2025/26 entry

BA (Hons) (QTS) Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status QTS

Start date:: September
Study mode:: Full-time
Course duration:: 3 years
Campus:: Mt Pleasant
UCAS Code:: X120
Grades/points required:: BBB - ABB (120 - 128)

Tuition fees

Home full-time per year: £9,535
International full-time per year: £18,250

All figures are subject to yearly increases. Tuition fees are subject to parliamentary approval.

General enquiries:: 0151 231 5090; courses@ljmu.ac.uk
International admissions: international@ljmu.ac.uk

Apply via UCAS Open days Order prospectus

Why study Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status QTS at Liverpool John Moores University?

Our Initial Teacher Training partnership provision has been rated as Good by Ofsted in its most recent assessment
100% of students go on to work and / or study within 15 months after graduating
You will be qualified to teach all subjects within the Primary National Curriculum as well as learning about the professional and legal responsibilities of being a teacher
Hands-on teaching practice in primary schools across the North West region
Training and mentoring from school teachers as well as University tutors
94% of students surveyed said the teaching staff on our education courses were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024)

About your course

The BA in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) qualifies you to teach children aged 5-11

This course will extend both your subject knowledge as well as pedagogical knowledge in all curriculum areas in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Professional studies modules each year form the backbone of the course and prepare you for the academic and professional role of being a teacher.

There is a focus on the core curriculum - English and mathematics have individual modules each year, giving plenty of time to explore pedagogical and content knowledge of each subject. Science is taught through STEM modules and an individual module in year 3. The foundation subjects are taught as subjects in their own right, but cross curricular opportunities are also explored, to recognise the different way that schools develop a broad and balanced curriculum.

The course is delivered in partnership with our primary schools across in the North West, and will provide you with a rich range of teaching opportunities in each year including a total of 24 weeks full time placements so you will have plenty of hands-on practice and training, not only from academic tutors but also from the teachers you work with in schools. Your teaching placements will be in Key Stage One and Key Stage 2 classes every school will provide you with a mentor will always have the support of a mentor who oversees your school based training needs, with additional visits from a member of LJMU staff.

In year 1 you will have 6 weeks block placement. In addition to this you will be in school every Monday from late October which will give you a great opportunity to build your confidence and understanding of the Primary school and the role of the teacher.

In year 2 you will have an 8 week block placement with and then in year 3 your final placement will last for 12 weeks.

Further enrichment opportunities working with children come through modules, teaching phonics, planning mathematics trails, teaching foundation subjects and delivering a global project experience in schools. All these additional experiences are only possible due to the small relatively small cohort size and the excellent relationship we have with our local partnership schools.

In addition our course also gives the opportunity for some additional certificates - CEOPS training, P4C level 1, FA coaching and Forest school Level 1, carried out on site in our own forest school.

Professional accreditation/links

This course is provided in partnership with a number of primary schools in the North West region, ensuring that you experience a broad range of school settings when you embark on your teaching practice placements.

Once you successfully complete your course, you will be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Fees and funding

There are many ways to fund study for home and international students

Fees

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:

library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
access to programme-appropriate software
library and student IT support
free on-campus wifi via eduroam

Additional costs

Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:

accommodation and living expenditure
books (should you wish to have your own copies)
printing, photocopying and stationery
PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
field trips (travel and activity costs)
placements (travel expenses and living costs)
student visas (international students only)
study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
academic conferences (travel costs)
professional-body membership
graduation (gown hire etc)

Funding

There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.

Employability

Our primary education students enjoy outstanding career prospects.

There are also excellent opportunities if you want to take on extra curriculum and management responsibilities or if you want to focus exclusively on effective classroom practice.

We also offer an excellent range of postgraduate qualifications, including mandatory qualifications for teaching in specialist areas:

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.

One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.

A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.

Go abroad

LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.

Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?

Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.

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What you will study on this degree

Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Level 4

Core modules

Introduction to Professional Practice
20 credits

This module will introduce you as a student teacher to a variety of key aspects of professional practice associated with primary teaching.

Teaching Foundation Subjects in Key Stage 1
20 credits

This module aims to provide you with the subject and pedagogical knowledge, skills and understanding required to teach Foundation Subjects at Key Stage 1.

Developing the Whole Child
20 credits

This module will provide you with knowledge and understanding of children's development and learning with a particular focus on the development of language and communication skills. This module will also introduce you to different teaching styles which match children's development and learning at different age phases.

Teaching Mathematics in Key Stage 1
20 credits

This module will introduce you to the teaching of mathematics in the Early Years and enable you to develop the knowledge and understanding of maths, enabling you to teach it effectively in Key Stage 1.

Teaching English in Key Stage 1
10 credits

The aim of this module is to learn how to develop children's literacy skills and to develop associated pedagogical knowledge and understanding. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the reading and writing processes and appropriate pedagogy associated with the teaching of these areas in Key Stage 1. You will also learn about the grammar and punctuation content in Key Stage 1 and the place of this in the writing process.

Science, Design and Technology and Computing in the Key Stage 1 curriculum
20 credits

The aim of this module is to introduce you to children's early explorations and learning in science, design and technology, and computing. You will begin to develop your knowledge and understanding of key concepts, practical skills and pedagogy associated with teaching the subjects in Key Stage 1.

Teaching Reading and Spelling using Systematic Synthetic Phonics
10 credits

This module will help individuals to develop skills and knowledge essential for effective teaching and learning of systematic synthetic phonics.

Level 5

Core modules

Developing Professional Practice
20 credits

The aim of the module is to develop your understanding of a variety of key aspects of professional practice associated with primary teaching.

Teaching Foundation Subjects in Key Stage 2
20 credits

This module aims to provide you with the subject knowledge, skills and understanding required to teach Foundation Subjects at Key Stage 2.

Understanding Specific Learning Needs of Children
10 credits

The module will explore various aspects of atypical development and learning in children with a range of differentiated learning needs and barriers to development and learning. A variety of strategies and pedagogies for engaging and supporting children with differentiated learning needs will be examined.

Teaching Mathematics in KS2
20 credits

This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of key mathematics concepts and pedagogy associated with teaching the subjects in Key Stage Two. You will apply this knowledge to inform the planning of effective learning sequences in maths to develop deeper understanding of KS2 subject knowledge.

Teaching English in Key Stage 2
20 credits

The aim of this module is to develop your English subject knowledge and create an understanding of how this links to the subject and pedagogical knowledge required for the teaching of primary English in KS2. You will develop personal writing skills so you can better support young writers.

Science, Design and Technology and Computing in the Key Stage 2 Curriculum
20 credits

The aim of this module is to develop and extend knowledge and understanding of key concepts and skills associated with learning science, design and technology and computing at Key Stage 2. You will explore and analyse the key elements of progression of children's conceptual understanding and skills acquisition in science, design and technology and computing.

Enriching Primary Practice
10 credits

This module will help you develop your knowledge, skills and understanding of alternative teaching in primary education. You will apply effective teaching to enhance and enrich primary curriculum planning and teaching.

Optional Modules

Study Year Abroad - Primary Education
120 credits

The aim is to provide students with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement their programme at LJMU. This is an additional year of full-time study at an approved higher education institution. The modules to be studied must be agreed in advance, and must be appropriate for the student's programme of study. Assuming successful completion of this year, mark-bearing credit will be awarded by the Faculty Recognition Group. The grade conversion scale to be used will be made available in advance of the year abroad.

Level 6

Core modules

Extending Professional Practice
20 credits

This module will enable you to demonstrate the professional practices and values of a primary teacher with the relevant knowledge and understanding, skills and attributes to become an effective and reflective practitioner.

Cross Curricular Practice
20 credits

This module aims to develop your understanding of a cross curricular approach to learning and teaching in the primary curriculum. The module will explore creativity in the primary curriculum.

Advanced Primary Mathematics
20 credits

This module will refine your knowledge and understanding of key mathematical concepts and teaching associated with the subject across the primary age range. It will extend your understanding of key issues in primary mathematics education and will allow you to critically evaluate current research in this area to inform your own practice.

Advanced Primary English
20 credits

The aim of this module is to extend your understanding of the planning, teaching, and assessment of reading, writing, speaking and listening in the primary classroom with a particular focus on planning for progression.

Advanced Primary Science
10 credits

This module will refine your knowledge and understanding of key scientific concepts and skills associated with teaching the subject across the primary age range. You will develop skills of analysis of teaching issues relating to primary science.

School Based Research
30 credits

Within School Based Research you will investigate a chosen classroom-based topic or issue in a primary school, leading to a research proposal and a research report.

Teaching and work-related learning

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

Teaching on the course is via a combination of lectures, seminars, online activities, tutorials, workshops, use of ICT, school experience and independent learning.

Work-related Learning

Hands-on teaching practice is a vital element of this course and so you will be given plenty of opportunities to work with children in a variety of primary school settings in the North West region. This gives you a chance to put into practice what you have learnt during the course, develop your teaching technique and experience the rewards as well as the challenges of teaching young children.

In the most recent OFSTED report, its inspectors made frequent reference to the strength of the partnerships with schools – including our 10 school-led partners and hundreds of other local and regional primary and secondary schools where students undertake professional practice placements. Meaningful partnership, they said, enabled trainees to be high-achieving both in quality and aspiration.

Support and guidance

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

From the moment you join LJMU, you will be assigned a personal tutor who will be responsible for your academic and personal progress throughout the course. Support during teaching practice is particularly important and so in addition to mentoring from one of the teachers, you will have visits from a university liaison tutor to monitor progress and observe your teaching.

Library Services teams also offer a fantastic range of support and guidance services, including online help guides, online chat facility and on-site help.

Our dedicated Student Advice and Wellbeing (SAW) team provide a wide range of services including accommodation advice, disability support, counselling and money matters information.

Assessment

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

We recognise that all students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, and so we use a variety of assessment methods including coursework, assessed teaching sessions, group presentations individual presentations and some examinations.

Constructive feedback is important in helping you to identify your strengths as well as areas that may need further attention, so this will be provided regularly as you progress through each module and following teaching practice.

Course tutors

Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning

Sarah Hindhaugh

Programme leader

Sarah Hindhaugh

Programme leader

Our team of practitioners, specialist academics and support staff are dedicated to ensure you reach your full potential and become the best possible Primary teachers receive a first-class education whilst studying at LJMU.

Facilities

What you can expect from your School

Based in the Education Building in the heart of the Mount Pleasant campus, the School of Education features a wide range of cutting-edge facilities, including a pedagogy room, lecture rooms, computing facilities and a nearby Forest School for outdoor learning. Students also benefit from independent study spaces, a close-by cafeteria and library, and access to student welfare and support.

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

Grades/points required from qualifications: BBB - ABB (120 - 128)

Qualification requirements

Show all sections

GCSEs and equivalents

Prior to application applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in GCSE English Language, Mathematics and Science.

A levels

BBB-ABB
Minimum Number of A Levels: 2
AS Levels: Not accepted
General Studies: Not accepted