Primary (7-11) (Key Stage 2) - PGCE

More about this course

This course leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which will allow you to work as a teacher in primary education settings.

Our modules will develop your understanding of the role of a teacher. During your lectures and seminars you’ll adopt a critical approach to evaluate pedagogical traditions, as well as the curriculum and children’s rights. You’ll also learn about how you can use and undertake research to engage with issues in education.

This knowledge will be supplemented by practical experience as you’ll undertake school placements of 11 and 13 weeks, allowing you to reflect on theory and see its development in the real world. During these placements you’ll receive continuous support from your tutors and school-based mentors.

On completion of this course you’ll acquire the necessary understanding and experience required to become an effective teacher and to plan, deliver and evaluate the curriculum.

Assessment

Your assessment will consist of:

• school placement A
• school placement B, where your teaching ability will be assessed in relation to the standard for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• a Professional Practice Portfolio, which is compiled across the year, detailing personal experiences and reflections on your development as a teacher, largely in relation to your practical teaching experience
• the Educational Research Assignment, which allows you to explore an educational issue

There are no examinations.

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

• minimum of a 2.2 UK degree or master’s (MA/MSc)
• pass at literacy and numeracy tests, which are university-based tests that you will be asked to undertake at your interview
• a valid Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate and Confirmation of Fitness to Teach (eg a London Metropolitan University Health Check) which you will be advised to apply for after an offer is made
• GCSE English, Mathematics and Science grade C/4 or above (or equivalent)*

We do make conditional offers (with strict deadlines), so it is important that you include all pending qualifications in your application.

We will assess any overseas qualifications for equivalence using a number of resources, including our own internal guidelines, the UK ENIC and the Overseas Degree Table.

We highly recommend the one-to-one tailored advice on eligibility and equivalency offered by the Department for Education’s Get into Teaching service.

*If you need to take an equivalency test for any of the required GCSEs, please sign up for A Star Equivalency or Equivalency Testing. They offer all three GCSE equivalencies. Please be aware that you may need to undertake study towards the exam, either with the equivalency organisation or independently.
Alternatively, you might want to sign up for a college course in the relevant subject, though this is likely to take longer and you may not have the chance for a re-sit, if required, prior to the start of the PGCE course.

Professional requirements

Before you can be permitted to enrol on this course:

• you must not already hold QTS or be qualified to teach in another EU/EEA country

Prior to the interview for this course, we recommend:

• you have a minimum of 10 working days, recent experience in a school
• you are prepared for your understanding of current teaching practice and issues in schools to be assessed
• you have an awareness of multiculturalism and other contexts unique to urban schools
• you're aware you may be invited to interview based on information given in your application

Some offers may recommend further school experience if required.

International students and English language requirements

Due to statutory requirements, we are not able to offer sponsorship under the Student visa route for this course. We will be happy to consider those falling into this category for an alternative suitable course on request. If you’re an overseas national who already holds an alternative visa in a suitable category or have been granted permission to remain in the UK indefinitely, you may be considered for admission, but please note that an additional international enhanced police check will be required.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course at London Met. Find out more about applying for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).

English language requirements

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Student visa (previously Tier 4) you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. This course requires you to meet our standard requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Modular structure

Where this course can take you

Our Primary (7-11) (Key Stage 2) PGCE leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which qualifies you to teach seven to eleven-year-olds.

Additional costs

Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees.

Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.

When to apply

You are advised to apply as early as possible as applications will only be considered if there are places available on the course.