PGCE (Primary)
We work in partnership with schools in London and the South East to plan and implement our PGCE (Primary) programme. This aims to develop good practice in primary teaching, which is based on thorough curriculum planning and assessment.
Claire, PGCE Primary
X121 (Early Years, 3-7 years);
X171 (Primary, 5-11 years)
See general entrance requirements.
See Fitness to train: criminal convictions.
Please see further information on fees and costs.
When you successfully complete the programme, you complete a Career Entry Development Profile with our support to help you prepare for your first teaching post. Employment opportunities are excellent, with the majority of students gaining a first teaching appointment in London or elsewhere.
Two modules are offered at either H or M level. These are General Professional Studies – a classroom-based research project with a pedagogic focus – and Curriculum Studies, which has an integrated focus in which there are five options. School Experience is offered at H level.
For the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you are also formally assessed on your competence in the classroom and your ability to meet Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Professional Standards, including passing computer-based tests in literacy, numeracy and ICT. These tests are an important part of your training, and are normally taken alongside the taught element of the PGCE. Examples of test questions and support materials are at www.tda.gov.uk.
Contact the Department of Educational Studies +44 (0)20 7919 7324.
Educational Studies
UK and EU students admissions or call +44 (0)20 7919 7050. International (non-EU) students or call +44 (0)20 7919 7702.
You focus on either 3-7 year-olds (Foundation Stage/Key Stage 1) or 7-11 year-olds (Key Stage 1/Key Stage 2), and undertake your school experience within a specified age range. You are supported professionally by a system of school and personal tutoring. The programme lasts for 38 weeks from September to July. College-based courses are normally timetabled between 9am and 5pm. For 18 weeks of the programme you work full-time in school, starting before 8.30am each day.
What you study
The programme covers all the National Curriculum subjects: Art, Design and Technology, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Performing Arts (carnival, dance, drama, music), Physical Education, ICT (Information and Communication Technology), Religious Education, Citizenship, and Science. It deals in detail with the three core areas of English, Mathematics, and Science. In each curriculum area, opportunities are provided to enable you to develop understanding of the teaching and learning process, and to learn about effective classroom practice. The 3-7 age range programme includes additional sessions relevant to teaching in the Foundation Stage.
Cross-curricular themes, skills and dimensions are a vital part of the programme, and thematic or integrated patterns of work are encouraged throughout your school experience and college-based work; these might relate Art and Design with Maths, Science and languages, for example.
School experience
School experience is combined with college-based work throughout the programme, and is supervised by college tutors, part-time tutors with recent teaching experience, and school-based tutors.
During the autumn/spring terms you undertake placements in a relevant age phase. The final school experience takes place in a consecutive age phase, and usually lasts for about 10 weeks in the summer term; during this practice you take responsibility for the whole class. This information may change, depending on school terms.
Register your interest
If you register your interest in this programme we will keep you informed about open days and send you relevant further information.
Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK
Telephone: + 44 (0)20 7919 7171
Goldsmiths has charitable status
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