EU students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the academic year 2026/27 are £1,222.50 per 15-credit module, £1,630 per 20-credit module, £2,445 per 30-credit module, £3,260 per 40-credit module, £3,667.50 per 45-credit module and £4,890 per 60 credit module.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
How to apply
How to apply contents
Apply to us directly
Please make your application via our online application forms.
Apply for Early Years (3-7)Apply for Later Years (5-11)Read our How to apply pages for more information on applying and to find out what happens to your application
As work-based learning agreements need to be put in place before schools close for the summer, the closing date for this course is Friday 3rd July. Any applications received after this date will be deferred until the following academic year.
If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions office on 01905 855111 or admissions@worc.ac.uk
Contact
If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.
Admissions Office
admissions@worc.ac.uk01905 855111More to explore
Open Days
Visiting us is the best way to get a feel for student life at the University of Worcester.
The City of Worcester
Worcester is a welcoming university city with great transport links and plenty of student parking.
Accommodation
Benefit from our accommodation guarantee. We have rooms on campus to suit every budget including en-suite options.
