What subjects do we cover?
Our six teacher education areas are
- early years (3-7) and primary (5-11) education
- secondary education
- information on School Direct PGCE courses
- post-16 education and training
- Teach First programme
- Masters in Education programme
- Education Doctorate (EdD) programme
Early years (3-7) and primary (5-11) education
We offer a route into primary and early years teaching whether you already have a degree or not.
You benefit from our staff's enthusiasm and expertise in curriculum development and research. We have a particular strong reputation for maths – we're a training centre for maths in primary education.
One of the main features of our courses is our strong relationship with schools and other educational settings. It means we can provide you a range of exciting placements, alongside interactive taught sessions, tutorials, excellent on-campus facilities and independent study supported by a virtual learning environment.
Early years (3-7) and primary (5-11) education
Secondary education
Our secondary education programme is one of the largest in the country.
Our broad range of courses are designed to create skilled and highly employable secondary teachers and provide the next generation of subject-specialist teachers for our regional partner schools.
We have 14 different curriculum subject areas and various study patterns. We offer a mix of undergraduate (BSc and QTS) and postgraduate (PGCE/ProfGCE) awards and have around 600 students on the programme at any one time, with 450 in their final professional year, which leads to the QTS award.
We work in close partnership with around 140 regional secondary schools and colleges based largely in South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire. Many of our trainees find permanent employment in these schools on completion of their courses.
Our staff are actively engaged in consultancy and research work. For example, our mathematics group work with colleagues from primary education and the Centre for Science Education on two nationally renowned projects in maths education development.
Post-16 education and training
This sector covers all post-16 learning that takes place outside of the traditional school context. It also includes vocational 14–19 education.
We can train you for a variety of contexts including • further and higher education • vocational and voluntary sectors • teaching literacy, numeracy or English to Speakers of other languages.
If you already work in education we offer continuing professional development through our BA and MA programmes, and stand-alone modules in areas like mentoring and 14–19 diplomas.
Our courses are nationally recognised and endorsed by professional bodies and assessed to the national professional standards.
We have close links and partnerships with the local learning and skills sector training providers, including local colleges, private training providers, the voluntary sector, the fire service and the health service.
Our highly qualified and dedicated team have extensive and up-to-date knowledge and skills covering a range of disciplines. We're involved with national pilots and research into the development and delivery of initial teacher training, an area undergoing significant changes.
Teach First
We lead the £1 million-a-year contract for the innovative Teach First Leadership Development Programme for the Yorkshire and Humber region.
The programme provides intensive training for high-flying graduates who go on to work in challenging local schools to address educational disadvantage. It combines working, training and qualifying as a teacher with leadership development training, coaching and mentoring and takes two years to complete.
After graduation Teach First ambassadors have further opportunities for networking and internships and to work towards a masters qualification.
There are no training fees for the Teach First Leadership Development Programme. In your first year you're paid as an unqualified teacher, and in your second year you're paid as a qualified teacher.
Masters in Education programme
If you currently work in education, this programme offers a range of courses from postgraduate certificate to full masters to help you develop your skills and discover the latest knowledge in the field.
Our innovative and flexible approaches to learning – developed in partnership with teachers, schools, local authorities and multi-agency settings – help you integrate continuing professional development (CPD) into your working life.
We lead a consortium of Yorkshire and Humberside universities and key regional schools which provides the new masters in teaching and learning, alongside a wide portfolio of specialist awards at masters level.
We help you explore your practice, develop new ideas and bring about change to transform education for children, young people and adults. The courses encompass leadership, coaching and mentoring, the national award for special educational needs coordinators, curriculum developments and learning and teaching across all ages.
School Direct
The School Direct training programme allows you to gain PGCE qualification and recognition while on school placement.
Designed in partnership with local schools, it's aimed at highly motivated, well-qualified graduates to experience 'on the job' training while being supported by excellent mentoring and support.
If you're interested in a career in either primary teaching or secondary schools in the maths and modern foreign languages you can even receive a bursary while taking the salaried training programme.
You follow an individually tailored programme to achieve a PGCE, which includes qualified teacher status (QTS) and credit which can be used as the first third of a masters degree.
As well as 24 weeks on school placement you benefit from sessions with other PGCE students at the University, where we share and discuss the theories behind your classroom practice.