PGCE Primary (5 to 11 years) Distributed Learning Programme – Short Course

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Why study with us?

We offer bespoke routes to QTS which match your experience and learning needs. The QTS only shorter routes are specifically designed for people with regular or significant whole class teaching experience in primary settings. If you are working as a teaching assistant or unqualified teacher and you want to qualify as a primary teacher, a shorter route to QTS may provide that opportunity. Because we recognise your prior teaching experience, you may have the expertise and experience to achieve QTS in one or two terms.

This course provides a distributed learning approach for graduates who wish to train as teachers for the 5 to 11 age range and who live in the north of England. It caters for people with different personal circumstances: you might prefer a distributed learning approach which combines university base days and independent study or perhaps because you need to work part-time or have care responsibilities.

All routes require candidates to pass the QTS skills tests.

What can this course lead to?

This course can lead to a successful career as a primary school teacher. It awards you with qualified teacher status, which enables you to apply for teaching positions immediately after qualifying.

Resources and facilities

You will be studying with a supportive network of peers, school-partnership colleagues and tutors. Our university tutors and school-based mentors are informed, approachable and experienced.

All students have access to our Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment which can provide easy online access to course information, course materials, relevant web links and an online discussion board.

We have a well-stocked library and a Learning Gateway, which offers an interactive, flexible space to study. You can also take advantage of The Library and Student Services (LiSS), which provides learning resources, equipment, student advice, skills training and study space.

Entry requirements See course specific entry requirements listed below.

More about levels and credits

Credit and UCAS requirements Credit: Not Applicable Selection criteria

• Normally a first degree, or its equivalent. A 2:1 honours degree is preferred, however applicants with a 2:2 honours degree will be considered and a decision made based on the overall strength of their application in competition with other applicants.

  If you don’t have an undergraduate degree but do have a Masters or other higher qualification, your application will be considered by our academic tutors on a one-to-one basis.

• Five GCSEs at minimum grade C or above at the point of application to include English Language, Mathematics and Science (including Biology, Chemistry or Physics).

  The fourth GCSE must be in national curriculum subject, for example a language (including community languages, eg Urdu, Hindi), Art, Citizenship, Design and Technology, Geography, ICT, History, Music, PE or RE.

  The fifth GCSE may be in a non-National Curriculum subject such as Psychology, Sociology or Early Childhood Studies.

  For the PGCE Primary courses starting from September 2013 onwards, applicants will need to possess these GCSEs prior to application.

• Substantial whole class teaching and lesson planning experience

• Evidence of commitment to gaining school experience either paid or voluntary.

• Evidence and a clear, articulate indication of an enthusiasm for teaching and working with primary children. It is desirable that the applicant can indicate the relevance of prior experiences and expertise for primary teaching.

• A satisfactory academic (university) reference OR a satisfactory professional reference if more than three years since academic study.

• The ability to discriminate key ideas and express arguments

• Coherent writing with few errors

• All candidates must demonstrate professional suitability through interview and must obtain medical and enhanced CRB clearance according to established university procedures.

• Evidence of computer literacy and possession of a computer with internet and email access

• Ability to work independently and fully engage with distributed learning

• A home location near enough to allow you to attend the course based on the Lancaster campus, this means the north of England (as far south as the Manchester area).

• Candidates must pass the QTS skills test before starting the course.

Costs

Click the links below to view information on your study type and residence status. If you are unsure of your status, please see the UKCISA website for more information.

Route three

Home students

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year is £5,400.

As a UK student, you are entitled to a part-time tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning over £21,000 a year. For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.

More financial support

Access to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several support funds available to our current students, including:

• Access to Learning Fund
• Utilities trust

EU students

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year is £5,400.

As an EU student, you are entitled to a part-time tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning over £21,000 a year. For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.

International students

The tuition fee for the 2012/13 academic year was £6,480. The fee for 2013/14 will be announced soon.

Fees are billed annually and may be paid by the student or a sponsor. 75 percent of the annual tuition fees must be paid before or at registration. For students requiring a Tier 4 Student Visa, a deposit of £3,500 is expected as a minimum before a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) will be issued. For more information, visit our international student finance page.

Additional financial support

Our money doctors will be on hand throughout the year to help you manage your money while you’re in the UK. However, if you do happen to run into financial difficulty during your time here, you may be able to access a small emergency support fund.

Route two

Home students

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year is £3,600. Unfortunately, students taking route two are not eligible for funding.

EU students

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year is £3,600. Students taking route two are not eligible for funding.

International students

The tuition fee for the 2012/13 academic year was £4,320. The fee for 2013/14 will be announced soon.

Fees are billed annually and may be paid by the student or a sponsor. 75 percent of the annual tuition fees must be paid before or at registration. For students requiring a Tier 4 Student Visa, a deposit of £3,500 is expected as a minimum before a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) will be issued. For more information, visit our international student finance page.

Additional financial support

Our money doctors will be on hand throughout the year to help you manage your money while you’re in the UK. However, if you do happen to run into financial difficulty during your time here, you may be able to access a small emergency support fund.

Route one

Home students

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year is £1,800. Unfortunately, students taking route two are not eligible for funding.

EU students

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year is £1,800. Students taking route two are not eligible for funding.

International students

The tuition fee for the 2012/13 academic year was £2,160. The fee for 2013/14 will be announced soon.

Fees are billed annually and may be paid by the student or a sponsor. 75 percent of the annual tuition fees must be paid before or at registration. For more information, visit our international student finance page.

Additional financial support

Our money doctors will be on hand throughout the year to help you manage your money while you’re in the UK. However, if you do happen to run into financial difficulty during your time here, you may be able to access a small emergency support fund.

Apply Now

Visit the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) to apply online.

Modules

The course comprises the following modules:

• Reflective practice
• Pedagogical excellence

Course summary

If your application and interview, including a presentation, are successful, you will progress to the next stage of the assessment process to determine which of the shorter routes would be most appropriate for you. You will participate in school-based, needs analysis assessment which involves teaching a series of lessons over four days; in addition you will complete subject knowledge and pedagogy audits to determine your individual learning plan.

Depending on the outcome of the needs analysis process you could achieve QTS through the successful completion of one school placement and, if identified as necessary by your audits, subject knowledge and pedagogy assessments. This route, Route 1, could be completed in a minimum of one term.

Alternatively, you could achieve QTS through the successful completion of two school placements and subject knowledge and pedagogy assessments. This route, Route 2, could be completed in a minimum of two terms. However if your audits indicate the need to address subject knowledge and pedagogy issues more fully, you may be required to complete it over three terms (Route 3).

As a shorter route student you would attend university for between two and eight base days and have an individual learning and assessment plan for coursework, studied through a distributed learning approach.

Case studies

"I was attracted to the Shorter Route programme as I had vast experience of whole class teaching as a teaching assistant and felt that I already had some skills and abilities to be a teacher. The programme's aim was to build on these existing skills and experience which was what I needed.

"The Shorter Route programme was a brilliant experience that put me at the centre of my learning which meant the training programme was suited to my needs. The tutors were supportive, positive and challenging. It was extremely hard work but well worth it. The course gives you the tools you need to succeed." - John (Shorter Route – Route 1)