Primary Education with English

Primary education with English is a programme that combines teacher training with specialist subject knowledge in English language and literature, preparing you to teach across the full primary curriculum while bringing particular depth and enthusiasm to the subject that more than any other underpins children's learning across all areas. At the University of Reading, this three-year full-time degree leads to Qualified Teacher Status, the professional qualification needed to work as a primary teacher in England, and is explicitly oriented toward preparing subject leaders as well as classroom teachers, reflecting the high demand for English specialists in primary schools.

You will study child development, curriculum theory and pedagogy, learning and teaching across the primary curriculum, and the professional ethics and legal frameworks that govern teaching, alongside specialist content in English including children's literature, reading development, writing and grammar teaching, and the role of spoken language in learning. Reading's programme has strong links with local schools, and you will undertake substantial school-based placements throughout the degree, developing your practical teaching skills alongside your academic understanding in a way that is essential for professional preparation. A typical entry tariff of around 120 points is expected.

Graduates are qualified to work as primary school teachers across England and, with appropriate adjustments, in other parts of the UK and internationally. The English specialism provides a foundation for roles as literacy coordinator, English subject leader and reading recovery practitioner, all of which are in sustained demand. Many graduates develop long-term careers in primary education, moving over time into senior leadership, headship, advisory roles or initial teacher training.