Primary Education

Primary education is the foundation of everything that comes later in a child's learning life. Teachers working with children aged five to eleven are responsible not only for the development of literacy and numeracy but for nurturing curiosity, building resilience, establishing habits of learning and shaping each child's experience of what school can be. It is a profession that combines intellectual breadth, practical skill and genuine care for the wellbeing and development of children at a formative stage.

At the University of the West of England in Bristol, this three-year full-time BA programme provides a broad and inspiring grounding in primary education, qualifying you to teach across key stages one and two. You will study the curriculum subjects taught in primary schools, the theories of child development and learning that underpin good teaching, approaches to assessment and planning, and the wider context of education policy and school systems. Subject knowledge and professional practice are developed together throughout the programme.

School placements are integral to the degree, giving you substantial experience in real classrooms across the three years. You will work with qualified teachers, develop your teaching practice progressively and build the professional competence that leads to Qualified Teacher Status on graduation. Practical experience in schools is where much of the most important learning happens, and the programme is structured to ensure you spend substantial time in them.

On qualifying, you will be eligible to work as a primary school teacher in England. Career pathways include class teaching, subject leadership, special educational needs coordination, and pastoral responsibility. With experience, many teachers move into senior leadership or headship.

Some go on to postgraduate study in education, leadership, special educational needs or related fields, while others pursue specialist roles in curriculum development, teacher training or educational research.