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2023/24
2024/25

BA Primary Education (QTS)

  • UCAS code
    X1S2
  • A level offer
    BBB
  • Year of entry
    2024/25 See 2023/24 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  3 Years

Our BA Primary Education (QTS) programme is specifically designed to enable students to develop a strong identity as a primary teacher.

The BA Primary Education (QTS) programme has been designed to enable students to develop a strong identity as a primary teacher.

Throughout your three years with us, you will undertake core and optional modules. All your modules are carefully aligned to develop and nurture your enthusiasms and ambitions. You will leave the course with a strong identity as a beginner teacher with the scope to further develop into an educator of the future.

In your first year, you are introduced to teaching and learning within specialist Art, Music, English and/or Mathematics modules. In your professional and core subject lectures, you will start to understand and unpick the nature of teaching in primary schools and the primary curriculum. You will be placed in a Key Stage 1 classroom and your work will be assessed through coursework, presentations and in some cases, practical workshops.

In your second year, you will continue to develop a greater depth of understanding of how children learn through your chosen optional modules. In the professional and core subject lectures, you will unpack the progression of ideas in all areas of the primary curriculum. Your placement will be in a Key Stage 2 classroom and your work will be assessed through course work, presentations and in some cases, practical workshops.

Your final year continues to develop your understanding of early leadership in a chosen subject through the optional modules. Your placement will be in either Key Stage 1 or 2. Your final year will involve research engagement, developing reflective critical thinking and application of theory into your teaching practice. Your professional and core lectures will focus on issues of inclusion within primary education. You will engage in professional studies, which include gaining school experience through teaching placements in partnership primary schools.

In the National Student Survey 2023, 100% of our students said that their knowledge and skills for the future were developed well or very well (100% of respondents studying BA Primary Education).

This course will enable you to get a job as a primary school teacher following graduation. There is a high demand for primary school teachers and many of our graduates are offered jobs before they have finished the course. Furthermore, we are ranked 9th in the UK for Education (The Guardian University Guide 2024).

Climate and sustainability education

At the University of Reading we believe that climate and sustainability education is everyone’s responsibility. This is why we have set out our vision that all initial teacher trainees should be able to access training that empowers them to effectively incorporate climate education within their teaching across all levels and subjects as part of our National Climate Education Action Plan.

Across all of our ITT programmes at the Institute of Education, you will learn about:

  • what is happening to our climate, how to help children learn about climate and sustainability in an age-appropriate and accessible way, and how to develop your own positioning as a teacher
  • climate justice, the impact of current and future changes to our environment and climate on ourselves and others and implications for teachers
  • how to translate knowledge and theory into change and personal action through building climate and sustainability education into your planning, teaching, and children’s learning.

Visit our Partnering for the Planet to find out more about the University of Reading’s world-leading work in climate science.

For more information, please visit the Institute of Education website.

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250*

New international students: To be confirmed

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

As a graduate of this course you will be able to work as a teacher or teaching assistant in a primary school, or move into nursery education. We will provide you with careers advice throughout the course, and can also give support when preparing for interviews.

Our excellent links with local schools ensure that our employment rates are consistently high. Overall, 98% of our students are in work or further study 15 months after finishing their course (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20 First Degree, Postgraduate (Taught) and Postgraduate (Research) responders from the Institute of Education).