Primary and Early Years Education with QTS

Primary and early years education with Qualified Teacher Status is a degree that prepares you for one of the most important roles in society: teaching children in their foundational years of learning. The primary and early years phase, typically from birth to age eleven, is when children develop their fundamental literacy, numeracy, and social skills, build their understanding of the world, and form the attitudes towards learning that will shape their relationship with education for the rest of their lives. Teaching at this stage requires a deep understanding of child development, strong subject knowledge across the primary curriculum, and the practical skills needed to plan, deliver, and assess learning effectively.

At the University of Huddersfield, this three-year programme leads to Qualified Teacher Status, which enables you to teach in state-maintained primary schools in England. The degree combines academic study of child development, educational theory, curriculum subjects, and pedagogy with substantial time in school placements, where you develop and demonstrate your practical teaching skills under the supervision of experienced teachers. You will study the primary national curriculum across core and foundation subjects, develop your understanding of how children learn at different stages, and engage with the inclusive practices needed to support children with a wide range of needs and backgrounds.

Graduates with QTS in primary education have clear, direct employment prospects. The demand for primary teachers in England is consistent, and a degree with QTS qualifies you to apply for teaching positions in state schools immediately on graduation. Most graduates move directly into classroom teaching, working through their induction year as newly qualified teachers and then developing their practice over subsequent years.

With experience, primary teachers can progress to subject coordinator, assistant head, deputy head, and headteacher roles. Other routes include special educational needs coordination, advisory roles, school improvement consultancy, and careers in teacher education. Some graduates move into early years settings outside mainstream schools, including nurseries, children's centres, and specialist provision.