Primary (5 to 11 years) - Distributed Learning Programme - Full course

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Why study with us?

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.

Both the full-time and part-time courses offer a variety of learning opportunities including face-to-face sessions, online study, independent learning, and learning groups.

The course caters for people with different personal circumstances; for example, you might have previous experience in primary education, you might prefer a distributed learning approach which combines university base days and independent study, perhaps because you need to work part-time or have care responsibilities.

What can this course lead to?

After you complete this course, you will be qualified to teach in a mainstream school in England.

A teaching career can offer you so many opportunities here and abroad. Teaching also offers management and leadership opportunities in schools and other educational establishments.

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: 60 credits 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.

• A minimum 10 days experience in a mainstream UK primary school covering Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 (five days in each Key Stage) gained within the last two years.

• 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 at 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

Use the links below to view information based on your home location.

Home students

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £9,000. This fee should be paid within the first year of study, however students paying their own fees can arrange to pay by instalment.

As a full-time UK student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which you only start to pay back when you are earning over £21,000 a year. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan (up to £5,500) and a maintenance grant (up to £3,354). For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.

Teaching Agency bursary

The Teaching Agency awards training bursaries based on subject and the classification of your first degree. For this course, you may be eligible for:

• £9,000 if you have a first class degree
• £4,000 if you have a 2.1

If you have exceptional subject knowledge from another career or postgraduate study (ie PhD or Masters), you may be eligible for a higher bursary than your degree classification would otherwise allow. Find out more about the TA discretionary bursary.

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 has been set at £9,000. This fee must be paid within the first year of study, however.

As a full-time EU student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which you only start to pay back when you are earning over £21,000 a year (or the equivalent in your country). For more information about student loans, visit our student finance page.

Teaching Agency bursary

The Teaching Agency awards training bursaries based on subject and the classification of your first degree. For this course, you may be eligible for:

• £9,000 if you have a first class degree
• £4,000 if you have a 2.1

If you have exceptional subject knowledge from another career or postgraduate study (ie PhD or Masters), you may be eligible for a higher bursary than your degree classification would otherwise allow. Find out more about the TA discretionary bursary.

International students

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year is £10,800.

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.

Early payment discount

If you are paying your own fees, you may be eligible for an early payment discount of £1,000. This discount is awarded to students who pay in full before registration.

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

• Meeting children’s and young people's needs
• Creative and Effective Curriculum
• Reflective Practice
• Pedagogical Excellence (teaching and learning across the primary curriculum subject areas)

For detailed summary of all course content please read our programme specification for this course.

Course summary

The PgCE/QTS Primary: Distributed Learning offers a blended approach to learning through face-to-face sessions and independent study supported by online resources. The course runs for five terms; you attend university for two weeks in September in the first year, one week in November in the second year and up to six base days per term. You will need to fully engage with the distributed learning approach, pass the PgCE assessments and successfully complete four school placements and one placement in an alternative setting.

Once you have started the course you can apply to transfer to the M level Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE: DL). Transferring to the M level PGCE:DL is managed through a short assessment and application in October Year 1. Successful completion of the PGCE:DL means you will exit the course with 40 M level credits plus a PGCE and QTS.

More information about school placements.

Study hours for the full course.

Case studies

‘DL has worked tremendously well for me. I am a busy mother with five children. DL allows me to maintain study while managing a busy home. Originally I was a bit apprehensive as it was over five terms and not the usual three. However I am finding that the five terms is allowing me time to research/study around the subject in question.’
- Lesley

'Ordinarily I would have thought the DL course fits more to people with families or carrying out a career change. I was however pleasantly surprised that the course also worked really well for me as well who doesn't have children or a former profession. I think the reason for this is the nature of the course being over an 18 month period compared to the 12 month full time course. This gave me a lot more breathing room between placements and university that allowed me to focus on my reflective practice and also how to improve my teaching practice between placements. Rather than rushing through the course I think it is more beneficial to have that time to step back and focus on what went right, what went wrong and what you can do to improve.' - Chris

'Learning through a variety of ways such as role play, group work and a combination of whole cohort/small group lectures, has given me a sense of belonging to the course and has built my self-confidence about becoming a teacher.' - Sarah