Primary Education

Primary education shapes the foundations of everything that follows in a child's academic life. Teachers working with children in the primary years are responsible not just for delivering knowledge but for building the habits of curiosity, confidence, and persistence that children carry forward. A degree leading to Qualified Teacher Status recognises that good primary teaching requires both a thorough understanding of the subjects being taught and a sophisticated grasp of how children learn.

This three-year full-time programme at Teesside University prepares you to teach across the primary curriculum with particular attention to the core subjects of English, mathematics, and science. You will study these areas in depth, building your own subject knowledge while also learning how to make content accessible and engaging for learners at different stages of development. The programme asks you to contextualise your understanding, applying it appropriately to the wide range of children you will encounter in the classroom.

You will also evaluate and critique policy at institutional, regional, and national levels, developing the professional judgement to understand where educational debate is heading and what it means for practice. A substantial part of your training takes place in school settings, where you develop your teaching skills directly alongside experienced practitioners.

Completing this programme and gaining QTS makes you eligible to work as a qualified primary school teacher in England. Most graduates go on to take up teaching posts in state and independent primary schools, with many taking on leadership responsibilities over time. The skills you develop in communication, curriculum design, and assessment are also valued in roles in education management, educational publishing, youth work, and training and development more broadly.

For those who wish to continue studying, pathways into educational research or specialist postgraduate qualifications in areas such as special educational needs are well-established routes.