PGCE Primary (5-11)
Course options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- Course Code
- X100
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2023
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 5-11 age range, you will play a vital role in motivating children to be engaged and excited about their learning.
Developed in close partnership with primary schools 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.
Upon successful completion of your PGCE, you will graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and 90 Master’s level credits.
You’ll join this 38-week, 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 placements and up to 60 days in taught sessions. Your placements will usually be in two different schools, helping you to develop an understanding from contrasting experiences.
UEA’s 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. You will be well prepared to teach across the primary curriculum, and to work with other professionals in the classroom.
UEA’s Primary PGCE has a long-standing reputation as a successful teacher training programme. The latest Ofsted report (2014) acknowledged the high quality of our training and the expertise of our tutors. Ofsted also praised the commitment of our partnership schools, noting the quality of the collaborative support between school staff and UEA tutors to ensure continuity of support in your learning during your school placements.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- 2:2 or above preferred
- Degree Subject
- All degree subjects considered
- GCSE
Before making your application you must have a GCSE pass at Grade C/4 or its equivalent* in English Language, 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.
- English Foreign Language
We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:
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IELTS: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components)
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PTE (Pearson): 67 (minimum 64 in all components)
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date. Other tests such as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English are also accepted by the university. Please check with the Admissions Office for further details including the scores or grades required.
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- Interviews
Interview required; please be aware that we cannot guarantee that all candidates who apply will be shortlisted for interview.
- Intakes
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
Additional Information or 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.
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.
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.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2023/24 are:
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UK Students: £9,250 (full time)
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International Students: £19,800 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 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
How to Apply
PLEASE NOTE, WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS UNTIL 9 JUNE 2023. IF YOU ARE INTERNATIONAL AND APPLY AFTER THIS DATE YOU WILL BE REJECTED.
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 teaching 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
EU and International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
You’ll graduate as a confident and highly reflective Early Career Teacher (ECT) in the Primary years, with a specialism in teaching children aged 5–11 years old in Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6).
Alongside your PGCE, you will be awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and 90 Master’s level credits, and UEA will continue to support you in your first years of teaching as an ECT
UEA’s employment rates are excellent and were identified as one of our key strengths in our latest Ofsted inspection report.
You’ll have the option to build on your Master’s credits by continuing to study part-time for an MA.
Careers
- Teacher
- Curriculum leader
- Head of year/key stage
- Deputy head teacher
- Head teacher