PGCE Primary (3-7 with SEND)
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- Course Code
- E003
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Course Overview
A teacher who is knowledgeable and skilled can have an amazing impact on a child during their time at school and beyond.
Teaching in the 3-7 age range, you'll play a vital role in motivating children to be engaged and excited about their learning. This will have an additional focus on teaching and learning for children with SEND.
This is a crucial stage of children’s education, laying the foundation for everything that follows. Teaching in this phase is both fascinating and intellectually demanding, as you develop your understanding of each child, create positive relationships and contribute to the enabling environments that lead to effective learning and development.
Developed in close partnership with primary schools and Early Years Foundation Stage settings throughout East Anglia, our Primary PGCE course is designed to help you become a confident and capable teacher who can motivate children and manage a class effectively, with a focus on special educational needs and disabilities
Upon successful completion of your PGCE, you'll graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and 90 Master’s level credits.
You’ll join this one year, full-time course in September and finish the following July. You’ll spend the majority of time in schools – with at least 120 days (24 weeks) in main placements and additional days in schools which allow for opportunities to prepare and rehearse key teaching skills, with up to 60 days in taught sessions. Your placements will be in two different schools, helping you to develop an understanding from contrasting experiences. One of these placements will have a SEND focus.
Our PGCE is based on the principle that you can only inspire and teach children well if you really understand them. We aim to develop reflective and inspirational teachers, who value and build upon the rich variety of backgrounds and experiences children bring to the classroom.
We’ll prepare you to plan, teach, assess learning and manage children’s behaviour effectively and to work with other professionals to help support you in the classroom. You’ll be well prepared to teach children in the 3–7 age range in the Foundation Years (Nursery and Reception) and Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2), with additional expertise and experience in the teaching of SEND.
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Accreditations
Successful completion of this course leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), accredited by the Department for Education.
Our accredited partner, the University of Worcester, will recommend successful trainees for the award of QTS.
The University of Worcester has designed the curriculum in partnership with UEA. Your PGCE academic award will be from UEA and all of the course will be delivered at UEA. UEA is responsible for your wellbeing and support.
Study and Modules
Structure
Through the taught element of your course, you’ll enjoy a programme of training related to the primary curriculum that’s designed to support your overall professional development.
You’ll cover the same components as your peers on the PGCE Primary (5-11) course, but with a particular focus on teaching and learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1.
You'll undertake two main school placements and teach in two age bands within your selected primary age range. Placements are usually arranged in contrasting schools, giving you a breadth of school-based experience.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our partnership curriculum provides you with a programme of training related to the primary curriculum and is designed to support your overall professional development. UEA tutors and experienced teaching staff from the partnership will deliver these sessions. Practical, participatory taught sessions will support the development of your subject, curriculum and pedagogical knowledge and understanding, and will address a range of professional issues. Tutors will work with you on a regular basis to address your learning needs and help you to identify ways to build on areas of interest and strength and achieve your aspirations.
The school-based training programme is structured carefully to provide you with opportunities to develop your competence and confidence as a beginning teacher through learning from classroom observation, teaching experience and ongoing reflective practice. You'll progress from working with individuals and small groups of pupils to planning and teaching your own lessons. Ongoing professional dialogue and regular observations of your teaching will support your professional development. You'll receive guidance and constructive feedback to support the development of the quality of your teaching and your pupils’ learning.
From day one, you’ll be treated as a member of staff and will be able to attend staff meetings and staff development days whenever appropriate. Your class-based mentors are experienced teachers who are trained in mentoring skills in line with the Mentor Standards (July 2016).
Throughout your course, you'll have full access to UEA resources, including our extensive library facilities and Student Support Services.
Assessment
You’ll complete assignments that are designed to prepare you to be an effective teacher. These relate directly to your professional knowledge and understanding, as well as your teaching experience on your school placements.
Throughout your time in schools, you’ll benefit from regular observations of your teaching, along with a professional dialogue to ensure you’re always learning and developing. Your mentor and other expert colleagues will help strengthen the quality of your teaching and improve your pupils’ learning.
All assessments will be moderated by external examiners from other universities and you'll be assessed against both the Teachers’ Standards and Master’s level criteria.
Employability
After the Course
Alongside your PGCE, you'll gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and 90 Master’s credits.
You'll be supported by your tutor in making an informed choice regarding your first teaching position, as well as throughout the application and interview process.
The support will continue beyond your training year, as we work closely with schools and Early Career Teacher (ECT) induction bodies to provide support in case it is needed.
Within a few years of joining the profession, you could find yourself being promoted into a role with leadership and/or pastoral responsibilities.
Our Graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a wide variety of employment sectors.
Careers
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- Teacher
- Curriculum Leader
- Head of Year/Phase
- Deputy headteacher
- Headteacher
- Tutor
- SEND Lead
- UK and overseas teaching opportunities
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2 or above preferred
Degree Subject
All degree subjects considered
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants are required to have achieved a good honours degree (preferably class 2:2 and above) or its equivalent* by the beginning of the PGCE programme in September. Applicants with a third class degree will be considered on an individual basis.
A Level requirements
We would expect to see a good standard of academic attainment at A Level or its equivalent*.
*Please note: It is at the discretion of the individual Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making their application.
Pre-Application classroom experience
From February 2018, applicants are not required to have gained any prior experience within a school.
Although not a requirement, time spent in a school could help you to gain valuable insight into the role of a teacher, how teaching and learning takes place within the classroom, and help you to decide whether teaching is the right profession for you. It is recommended, that where possible, you gain some school experience prior to application.
It would be most useful if experience could be gained across your chosen Primary age range.
If you are able to gain classroom experience prior to submitting your application there are a number of ways in which this can be achieved:
Contact Your Local School:
Try contacting local schools where you live to see if you are able to arrange a time to observe some lessons, or register with the DfE School Experience Programme to help book school experience through their online portal.
Knowledge of the National Curriculum, key contacts and useful links
Applications are considered on an individual basis and being able to demonstrate a strong level of knowledge about the National Curriculum and current issues affecting teaching is advantageous. These educational links will provide you with some useful points of contact to help to get you started!
Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS)
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN: Disclosure of Criminal Background for Those with Access to Children
All applicants for the PGCE course will be required to obtain an Enhanced Criminal Records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The enhanced disclosure will be used to assess suitability for the programme and information provided may be discussed with the external members of the School's Safeguarding Sub-Committees. Candidates are responsible for payment of the DBS fee. General information about this process can be obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service Website. As part of the DBS process, you will be checked against the Children's Barred List and Prohibition list. If you have lived overseas for a continuous period of 6 months or more during the last five years, a Certificate of Good Conduct will be required. The UEA Student Disclosure Service will contact you prior to the start of the course with more information on completing the DBS check.
Satisfactory Health Check
You will need to demonstrate your fitness to teach by completing an Occupational Health Assessment. This will give us information about any special needs you may have, and enable us to assess whether the University and placement areas will be able to provide support. It is therefore, in your interest to provide full answers to the questions.
- English and Mathematics
Before making your application you must have a GCSE pass at Grade 4 (formerly C) or its equivalent* in English Language or English Literature, Mathematics and in a natural Science subject (ie Biology, Chemistry, Physics or a combination of these) regardless of your date of birth.
*Please note: It is at the discretion of the individual Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making their application.
We are able to consider GCSE equivalency tests taken via equivalencytesting.com only, with grades of A*-C or 4-9.
Qualifications not listed? Contact the PGCE Admissions Office for advice by email: edu.pgce.admiss@uea.ac.uk.
- Interviews
Interview required; please be aware that we cannot guarantee that all candidates who apply will be shortlisted for interview. Interviews will usually be conducted in person. Online interviews will be offered to applicants overseas.
- Placements
You'll undertake two main school placements and teach in two age bands within your selected primary age range. Placements are usually arranged in contrasting schools, giving you a breadth of school-based experience.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or above preferred, or it's equivalent*
*Please note: It is at the discretion of the individual Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making an application.
Degree Subject
All degree subjects considered
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants are required to have achieved a good honours degree (preferably class 2:2 and above) or its equivalent* by the beginning of the PGCE programme in September. Applicants with a third class degree will be considered on an individual basis.
A Level requirements
We would expect to see a good standard of academic attainment at A Level or its equivalent*.
*Please note: It is at the discretion of the individual Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making their application.
Pre-Application classroom experience
From February 2018, applicants are not required to have gained any prior experience within a school.
Although not a requirement, time spent in a school could help you to gain valuable insight into the role of a teacher, how teaching and learning takes place within the classroom, and help you to decide whether teaching is the right profession for you. It is recommended, that where possible, you gain some school experience prior to application.
It would be most useful if experience could be gained across your chosen Primary age range.
If you are able to gain classroom experience prior to submitting your application there are a number of ways in which this can be achieved:
Contact Your Local School:
Try contacting local schools where you live to see if you are able to arrange a time to observe some lessons, or register with the DfE School Experience Programme to help book school experience through their online portal.
Knowledge of the National Curriculum, key contacts and useful links
Applications are considered on an individual basis and being able to demonstrate a strong level of knowledge about the National Curriculum and current issues affecting teaching is advantageous. These educational links will provide you with some useful points of contact to help to get you started!
Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS)
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN: Disclosure of Criminal Background for Those with Access to Children
All applicants for the PGCE course will be required to obtain an Enhanced Criminal Records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The enhanced disclosure will be used to assess suitability for the programme and information provided may be discussed with the external members of the School's Safeguarding Sub-Committees. Candidates are responsible for payment of the DBS fee. General information about this process can be obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service Website. As part of the DBS process, you will be checked against the Children's Barred List and Prohibition list. If you have lived overseas for a continuous period of 6 months or more during the last five years, a Certificate of Good Conduct will be required. The UEA Student Disclosure Service will contact you prior to the start of the course with more information on completing the DBS check.
Satisfactory Health Check
You will need to demonstrate your fitness to teach by completing an Occupational Health Assessment. This will give us information about any special needs you may have, and enable us to assess whether the University and placement areas will be able to provide support. It is therefore, in your interest to provide full answers to the questions.
- English and Mathematics
Before making your application you must have a GCSE pass at Grade 4 (formerly C) or its equivalent* in English Language or English Literature, Mathematics and in a natural Science subject (ie Biology, Chemistry, Physics or a combination of these) regardless of your date of birth.
*Please note: It is at the discretion of the individual Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making their application.
We are able to consider GCSE equivalency tests taken via equivalencytesting.com only, with grades of A*-C or 4-9.
Qualifications not listed? Contact the PGCE Admissions Office for advice by email: edu.pgce.admiss@uea.ac.uk.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS Academic: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
-
- Interviews
Interview required; please be aware that we cannot guarantee that all candidates who apply will be shortlisted for interview. Interviews will usually be conducted in person. Online interviews will be offered to applicants overseas.
- Placements
You'll undertake two main school placements and teach in two age bands within your selected primary age range. Placements are usually arranged in contrasting schools, giving you a breadth of school-based experience.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26
-
UK Students: £9,535 (full time)
-
International Students: £22,700 (full time)
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
A range of funding options are available to help you Train to Teach. The University of East Anglia also offers a range of Scholarships; please click the links to check your eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
MAKING YOUR APPLICATION
Candidates can submit their application by using the GOV.UK service called Apply for teacher training. Please note, UEA is not responsible for content on external websites linked from this page.
PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION
Candidates are encouraged to prepare thoroughly. Application forms should be able to demonstrate not only your depth of subject knowledge but also your enthusiasm and commitment to a career in teaching. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the information available from the Department for Education. These sources will help you to gain knowledge of the current issues facing teaching, specifically in the subject area for which you are applying. During interview you will be expected to be able to answer questions about these issues, and what has prompted your desire to choose to teach as a career.
Candidates are selected on the basis of their application form, interview and references.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The University of East Anglia operates an equal opportunities admissions policy. We aim to ensure that no applicant receives less favourable consideration on the grounds of gender, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin or religious belief. More on equal opportunities.
Students with a Disability (including Dyslexia)
The University welcomes students with disabilities and is working towards the provision of an inclusive environment for all its students, staff and visitors. More on disability support.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:
PGCE Admissions Office
Email: edu.pgce.admiss@uea.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1603 592855
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.