PGCE Primary Education
GTTR code X100
Full-time
This course is subject to reapproval
Location • City Campus
Subject area • Teacher education
Related subjects • Education studies
By adding to My Courses you can compare courses and create a personalised prospectus.
View profiles of students on this course
Is teaching for you? Our free three day taster courses give you all the information you need to find out about teaching.
A trainee teacher, mentor coordinator and headteacher at one of our placement schools talk about their experiences of work placements.
Visit the Department of Teacher Education website to view profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
This course is for graduates and equips you with the skills needed for the challenging task of teaching in a primary school. It develops your knowledge, skills and enthusiasm needed to motivate children’s learning.
We emphasise the core subjects of • English • mathematics • science • information and communication technology. This course is designed to prepare you to meet the demands of recent developments in primary education.
School experience is an integral part of the course, and you will work with pupils in key stages 1 and 2. We offer the course in partnership with local and regional primary schools, which play a key role in the teaching and assessment of your professional competence.
You attend the University or work in schools intensively over two semesters. You attend regular lectures, seminars and tutorials at the University.
Bursaries are available to any UK or EU trainee starting a PGCE in England who is not employed as a teacher. For more information about grants towards tuition fees and bursaries visit the student finance website.
School Direct places for September 2013
We have PGCE places for this subject available via our School Direct route for September 2013 start. Places for School Direct are provided in partnership with our lead schools in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Lincolnshire. There is the intention that you will be employed by them or another school in their partnership once you have qualified.
For more information on how to apply visit School Direct PGCE.
Related courses
Full-time – one year
All Sheffield Hallam applications must be made through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). Apply on-line at www.gttr.ac.uk or phone 0871 468 0 469.
2013/14 academic year
Typically £9,000 for the course
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically £10,980 a year
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,250 a year
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
Your academic work is assessed through coursework using a variety of assessment methods. Your teaching is assessed in schools and by school-based mentors. You record evidence of your progress towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in a professional development portfolio.
This course attracts credit towards a masters level qualification.
You must also successfully complete tests in numeracy, literacy and information and communication technology as laid down by the DfE Teaching Agency.
Carly Halford
PGCE Primary Education
`I chose to study at Sheffield Hallam University primarily because I love the city of Sheffield. I studied my undergraduate degree, the BA (Honours) Education Studies with Psychology and Counselling, at Sheffield Hallam, and was pleased with the support I received from the academic staff, and with the placements provided.
`I enjoyed the core curriculum subject seminars that the PGCE course offers. The teaching from specialist academic staff is fantastic and inspired me to become the best practitioner I can possibly be. I enjoyed the English, maths and science modules and found them useful when preparing for teaching practices in schools. The Primary Education team are supportive and offer advice and expert opinions when asked, it was a privilege to learn from them.
`My work placements were combined with the course as teaching practice. The experience the settings gave me is invaluable to developing my professional career. The two block teaching practices were situated in Key Stage 1 and 2 for my particular course. I worked with outstanding and good practitioners who developed my classroom teaching style and knowledge. Through the teaching practices I have gained a wealth of confidence and knowledge in primary teaching and subject areas which I could not learn in a classroom.'
Charlie Lowe
PGCE Primary Education, 2009 graduate
'Working alongside children has always been a passion of mine. I have run cub groups in the past, as well as teaching swimming for my local council. While completing my degree I missed working closely with children so my mind was made up - I wanted to teach!
'Teaching is full of incredible possibilities. Some say don't work with children or animals, but I definitely disagree. Children have astounding imaginations that are there to be broadened and enjoyed. Working with my year three class has allowed me to enjoy stories once again, teach them new interesting facts about Vikings, healthy eating, their community and much more.
'The harder you work and the more you put into the class, the greater the satisfaction is. Even after a long hard week you get the fulfilment of knowing that you have given those children a safe, welcoming environment to come into.
'I chose to study at Sheffield Hallam because of its outstanding reputation as a teacher training facility. It is renowned for its quality of teaching, as well as the high standard of teachers it produces.
'The course is truly phenomenal. The lectures prepare you thoroughly in current policies and interventions, while the seminars, particularly science, provide fantastic teaching ideas for the classroom. All I can say is if you ever get the opportunity to make gyro-copters you are in for a real treat!'
Is teaching for you?
If you are interested in pursuing a career in teaching then you may like to register for one of our taster courses. We offer a combination of mini taster sessions which are open to all and a series of more in-depth programmes targeted towards particular groups.
Mini taster sessions
Mini taster sessions are designed to give you a flavour of what teacher training involves, giving you the opportunity to meet with course leaders and have your questions answered.
We are running a series of mini taster sessions in March 2012. Find out more or register for a session.
Train to teach development programme
We offer a series of programmes, session's and one to one support to provide you with a more in-depth view of the teaching profession and advise you on your own personalised journey to initial teacher training. These are
• black, minority and ethnic individuals – one day introductory course on 6 February 2012
• men into primary – three-day course (including one day within a school environment), which runs between 12-14 June (tbc)
• secondary priority courses – for people interested in teaching subjects such as maths, physics and chemistry, with courses running between 5-7 March
We also offer small group sessions and one-to-one's for those who do not fall into one of these categories.
Please contact m.greaves@shu.ac.uk to register your interest.
Hear from taster course participants
'I would most definitely recommend this course to other interested parties. I attended in order to decide whether I still thought teaching was for me, and without having the unique opportunity to spend a day in a school I think I still would have struggled with my decision.
'It didn't seem to matter whether you were on the fence about teaching – as I know one of the attendees later realised teaching wasn't for her,
but having access to valuable information regarding getting into teaching, speaking to those from the teaching profession and spending time in a school, were, for me most useful. Since the course I have been able to research the numerous routes into teaching and I have decided I would like to pursue a PGCE Primary.'
Sharner Lal, taster course attendee
'I really gained a lot from this course. I got first hand information about what it is all about being a teacher in UK. I must acknowledge that the organisers of this course did tremendously well it was really fantastic. I had a whole day experience in a school where I had the opportunity to be in two different class rooms. It was a wonderful experience to see how
teaching goes on, classroom management, the use of ICT facilities, and the role of teaching assistant.
'This actually boosted my enthusiasm to go out there and teach. I got more insight into a practical responsibility of a teacher and the positive relationship a teacher builds with pupils.'
Ebenezer F Pobee, taster course attendee
Amy Bagnell (2:39)
Amy talks about the types of support that we provide for you on teaching placements.
Zara Rowley (1:06)
One of our trainee primary school teachers talks about being on placement.
Beccy Buck (1:12)
Beccy, one of our mentor co-ordinators, talks about what it takes to make a great primary school teacher
More videos
Amy Bagnell (2:39)
Amy talks about the types of support that we provide for you on teaching placements.
Zara Rowley (1:06)
One of our trainee primary school teachers talks about being on placement.
Beccy Buck (1:12)
Beccy, one of our mentor co-ordinators, talks about what it takes to make a great primary school teacher
Staff profiles
Visit the Department of Teacher Education website to view profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
