Primary Teaching leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) PGCE
- Education and teaching
- Postgraduate
Become a confident, well-rounded teacher. This Primary Teaching leading to QTS PGCE at Kingston University will give you essential training in all aspects of primary teaching (ages 5–11).
Following an ambitious, fully developed curriculum, you’ll learn the Initial Teacher Training Core Content Framework (ITTCCF) in line with Department for Education (DfE) requirements.
Transform the lives of children in their communities
You'll gain the skills you need to become an effective, inclusive and evidence-informed educator.
Studying this one-year course in Primary Teaching leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) PCGE (5–11) at Kingston University will give you the training you need to become a primary teacher. Many graduates also go on to management roles, or even to progress their studies in further education.
During the course, you’ll learn through a mix of taught subject days and school experience. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to develop practical teaching skills, with support and feedback from expert mentors, teachers and colleagues.
This programme will help you develop into a reflective, research-engaged teacher with the skills to drive improvements in young people's learning and wellbeing through evidence-informed practice.
When you graduate, you’ll have both Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a PGCE – everything you need to progress to the next stage in your professional development as an Early Career Teacher (ECT).
Although the PGCE has been one of the hardest years of my life, it has also been one of the most satisfying. Leaving my first placement class knowing that I'd actually taught them something was a great feeling and showed me that coming to Kingston to do a PGCE was a fantastic decision.
Why choose this course
Kingston University has been training teachers for more than 100 years. We’ve partnered with over 200 schools to make sure your learning experience is rounded and diverse, and we’re ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
On this course, you’ll spend 120 days teaching pupils in a primary school setting. You’ll work alongside experienced teachers, develop your professional skills and take increasing responsibility for children’s learning.
Your main placements will be in two different schools to give you experience of different settings and pupils. Most of our partner schools are within 25km of Kingston University, but we also have relationships with schools across Surrey, Hampshire and other London boroughs.
When you’re not putting your skills into practice at a school, you’ll be taught by experienced professionals at our Kingston Hill campus. Facilities here include an outdoor learning environment – great for simulating teaching with natural materials.
Inside, you can use our subject based classrooms to practice your lessons. You can also access a wide range of teaching resources – from children’s books and music to artefacts and kits – from our library at the Nightingale Centre.
Course content
You will learn about pedagogy (the art of teaching), including learning theories and child development, alongside the subjects of the national curriculum.
Together, this learning will help you understand how best to teach each subject to children of different ages, needs, attributes and experiences. You will also explore key professional issues, such as safeguarding and supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
We model good teaching as we train you, so you can transfer what you have experienced into your own practice.
Modules
Core modules
Career opportunities
You’ll complete this course with the skills, knowledge and qualification you need to become a teacher in a primary setting. Many previous graduates have progressed on to middle and senior management roles, while others have used the PGCE modules studied to count towards an MA in Education.
Teaching and assessment
Your taught sessions will be a mix of seminars, lectures, practical workshops, field trips and work with pupils. Peer-led critical support groups will also feature in the programme. Most of your sessions will be taught by university tutors but there may also be guest speakers, such as headteachers or subject leaders.
Fees and funding
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Funding support for PGCE students
Eligible UK and EU students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Please be aware: although this course is at postgraduate level, as it is possible to obtain a tuition fee loan for PGCE courses they are to be treated as undergraduate courses when it comes to tuition fee liability as a result of withdrawal or break in studies.
Scholarships and bursaries
Interested in studying Primary Teaching leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) PGCE? The following funding support is available:
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply
You can apply for this course through the UK Department for Education portal.
Please enter institution and course details clearly and correctly on your form.
The code for Kingston University is K84
The course code for Primary Teaching leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) PGCE is X100
Interviews
After your interview, Kingston University will make a decision and let you know through the UK Department for Education portal.
What our students and graduates say
I decided to apply for the PGCE at Kingston, largely because it was conveniently located for me and because of the University's excellent resources to support PGCE students.
Although the course has been extremely demanding, both physically and mentally, I've definitely made the right decision.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
