Primary Education with QTS (5-11 years)

You’ll learn both through university-based exploration of educational theory and more hands-on classroom delivery. You’ll explore not just the why but also how children learn. You’ll think critically about research, national initiatives and classroom practice and learn how to evaluate your practice reflectively. 

On the Bath Spa Primary teaching degree, we take a holistic approach to child development. You’ll explore how a child’s learning and wellbeing can be supported by the whole community, including parents and carers, families and schools. You’ll learn how to build relationships outwith the classroom to support child development. 

You’ll develop a subject specialism in both a core subject (English, Maths and Science) and a foundation subject (History, Geography, Modern Foreign Languages, Art, Music, Computing, Design Technology, Physical Education, PSHE, RE).    

On this Education degree, you’ll have the opportunity to establish yourself with a community of Bath Spa researchers to explore cutting-edge questions and issues that will directly impact your future practice. 

Placements are a key part of this BA in Primary Education with QTS course. You’ll spend several weeks a year training in a range of schools or settings, allowing you to become familiar with their ethos and practice. You’ll be fully supported by expert colleagues in schools to develop your teaching skills through practice and reflection. 

Year one: Introduction and starting to teach. 

You’ll be introduced to all subjects of the Primary curriculum, both core and foundation. You’ll begin to learn about professional practice, including curriculum, assessment and approaches to teaching and learning. 

You’ll start to develop the necessary skills and behaviours for successful classroom delivery. In addition to several weeks structured classroom-based practice, you’ll spend two weeks in schools doing things like intense observations and learning how to adapt best practice. 

Year two: Development and practice. 

You’ll develop a deeper understanding of the curriculum and approaches to teaching and learning. 

You’ll increase your teaching toolkit by learning how to plan, assess and support the diverse needs of children in the classroom.  

Your second-year placement will give you an opportunity to embed your practice and take greater ownership of teaching and learning in your placement class. Our intensive weeks will focus on assessment and supporting child language development. 

Year three: Specialism and consolidation. 

You'll learn more about teaching and assessment methods, and focus on developing your specialism in two subjects - one core and one foundation. 

You’ll get the opportunity to work alongside active researchers to develop specialist knowledge in your chosen core subject. 

An extended placement in Semester 2 will support you in developing and extending your practice in preparation for future employment as an Early Career Teacher. 

You'll be assessed using various tasks and coursework. These may include portfolios, evidence of school-based practice, posters, reports, presentations, and quizzes to test your subject knowledge. 

You'll learn through interactive sessions which puts you at the heart of discussion, reflection and learning with others. We provide academic support through the library and academic skills team. Additionally, we offer personal support through student wellbeing services. 

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

You'll undertake a school placement in each year of the course.

In addition, you'll have teaching workshops in purpose built, well-resourced realistic learning environments.

Successful completion of the course will lead to recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status. 

Other career options may include working in educational roles with charities, cultural and heritage organisations or in settings such as prisons. 

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

The majority of your classes will be at our Newton Park campus and there will also be some teaching sessions held at Sion Hill. Teaching will take place in rooms equipped with relevant texts, equipment, training materials, and electronic resources.

Situated just out of the city centre, the campus offers panoramic views of the countryside and access to our state of the art facilities, including:

• Commons building, with its superb classroom facilities, social spaces, and specialist digital resources.
• Our Library offers a wealth of learning resources including books, journals, DVDs and an extensive range of electronic services. Our Subject Librarian for Education provides subject-specific support, including help with research.
• Writing and Learning Centre, which provides support for your academic work, including feedback on written drafts and other help with academic writing.
• Virtual Learning Environment, which provides online access to learning materials such as lecture slides, assessment information, discussion boards and other resources. 
• Access to thousands of business, design and tech courses online via LinkedIn Learning.
• In addition to supporting you to find your first teaching role, the Careers team run networking events and advisory workshops that explore your wider options. They help you get experience by assisting with your search for work placements and paid part-time jobs while you're studying. When you're ready to progress into your chosen career, they can help you secure graduate-level employment, freelance opportunities, and funding for your own business ideas. Career support continues for years after you graduate with the dedicated Grad Support Unit.