Primary Teaching Studies

Primary teaching is one of the most consequential professions in any society, shaping the experiences and capabilities of children during the years when the foundations of literacy, numeracy, curiosity, and social skill are laid. A degree focused on primary teaching studies gives you a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of education, examining how children learn, how effective teaching is designed and delivered, and how schools operate as institutions within wider social and policy contexts. It is a subject that draws on developmental psychology, curriculum studies, educational sociology, and pedagogy, combining academic depth with genuine professional relevance.

At the University of Hull, this two-year, full-time degree is specifically designed for those who are committed to a career in primary education and want to build a specialist first degree that will underpin their subsequent teacher training. The compressed two-year structure allows you to move quickly and purposefully through content focused on primary education, developing the subject knowledge and professional understanding needed to succeed in initial teacher training. The programme is well suited to career changers who have come to teaching through a different route, as well as school leavers who are certain about their direction.

It provides a foundation that distinguishes you from graduates with more general degrees when you apply for a postgraduate route into teaching.

Graduates from this degree are well positioned to progress into postgraduate teacher training programmes such as a PGCE or School Direct, leading to Qualified Teacher Status and a career teaching in primary schools. The degree also prepares graduates for roles as teaching assistants, learning support specialists, and education professionals in settings such as early years provision, community education, and educational charities. Further study in education, special educational needs, or school leadership is an option for those who want to develop specialist expertise over the longer term.