About this course
Become a superb Primary teacher at LJMU. Graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for the 3-7 or 5-11 age range (PE and mathematics specialisms are available for the 5-11 age range).
- Prepare for a career as an innovative and creative teacher of 3-7 or 5-11 year olds (see Details tab for range of courses)
- Enjoy placements supported by excellent teacher mentors
- Spend 120 days on school placement
- Become an inquisitive, creative and reflective practitioner
- Study full-time, over 10 months;
- Spend 120 days in a 'Home School' placement with a mid-course 'Alternative' placement to ensure experience in a range of school settings.
Our PGCE Primary programmes are designed to prepare you for a career as an innovative and creative teacher. You will be trained by highly experienced academic staff and school mentors.
Our philosophy of 3-7 teaching centres around a commitment to learning and teaching through play and interaction. This is a challenging and rigorous approach, which requires high level planning, organisation, intervention and assessment.
Training to teach the 5-11 age range enables you to explore pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning across all national curriculum subjects with a particular focus on the core subjects, including the teaching of phonics. You can also apply for 5-11 with a specialism in mathematics or PE.
The professional experience you acquire during your studies, alongside University input will enable you to develop your ability to plan, teach and manage learning in different settings and socio-economic contexts.
The University has a well-established reputation for delivering innovative approaches to teacher education. Our academic team is made up of successful teachers who maintain strong links with schools and professional bodies, ensuring you receive the most up-to-date training and key insights into the field during your course.
Our emphasis is on developing teachers who are reflective practitioners able to apply a deep understanding of the curriculum, learners and learning to provide the very best and most appropriate learning opportunities for all children, with a positive impact on their development and achievement.
The professional experience you acquire during your studies, alongside University input will enable you to develop your ability to plan, teach and manage learning in different settings and socio-economic contexts.
Courses can be viewed on the government's Get into Teaching website.
Course modules
Discover the building blocks of your programme
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Your Learning Experience
An insight into teaching on your course
Pathways to QTS
- Primary Key Stage 1/2 (5-11 years) with QTS
- Primary Foundation Stage/Key Stage 1 (3-7 years) with QTS
- Primary with Mathematics Specialism (5-11 years) with QTS
- Primary with Physical Education Specialism (5-11 years) with QTS
Study hours
University-based study includes:
- a full-time block of three weeks at the start of the course in September
- one day per week until January
- six one-week study blocks at university between October and June
- a number of conference days throughout the year
You will undertake a significant amount of independent study and preparation to support your course assignments and school-based work (planning, preparation and assessment).
Teaching methods
You will learn via lectures, seminars, interactive workshops, group discussion and reflection, problem solving and micro-teaching. You will also make use of our online learning environment.
You will be allocated a mentor who will organise and supervise your school-based training. Your mentor will be supported by your LJMU Liaison Tutor who will stay in regular contact throughout the course and visit your school several times to monitor your progress. Additional professional development sessions are organised in school during placements.
Tutorial support is an important part of the LJMU learning process and you will receive a personalised service that will enable you to set targets and achieve your potential. Your Personal Tutor will support your academic and professional development and will meet with you formally during the year.
Applied learning
You will spend 120 days spent on school placement.
Placements are organised in our partnership schools in the Greater Merseyside area. For the majority of the training you will gain your teaching experience in a 'Home School' with a six week placement in an 'alternative' school after Christmas.
Your school training involves the preparation and delivery of learning sequences and lessons to small groups and whole classes of learners, with expectations and workload increasing during the course. This work is supported by a Teacher-Mentor who will enhance your professional learning experience in school.
How learning is monitored on your programme
To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.
Assessment methods include: critical reflections on research and practice, small scale research projects, the design and analysis of learning experiences, presentations and a portfolio of professional activities.
You will need to monitor your progression towards achieving the professional standards required for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and maintain a professional development portfolio.
Where you will study
You will have access to all of the classroom and teaching facilities provided by your placement schools as well as the expertise of educational professionals at LJMU.
Based in the new Education Building in the heart of the Mount Pleasant campus, the School of Education features a wide range of cutting-edge facilities, including a pedagogy room, lecture rooms, computing facilities and a nearby Outdoor Learning Zone for our Natural Curriculum projects. Students also benefit from independent study spaces, a close-by cafeteria and library, and access to student welfare and support.
Course tutors
Elizabeth is Head of Primary Programmes at Liverpool John Moores University. Prior to this, she was a Senior Professional Tutor in Initial Teacher Education at Liverpool Hope University, teaching across the BA (QTS), PGCE (QTS) and Professional Research Doctorate programmes. She has undertaken several roles including Academic Strategic Lead for Ambition Institute, School Direct Programme Lead and Head of Masters of Education with QTS. Elizabeth also has experience as a primary school teacher and governor in schools across the north west of England.
Career paths
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 94% (HESA 2022) of our postgraduates in work or further study fifteen months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.
Teacher Training employment prospects at LJMU are extremely good, with most subjects exceeding the national averages.
The PGCE course is intended for those preparing to enter the teaching profession and most of our students go on to achieve their career goal, working in state or independent schools and colleges. Teaching provides a variety of pathways leading to specialist roles ranging from pastoral to subject leadership and on into school leadership positions.
Having gained teaching experience, a number of graduates move into associated professions such as educational psychology, consultancy, and in the education service sector outside of schools.
Tuition fees and funding
Full-time PGCE students are eligible for the same range of financial support as undergraduate students.
You will have access to:
- a non means-tested student loan to cover your tuition fees
- a means-tested student loan to help cover your living expenses
- a means-tested maintenance grant, which does not have to be paid back
- a means-tested LJMU Bursary worth up to £500, which does not have to be paid back
For the latest information about bursaries and funding, please visit the Get Into Teaching website.
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.
Financial Support
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages. The University offers a range of financial support for students. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist financial support pages including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.
Additional Costs
In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:
- Accommodation
- Travel costs and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
- Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire
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The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.