We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2026/27 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2025/26 courses.
Our BA Primary Education (QTS) programme is specifically 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, 2024 99% of our students said teaching staff are good at explaining things and 96% of our students said the course has developed the knowledge and skills they think they will need for their future (National Student Survey 2024, 99.15% and 95.73% of responders from the Institute of Education). We also have the joint 16th highest score for graduate prospects in the UK (Complete University Guide 2026 – 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.
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:
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.
