The PGCE Primary Course The PGCE Primary Education course prepares students to teach primary school 4-11 age group. The course is offered solely on the Coleraine campus. This very intensive 38 week course is held in high esteem by primary schools throughout Northern Ireland. Successful graduates of the course receive qualified teachers’ status and a Religious Education certificate necessary for primary school teaching in Northern Ireland.
The Course
The 38 week course includes 19 weeks spent on university-based work and 19 weeks on school placement. Placements are within schools based in Northern Ireland and cover the entire age range from Foundation Stage through to Key Stage two. Students must demonstrate competence at each age level to successfully complete the course. Students are observed teaching on practical experience by university tutors and class teachers during each school placement to assess teacher competence.
All subjects of the Northern Ireland Curriculum feature within the teaching content of the course. The course is delivered through lectures, practical workshops and peer teaching sessions. A great deal of independent study and academic/professional reading is expected of students to fully prepare for the taught element of the course.
The course is assessed through the completion of a number of written assignments and observation of teaching performances on school experience. Students must successfully pass all assessments to gain qualified teacher status.
Applying for PGCE Primary
The PGCE Primary course is normally oversubscribed and gaining a place is very competitive. Students are required to meet the following criteria and these are strictly applied to determine candidates to be shortlisted for interview.
Primary workshops
Entry requirements
Applicants must strictly meet all of the criteria listed below.
1 GCSE passes at grade C or above, or equivalent qualifications, in English and
Mathematics and Science
2 An Honours Degree at 2:2 standard or above in an appropriate subject, ie a subject
taught in primary schools within the NI Curriculum (DENI 2007). These subjects are
Language and Literacy, Mathematics and Numeracy, World Around Us (Geography,
History, Science), The Arts (Art and Design, Music, Drama), Personal Development and
Mutual Understanding, Physical Development and Movement, and Religious Education.
Alternatively, a degree at lower than 2:1 standard in any of the subjects named above
plus a Masters degree (or above) in an appropriate subject fulfils requirements.
3 Knowledge, interest and experience in the education of primary aged children in a formal classroom setting gained within the last three years. (Classroom practice should exceed at least 2 weeks)
4 Medical certificate of satisfactory health.
5 Evidence of good quality presentation and basic literacy skills are required throughout the application process.
6 Applicants will be scrutinised to ensure that they do not have a criminal record which
would inhibit their ability to work safely with children.
7. Two acceptable references must be provided– one character and one academic.
The Interview Process
Applicants appearing to fulfil the above requirements will be shortlisted for the first
stage of the interview process only.
Stage 1 (Day 1)
Applicants fulfilling the above criteria will be invited to the university to give a story-telling
performance to an interview panel. Details of this task will be provided in the letter of
invitation. Successful applicants at Stage 1 will then be informed by letter and will be
invited to return for Stage 2 of the interview process. Unsuccessful applicants at this stage
will also be informed by letter and the interview process will discontinue for them at this
point.
Stage 2 (Day 2)
Applicants who are successful at Stage 1 of the interview process will be invited to attend a
formal interview with the selection panel. They will also be expected to complete a written
piece of work after the formal interview. All applicants will be informed of their interview
outcome by letter.
Student comments:
Alison Manning I enjoyed all aspects of this course It was hard work and required 100% commitment from me every single day but I know I have been well prepared and ready for my future career as a teacher
Lynsey Dalzell It has been an amazing year! I have never worked harder in my life but I loved every minute.
Lynsay McKee What a year it has been! I can’t believe it is over and I’m now qualified to teach. I enjoyed all aspects of the course and especially the teaching placements. I have made some friends for life and have had great support of my tutors and my peers throughout the year.
For further information please contact:
Mrs. Joyce Spence
Faculty of Social Science
Tel: 02870324140
PGCE ( Primary)
If you would like to learn more about how we can help further your studies and career opportunities, please contact us.
Welcome to the PGCE Primary
“Education is not the filling of a bucket but the lighting of a fire”(W.B.Yeats)
Shauna McGill,
Acting Course Director, PGCE Primary Education
The PGCE Primary Course
The PGCE Primary Education course prepares students to teach primary school 4-11 age group. The course is offered solely on the Coleraine campus. This very intensive 38 week course is held in high esteem by primary schools throughout Northern Ireland. Successful graduates of the course receive qualified teachers’ status and a Religious Education certificate necessary for primary school teaching in Northern Ireland.
The Course
The 38 week course includes 19 weeks spent on university-based work and 19 weeks on school placement. Placements are within schools based in Northern Ireland and cover the entire age range from Foundation Stage through to Key Stage two. Students must demonstrate competence at each age level to successfully complete the course. Students are observed teaching on practical experience by university tutors and class teachers during each school placement to assess teacher competence.
All subjects of the Northern Ireland Curriculum feature within the teaching content of the course. The course is delivered through lectures, practical workshops and peer teaching sessions. A great deal of independent study and academic/professional reading is expected of students to fully prepare for the taught element of the course.
The course is assessed through the completion of a number of written assignments and observation of teaching performances on school experience. Students must successfully pass all assessments to gain qualified teacher status.
Applying for PGCE Primary
The PGCE Primary course is normally oversubscribed and gaining a place is very competitive. Students are required to meet the following criteria and these are strictly applied to determine candidates to be shortlisted for interview.
Primary workshops
Entry requirements
Applicants must strictly meet all of the criteria listed below.
1 GCSE passes at grade C or above, or equivalent qualifications, in English and
Mathematics and Science
2 An Honours Degree at 2:2 standard or above in an appropriate subject, ie a subject
taught in primary schools within the NI Curriculum (DENI 2007). These subjects are
Language and Literacy, Mathematics and Numeracy, World Around Us (Geography,
History, Science), The Arts (Art and Design, Music, Drama), Personal Development and
Mutual Understanding, Physical Development and Movement, and Religious Education.
Alternatively, a degree at lower than 2:1 standard in any of the subjects named above
plus a Masters degree (or above) in an appropriate subject fulfils requirements.
3 Knowledge, interest and experience in the education of primary aged children in a formal classroom setting gained within the last three years. (Classroom practice should exceed at least 2 weeks)
4 Medical certificate of satisfactory health.
5 Evidence of good quality presentation and basic literacy skills are required throughout the application process.
6 Applicants will be scrutinised to ensure that they do not have a criminal record which would inhibit their ability to work safely with children.
7. Two acceptable references must be provided– one character and one academic.
The Interview Process
Applicants appearing to fulfil the above requirements will be shortlisted for the first
stage of the interview process only.
Stage 1 (Day 1)
Applicants fulfilling the above criteria will be invited to the university to give a story-telling
performance to an interview panel. Details of this task will be provided in the letter of
invitation. Successful applicants at Stage 1 will then be informed by letter and will be
invited to return for Stage 2 of the interview process. Unsuccessful applicants at this stage
will also be informed by letter and the interview process will discontinue for them at this
point.
Stage 2 (Day 2)
Applicants who are successful at Stage 1 of the interview process will be invited to attend a
formal interview with the selection panel. They will also be expected to complete a written
piece of work after the formal interview. All applicants will be informed of their interview
outcome by letter.
Student comments:
I enjoyed all aspects of this course It was hard work and required 100% commitment from me every single day but I know I have been well prepared and ready for my future career as a teacher
It has been an amazing year!
I have never worked harder in my life
but I loved every minute.
What a year it has been! I can’t believe it is over and I’m now qualified to teach. I enjoyed all aspects of the course and especially the teaching placements. I have made some friends for life and have had great support of my tutors and my peers throughout the year.
For further information please contact:
Mrs. Joyce Spence
Faculty of Social Science
Tel: 02870324140
If you would like to learn more about how we can help further your studies and career opportunities, please contact us.