PGCE Primary 5-11

Established in 1840 as a teacher training college, and graded as Outstanding by Ofsted since 2005, the University of Winchester has a long history of high-quality and innovative teacher education programmes. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds from recent graduates to mature learners, and with a wide variety of prior knowledge and understanding of primary teaching.

PGCE Primary is a postgraduate professional programme of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) leading to the award of either Postgraduate Certificate in Education (for students achieving 40-60 Masters level credits) or Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (for students achieving fewer than 40 Masters levels credits, both including the recommendation of the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

PGCE Primary at Winchester prepares you to teach the 5–11 age range. The course covers everything that trainee teachers need to develop professional skills associated with high-quality teaching: expert tuition in all primary school subjects; understanding of how children learn and effective pedagogy; meeting the needs of all learners and professional skills associated with high-quality teaching.

Students undertake studies in all elements of primary education; they extend their knowledge of learning and teaching, of the breadth and scope of the curriculum and the professional skills associated with high-quality teaching. These areas of understanding and skill are then applied to classroom practice during two assessed placements in schools or educational settings, dependent on the route being undertaken.

Our programme runs in close partnership with a wide range of schools and educational settings to provide supportive placements where you can develop your skills as a reflective teacher. You will spend 120 days developing your understanding and skills through classroom practice. This includes two assessed placements, one in the autumn term and a second in the spring/summer and a further three-week research based placement.

Teaching placements are predominantly in Hampshire primary schools, but this geographical area often extends to Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Surrey.

The programme prides itself on the support and guidance offered to students. All students are allocated a personal tutor to support their progress through the programme. Progress is tracked both academically and in terms of the Teachers' Standards (Department for Education 2012), which are a required part of professional training.