Make a difference to children's lives by becoming a Primary or Early Years teacher through our highly regarded teacher training course.

  • Inspire passion and create enthusiasm. Excellent teachers make a difference to the lives and futures of the people they teach.
  • Benefit from 70 years of teacher training experience. We are committed to excellence in research and professional practice.
  • Enhance your employment prospects. Become fully qualified to teach in just one year.

Developed in partnership with schools and early years settings, our Primary teacher training programmes will support you to become an innovative and inspiring teacher.

There are a number of age phases and specialist pathways to consider, through which you’ll achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS):

  • PGCE Primary and Early Years (3-7 age phase)
    Course code: X110
  • PGCE Primary and Early Years (5-11 age phase) options to specialise include: English, Science, Maths, SEND, Behaviour for learning, The Arts, Modern Languages 
    Course code: X100
  • PGCE Primary and Early Years (7-11 age phase) options to specialise include: English, Science, Maths, SEND, Behaviour for learning, The Arts, Modern Languages
    Course code: X174

Our full time programmes last for approximately 40 weeks. You’ll spend about two thirds of this time in a school or educational setting. Throughout the teacher training programme there is a dynamic relationship between your training in the University and your training in schools.

Woman talking to camera from her stylish living room
Harriet shares her experiences of being a teacher

"The PGCE course provides the ultimate teaching package – subject experts to impart their wisdom, placements in a variety of schools across the region, and even the opportunity to perform Shakespeare and sing in a gospel choir!"

Edward Powe, PGCE Primary and Early Years graduate

What you'll learn

Overview

While you’re a Bath Spa Teacher, you’ll explore models of teaching and the many ways in which children learn. Emphasis is placed on how parents and carers, families, schools and communities can impact children’s learning and well-being.

When you complete your Initial Teacher Training, you’ll be fully qualified to teach, with the essential knowledge, skills and confidence that you’ll need to be successful in the classroom.

Course components

University-based training
We’ll encourage you to think critically about research, national initiatives and classroom practice, as well as supporting you in the process of reflective evaluation.

You’ll be taught in lectures, seminars and workshops covering all subjects across the primary national curriculum.

School-based training

You’ll receive training in at least two schools or settings allowing you to become familiar with their ethos and practice. You will work closely with a training mentor in school to develop your teaching skills through practice and reflection.

This is your opportunity to practise your developing teaching skills. During school training you’ll be able to reflect on your university training in the context of children’s learning environments.

How will I be assessed?

You'll be required to have met the Teachers’ Standards by the end of the course which you will work towards throughout your school training. 

You'll also undertake a range of assignments at Master's level which assess your understanding of theories, concepts and practice relating to teaching in both core and foundation subjects.

How will I be taught?

We’ll help you monitor and track your progress; offering you advice on how to improve your performance as a teacher. You will be assigned an Academic Tutor who will regularly meet with you to review your progress, as well as visiting you during your assessed school training. During school training you will also be supported by a Training Mentor, who is usually the class teacher.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

Course modules

This course offers or includes the following modules. The modules you take will depend on your pathway or course combination (if applicable) as well as any optional or open modules chosen. Please check the programme document for more information.

Modules
  • How Children Learn
  • Positive Classroom Environments
  • Adaptive Teaching
  • Inspiring Learning
  • QTS Module (Primary and Early Years)
  • Enhanced Professional Practice in Early Years
  • Primary English Specialism (BSU)
  • Primary Mathematics Specialism (BSU)
  • Primary Science Specialism (BSU)
  • Primary Arts Specialism (BSU)
  • Primary Music Specialism (BSU)
  • Primary Physical Education (PE) Specialism (BSU)
  • Primary Modern Languages Specialism (BSU)
  • Primary Behaviour for Learning Specialism (BSU)
  • Primary Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Specialism (BSU)
  • Primary English as an Additional Language Specialism (BSU)

Opportunities

Careers

This PGCE programme produces high calibre teachers with the relevant skills, knowledge, understanding and experiences necessary to enter a career in teaching.

Adobe Creative Campus

Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.   

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

As a Bath Spa Teacher, you'll learn in a variety of locations within our wide partnership, both at the University and in schools.

Your main campus will be Sion Hill. Teaching will take place in rooms equipped with relevant texts, equipment, training materials, and electronic resources.

Fees

2025 entry
Student Annual tuition fee
UK full time £9,535
International full time £16,460

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document (linked under the main image on this page) for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.

Funding opportunities

Please visit our Funding pages for an overview of the funding options that may be available, including scholarships and bursaries.

“Head teachers are confident that they gain a professional who is of high quality when they employ NQTs from Bath Spa University. Consequently, employment rates are high.”

Ofsted Report, rated Outstanding, September 2015

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

You’ll need to be well suited to the teaching profession both personally and academically. We look for people with a committed professional approach and an exceptional work ethic. You’ll need to be organised, flexible and unflappable, as well as being able to communicate, interact and relate well to everyone. When entering the teaching profession, you'll benefit from having strong emotional resilience and a sense of humour.

 

Academic requirements

In addition to the general entry requirements, you’ll need a good honours degree; your degree can be in any subject. We only accept candidates with GCSE passes at grade 4/C or above (or recognised equivalents) in English, Mathematics and a Science subject.

Non-academic requirements

Before being allowed to enrol, all teacher training applicants are required to complete a number of compulsory compliance checks, including:

  • Enhanced DBS check
    • The Disclosure and Barring Service check is a legal requirement for anyone coming into contact with children or young people. It usually takes a few weeks but this can be longer in the summer months. Overseas applicants or those who have lived overseas for more than six months in the last five years will also require a police certificate of good conduct from the relevant country.
  • Childrens' Barred List check
    • This check forms part of the Department for Education “Keeping Children Safe in Education” statutory guidance. Requests can sometimes be processed within the same working day. 
  • Prohibition from Teaching
    • The prohibition from teaching check is a requirement for all teaching staff in accordance with DfE guidance. 
  • Fitness to Train to Teach questionnaire
    • This is a compulsory requirement for anyone undertaking teacher training and may take up to eight weeks to clear.
How do I apply?

Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page.

If you need more guidance, please head to our how to apply webpages.

Get ahead

To help you in choosing the age-phase you want to be the focus of your training, you may wish to spend some time within a school or appropriate setting.

Contact us

PGCE Admissions Officer: