BA (Hons) Education and Childhood Studies

BA (Hons) Education and Childhood Studies

This popular course has a long history of providing a well-respected and successful pathway into primary teaching (PGCE primary), whilst keeping options open for a range of other career opportunities that involve work with children, young people and families.

In each year of the course there is a combination of academic theory and work experience in schools, with a range of other community settings available if desired. The programme examines the subject areas of the Foundation Phase/Stage and the National Curriculum, whilst also acknowledging wider factors impacting on learning and teaching.

The course aims to produce graduates who are critically informed about, and engaged with, contemporary issues relating to pedagogy in education, social inclusion, children’s rights, health, child development, play, sociology and psychology. These areas are explored through taught sessions, reflective practice, work experience and primary research.

Key Facts

• 78% of students applying for PGCE Primary in 2012/13 were offered places
• Block placements in a range of education settings, including Welsh medium and special education, in every year of the programme
• A balance of education and social topics/modules, with a choice of optional modules at each level of study
• A range of assessment techniques to develop new and enhance existing knowledge, understanding and skills
• Supportive staff team and academic tutorial system
• Staff come from a range of diverse education, child and family backgrounds and are all engaged in research
• High student retention rates (98-100% in 2011/12)
• In 2011/12, 77% students achieved a 1st class or 2:1 degree
• Careers Event in Year 2

Course content

The course is designed to build upon your knowledge, skills and experience. You will explore some of the following areas:

• Play and observation
• Development of literacy and numeracy
• Managing effective school environments
• Inclusion
• Primary curriculum
• Healthy schools
• Promoting positive behaviour
• Teaching and learning techniques
• Special educational needs

Modules

Year 1/Level 4

• Play (20 credits)
• Academic Development and Reflective Practice (20 credits)
• Observation and Assessment in Practice (and placement) (20 credits)
• Development of Literacy and Numeracy (20 credits)
• Managing Effective School Environments (20 credits)
• Families and Society (Option) (20 credits); or
• Creativity, Technology and Scientific Thinking (Option) (20 credits)

Year 2/Level 5

• Inclusion (20 credits)
• Skills for the Workplace (and placement) (20 credits)
• Research Methods (20 credits)
• Primary Curriculum (20 credits)
• Healthy Schools (20 credits)
• Playworking  (Option) (20 credits); or
• Safeguarding Children and Young People (Option) (20 credits)

Year 3/Level 6

• Promoting Positive Behaviour (20 credits)
• Education for Citizenship (20 credits)
• Practice Based Evaluation (and placement) (40 credits)
• Teaching and Learning Techniques (20 credits)
• Special Educational Needs (Option) (20 credits); or
• Multi-Agency Working (Option) (20 credits)

Career opportunities

There are a growing number of careers within both education and community settings, and opportunities for further studies, including:

• PGCE (primary)
• PCET (post 16)
• Special Education Inclusion Unit
• Teaching Assistant
• Educational Youth Worker
• Masters programmes

Course duration

Full-time

Three years

Part-time

Six years

Entry requirements and applying

You must have GCSE English (or Welsh if this is your first language), Maths or Science (grade C or above), and (i) 240 UCAS tariff points at GCE A level or (ii) one of the following qualifications or equivalent: BTEC Diploma in Early Years (Merit), CACHE Diploma in Child Care and Education (240 UCAS tariff points), NVQ (Level 3) related to working with children, Access Diploma to Higher Education (overall merit), AVCE Health and Social Care (240 UCAS tariff points).